Domestic Notices 



England. 



361 



The South London Horticultural Society's Show took place June 16. in the 

 Surrey Zoological Gardens, and we were not a little pleased to see the gra- 

 dual improvement that is going on in the Society. The pelargoniums from 

 Mr. Catcleugh were, if possible, more beautiful and numerous than they were 

 at the Chiswick show. Among the more remarkable were, a new seedling, not 

 yet named, decidedly the richest in colour hitherto raised ; Sylph, Grand Duke, 

 Gauntlet, Prima Donna, &c. The other plants worthy of notice were, fine 

 specimens of Clematis Sieboldtw, Nephrodium fulvum, Thunbergza grandiflora, 

 Ferbena Mel'mdres, and its varieties, alstroemerias, &c. The cut roses were 

 very numerous, and the competition severe. The whole were well arranged 

 under spacious tents, and the companv was large and apparently well pleased. 

 — W. A. M. June 17. 1840. 



Mr, Read's Hydraidic Machines, — The gardening world are greatly in- 

 debted to Mr. Read, for his various inventions for throwing water on 

 plants. Had he never produced anything more than his syringe, which has 

 now been upwards of twenty years before the public, his services would not 

 have been forgotten ; but he has gone on in a course of improvement, and 

 one of his latest inventions, and that which 

 he says is his masterpiece, is a barrow-engine, 

 which he thus describes : — 



" Fig. 4:5. is an oval copper vessel, contain- 

 ing 26 gallons, particularly adapted for large 

 conservatories and forcing-houses of all de- 

 scriptions. It will pass through a doorway 

 2 ft. wide : its power is equal to any barrow- 

 engine, and it is admirably well adapted for a 

 local fire-engine. It is so portable that it 

 can be carried up or down stairs by two men ; 

 and it may be kept in a hall, on a staircase, ^^^ 

 or even in a bedchamber. The valves being of 

 solid metal, the machine cannot get out of 

 repair, and it is consequently ready to act in 

 an instant." — J. R. 



Opening Public Gardens and Museums to all the Public. — The Town 

 Council of Liverpool has purchased the right from the proprietors of the 

 Botanic Garden, of throwing it open on Sundays, and one other day in every 

 week, to all the population. We sincerely hope this example will soon be 

 followed in all other places where there are Botanic or Zoological Gardens. 

 We should wish to see this done without delay in the case of the Zoological 

 Gardens in the Regent's Park and Surrey, and also in the case of the Chelsea 

 Botanic Garden and the Horticultural Garden at Chiswick. If the whole 

 of the metropolis and the immediate suburbs were put under the general ma- 

 nagement of a municipal council or government, it would be the duty of that 

 body to purchase certain rights from the proprietors of museums, gardens, &c., 

 on behalf of the public ; and to form other places of recreation and amuse- 

 ment, such as gardens, parks, &c., at the expense of their government, and 

 for the benefit of all the population ; and this more particularly on Sundays, 

 when all who labour hard during the week generally take some recreation'. 

 We do not see why a rate should not be raised for maintaining a garden, as 

 well as for maintaining a public school. Both are but dififerent modes of sup- 

 plying education ; and, next to the school, we are convinced that the study 

 of nature, and more particularly of plants and animals, has most effect in 

 exciting the thinking faculties, and humanising both the heart and the mind. 



Nothing could have added to the satisfaction that we experienced on no- 

 ticing the intentions of the proprietors of the Liverpool Botanic Gardens, 

 except a motion made in parliament by Mr. Hume, to the effect that he 

 intends to move an address to Her Majesty, to direct the Trustees of the Bri- 

 tish Museum and the National Gallery to permit those two establishments to 

 be open to the public from 1 o'clock to 4 o'clock on Sundays. The public 

 1840. July. b b 



