380 General Notices. 



In the formation of gravel paths it surpasses every thing that T have ever 

 seen used, for protecting gravel against the unsightly casts of worms, as well as 

 greatly preserving it from foul weeds, as couch, &c. ; even, besides these excel- 

 lent qualities, it forms an exceedingly clean surface for laying gravel upon, 

 more particularly desirable in cases of scarcity of gravel, for over it a coat of 

 gravel of 2 in. in thickness will make a good path, and, in usual cases, retain 

 its colour for three years, when a slight coating of new gravel, carefully incor- 

 porated, will restore its appearance. For this purpose it should be spread 

 equally over a good layer of stone rubble, broken smaller, rather than larger, 

 than those used for mending roads on M' Adam's principle, to the thickness of 

 2 in., which will be found to settle down to about 1 in. Thus used, I have 

 found, on taking up paths four or five years after their formation, that its qua- 

 lity was but little, if at all, diminished. 



One other instance of its utility I will mention, perhaps of scarcely less 

 importance than either of the preceding ; which is, in the formation of basins 

 for fountains, &c. ; embellishments universally admired, but in too many 

 instances altogether omitted in gardens, in a great measnre from the heavy 

 expense attending the formation of them according to the best and usual 

 mode. This article, however, at least in the vicinity of towns lighted with gas, 

 and in a neighbourhood where good cla}' can be procured at a reasonable rate, 

 opens, if properly applied, a means by which these luxuries may be enjoyed. 

 It must not be thought that, in speaking of gas-lime thus favourably, I attempt 

 to impress the idea that basins made according to the mode I am about to 

 mention are entirely equal to those of masonry ; but I merely wish to assert, 

 and that from experience, that basins of almost any extent, and of great dura- 

 bility, may be made to vie with those of masonry in elegance, simply thus : — 

 Where the basin is required, excavate the soil in accordance with the depth and 

 outline of your desired basin, allowing an equal space every way to receive 

 a thickness of at least 6 in., when settled, of gas-lime, bottom and sides, and 

 15 in., not less, in thickness of well-puddled clay, which may be lined, according 

 to the circumstances of the place, with a single layer of brick or stone, merely 

 to prevent any accidental perforation of the clay, and finished with a coping of 

 turf neatly laid, or masonry. You thus, by the use of gas-lime between the 

 natural soil and the clay, exclude worms, and, almost without exception, the 

 roots of trees, &c, from the clay for an almost indefinite period. 



1 have, according to this manner, directed the construction of one or two 

 basins, under very disadvantageous circumstances with respect to soil and situ- 

 ation, with the most perfect success, and, as compared with other modes, at 

 an almost nominal expense. 



I also find that gold-fish thrive as well in basins so formed, as in those 

 where gas-lime is not used. — W. H. B. Oxford, June, 1842. * 



Kiln-dust as Manure. — Never having found any mention made of kiln-dust 

 as manure, and having seen in one or two establishments plants, more par- 

 ticularly dahlias and pelargoniums, grown very excellently in soil manured 

 with this article, which is simply the incipient shoot and roots which have 

 been protruded by the malting or germination of the grain afterwards broken 

 off by the drying and turning (see Encyc. of Cott. Arch., p. 402.), I here 

 beg to notice that it is, as far as I can understand, well worthy the attention 

 of cultivators ; and, although I have not a sufficient knowledge of its merits, 

 expense, &c, to speak in detail, in all probability many of your expe- 

 rienced correspondents may, and will kindly communicate the same through 

 the medium of your magazine. — B. H. W. June, 1842. 



[The powerful effects of malt-dust as a manure are noticed in our Encyc. of 

 Ag., p. 335. 2d ed.] 



A simple and good Mode of packing the Pistons of Hand-Syringes. — I am 

 doubtless not the only gardener who has many times, when using a hand- 

 syringe, especially when much force has been required, had a sharp dash 

 of water on the face, or chest, or other part of the body, from its upper orifice 

 while refilling the cylinder, owing to the packing admitting a portion of the 



