Domestic Notices : — England. 331 



that country for the supply of bone manure to England alone. Guano, or 

 the dung of sea-birds, is also an extensive article of importation for the same 

 purpose ; but, as both these sources will fail in proportion as the several 

 countries become more peopled, it is fortunate that we may find substitutes 

 for them in inorganic substances. Such is the nitrate of soda, so much used 

 of late ; such is the new manure invented by Mr. Daniel ; and it may be con- 

 fidently predicted, that, by the discovery of such agents, agriculture will be 

 enabled to keep pace with the increase of population, if the latter be not sti- 

 mulated with unwise regulations ; and that as animal life increases in a direct 

 ratio to the amount of subsistence, so the nutritious effects of animal manure, 

 by giving greater energy and vigour to the organs of plants, will cause them 

 to draw more abundantly from the atmosphere, and thereby force a propor- 

 tionately larger quantity of them into existence. Dr. Buckland thought that 

 an important principle respecting stimulating manures had been brought 

 forward, viz., that a plant, under their action, draws more freely from the 

 atmosphere. In addition to the increase of human manure with population, 

 the quantity of carbon given out by animals, and left to be absorbed by 

 plants, is proportionately increased. He further adverted to the discrimi- 

 nation necessary to be exercised, in restoring artificially land that has been 

 exhausted ; and instanced a case furnished by Professor Johnston of Durham, 

 of certain pastures in Cheshire, which had been exhausted of their phosphate 

 of lime by its being absorbed into the cheese made with the milk of the cattle 

 fed there, and which were restored by a top-dressing of bone manure. 

 (At/ienceum 'April 9. 1842.) 



Chatsworlh. — The entrance to the great conservatory that I showed you 

 a sketch of while here is completed. The basin in which the conservatory 

 stands is nicely laid out with walks and ornamental flower-plots. They have 

 laid down green turf, and changed what looked like a dirty road a month or 

 two back into a beautiful flower-garden. A yew hedge is planted all round 

 the upper terrace, and round the conservatory, and I am now designing what I 

 call watch-towers for the four extreme angles. The plants grow very rapidly 

 in the large house. I was there to-day, and was astonished at the difference 

 since I was there last. — J. R. March 15. 1842. 



Candahar Fruits. — The East India Company presented to the Horticultural 

 Society, in November last, the following collection of seeds of fruit trees from 

 this province, which may be regarded as one of the mothers of orchards : — 

 Grapes : Lall, large, round, green ; Eytah, long green ; Early luscious black ; 

 Houssainee, long green ; Jundah, round green ; Early white, good flavour and 

 sweet, "Loll;" Umbherree; Culmuck and Sybee, red. Apricots: Char 

 Mugzah ; Suffard Cheh ; Kussee ; Soorooz Cheh ; Pus Rus ; Sukkur Para ; 

 and Pus Rus Surdchee. Plums : Purple and Aloochah. Peaches and nec- 

 tarines of the richest quality. Cherries. Mulberries : a large black sort, 

 called " Sheeh Lool." Melons: Surdah, a musk melon; and several kinds 

 of water melons. (Gard. Chron., 1841, p. 767.) 



Tomato Figs. — I some time since received from Steuart, from New York, 

 some preserved tomato figs. He suggested that by sending you some, they 

 might be brought into notice as an article of culture ; but I fear the general 

 humidity of our climate, and the great want of bright sunshine, would prevent 

 them being matured so early in the season as to secure their being rightly 

 preserved. However, I send you some, that you may taste them, and be 

 convinced that they are really worth notice. — G. Charlwood. Covent Garden, 

 April 15. 1842. 



The preserved fruit sent is not a tomato, but the winter cherry, Physalis 

 Alkekengi ; or possibly the Peruvian winter cherry, P. peruviana. The taste 

 is sweet and pleasant, and, on the whole, it makes a very agreeable sweet- 

 meat. — Cond. 



