Domestic Notices : — Scotland, Ireland. 567 



beginning of June in the present year, the tree began to push all the way up its 

 main stem, and from several of its larger lateral branches ; and, being now 

 pruned in, it promises fair to make in the course of time a handsome tree. — 

 T. Rutgcr. Lime Grove, Putney y July, 1840. 



The Bokhara Clover (ikfelilotus arborea) at Oxborough, near Stokeferry, 

 Norfolk, in the garden of Mr. Johnson, is nearly 1 1 ft. high, and bearing 

 abundance of seeds. Mr. Johnson is so much pleased with this plant, that he 

 means to lay down a small field of it, and treat it like lucern. The seed ripens 

 freely. — - Samuel Taylor. Stokeferry, August 31.1 840. 



SCOTLAND. 



Thirlestaine Castle, East Lothian. — The Earl of Lauderdale is making 

 s{)lendid improvements in Thirlestaine Castle ; as many as forty masons are 

 at present employed on the garden wall, which, when finished, we are told, 

 will be the finest in Scotland. (Scotsman.) 



The Earl of Stair is making extensive improvements at the ancient family 

 residences in Wigtonshire, among which may be included the restoration, 

 in the style of Le Notre, of the terrace and other architectural gardens, 

 which have been in a state of comparative neglect for nearly half a centurv. 

 {Ibid.) ^ 



Gladiolus cardindlis, at Hafton Gardens, the seat of James Hunter, Esq., 

 in Argyllshire, measures 23 ft. in circumference, and exhibits upwards of 100 

 stems, terminating in spikes of its rich scarlet flowers. This plant, in common 

 with various others at Hafton, says much for the mildness of the climate, and 

 does great credit to the skill and care of the head gardener, Mr. M'Dermaid. 

 {Glasgoiu Courier, Aug. 8.) 



A Weejnng common Oak (Quercus pedunculata pendula) was found in a 

 bed of seedlings sown at Ochtertyre in 1825. It was planted on the lawn at 

 Ochtertyre House, and is now (1840) 33 ft. high, with regularly drooping 

 branches, which, after they touch the ground, run along it for some distance. 

 Plants of it have been propagated by grafting on stems 3 or 6 feet high, which 

 form beautiful weeping trees. — Patnck Robertson. Petivorth Gardens, Sussex, 

 Aug. 16. 1840. 



IRELAND. 



The Belfast Botanic Garden. — In p. 363. we expressed a wish to see the 

 design for the range of plant-houses erecting in this garden, and one has kindly 

 been brought to us by Mr. Ferguson, the curator, now ( Sept. 3.} in London. 

 It comes nearer, in general appearance, to the range erected in the Sheffield 

 Gardens, than any other which we recollect, but it ismuch handsomer. We 

 have not seen ground plans or sections, but these are promised, and when we 

 receive them we shall speak of the whole more in detail. We are happy to 

 have confirmed, by Mr. Ferguson, the favourable accounts which we have 

 heard from various persons, of the prosperity of the garden, and of the ex- 

 tensive source of recreation and enjoyment which it affords to the subscribers 

 and the inhabitants of Belfast generally. The climate of Belfast is so mild, 

 that the common broad-leaved myrtle is as hardy there as the laurustinus is 

 about London. In the winter of 1837-8, when the thermometer about Lon- 

 don was 10° below zero, it never fell lower than 14° at Belfast. It is easy 

 to conceive, therefore, that many of the Australian, and especially the Van 

 Diemen's Land, shrubs attain here a degree of vigorous growth never seen 

 in England. — Cond. 



National Education in Ireland, according to the Sixth Report of the Com- 

 missioners, is making steady progress, notwithstanding much opposition. The 

 increase of the number of schools, in the course of the year 1839, has 

 been 197, and of scholars 23,736 ! The Irish people have a much greater 

 aptitude for education than the English, and, if the latter do not soon enjoy 

 the benefits of a national system which shall be applied to all, the Irish, as 

 the Scotch did formerly, will inundate the country with skill as well as 

 strength. (Morn. Chron,, Sept. 10.) 



