General Notices. 219 



with the same seed not so treated ; but we have had no seed so old to operate 

 upon since that trial. — E. Liymhurn. Kilmarnock, Dec. 18. 1839. 



The Oak. — Twelve acorns weigh an ounce, and an oak tree of a hundred 

 years' growth may probably weigh about fifteen tons. The first year the young 

 oak weighs about three times as much as the acorn, or three twelfths of an 

 ounce. The second year, the young tree weighs about three times as much as 

 the tree of one year, and the third year three times as much as the second, and 

 so on in geometrical progression during the chiefest time of its growth. Five 

 bushels of acorns are considered to be the produce of a good tree one year 

 with another. (^Bradley's Works of Nature, 1721, p. 43.) 



The Mistletoe has been treated of, with respect to its method of growth, by 

 Dr. Douglas, in the Transactions of the Royal Society, who has shown that it is 

 effectual in cases of epilepsy. (Ibid., p. 40.) 



Quercus Cerris, in Asia Minor, is described by Mr. Fellows as having leaves 

 8 or 10 inches long, and cut almost into ribands like the fern ; it affords ex- 

 cellent timber, although not a very lofty tree. (Journal in Asia Minor, p. 272.) 



The late Mr, Roscoe originally a Gardener. - — From the life of this admirable 

 man, recently published by his son, it appears that in the early part of his 

 life he passed several 3'ears in assisting his father (who kept a public-house 

 and a bowling-green in the neighbourhood of Liverpool) in growing potatoes, 

 which they took to market in large baskets on their heads, and in the care of 

 a garden. This information is conveyed in a passage in a sketch of Mr. 

 Roscoe's life by himself, which forms a part of the volumes published by his 

 son, and is as follows : — 



" Having quitted school I now began to assist my father in his agricultural 

 concerns, particularly in his business of cultivating potatoes for sale, of which 

 he every year grew several acres, and which he sold, when produced early in 

 the season, at very advanced prices. His mode of cultivation was entirely by 

 the spade; and, when raised early, they were considered in that part of Lan- 

 cashire as a favourite esculent. When they had attained their proper growth, 

 we were accustomed to carry them to market on our heads in large baskets 

 for sale, when I was generally intrusted with the disposal of them, and soon 

 became a very useful assistant to my father. In this and other laborious 

 occupations, particularly in the care of a garden, in which I took great plea- 

 sure, I passed several years of my life, devoting my hours of relaxation to 

 reading my books. This mode of life gave health and vigour to my body, and 

 amusement and instruction to my mind ; and to this day I well remember the 

 delicious sleep which succeeded my labours, from which I was again called at 

 an early hour. If I were now asked, whom I considered to be the happiest 

 of the human race, I should answer, those who cultivate the earth by their 

 own hands." (Life of William Roscoe, ^c, by his son, Henry Roscoe.) 



There are two points in this quotation to which we wish to direct the atten- 

 tion of the young gardener. The first is the frank manner in which Mr. Roscoe 

 speaks of his early occupations and hard work, so very different from that 

 adopted in the biography of most men who have risen to eminence from 

 obscurity, whether these biographies be written by themselves or their friends. 

 This, on the part of Mr. Roscoe and his son, proceeds from that fearless love 

 of truth which exists only in noble minds, and in such as are perfectly inde- 

 pendent of the fashionable opinions of the times. The second point to which we 

 wish to direct the attention of gardeners is, the opinion of Mr, Roscoe, " that 

 those who cultivate the earth with their own hands are the happiest of the 

 human race." It must be understood, however, that these cultivators should 

 have, as Mr. Roscoe says he had at the time to which he alludes, an oppor- 

 tunity every day of passing some " hours of relaxation in reading books." 

 Let every young gardener, therefore, devote some hours daily to reading ; and 

 let the masters of gardeners consider that this is absolutely necessary to enable 

 young men to excel in their profe^ion, and reduce the hours of labour 

 accordingly. No apprentice or journeyman gardener, in our opinion, ought 

 to work more than seven or eight hours a day. We shall mention another 



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