General Notices. 137 



Mr. Stephens, though he invented these pots, has no pecuniary interest in 

 them ; they are manufactured by Robinson & Co,, at Kihi-hurst, near Swin- 

 ton Station, Yorkshire, at from one penny each upwards. Mr. Mearns of 

 Leeds, and a number of experienced gardeners, Mr. Stephens informs us, 

 declare this pot to be the most decided improvement hitherto made in flower- 

 pots. — Cond. 



A new Plough for raising Potatoes has been invented by Mr. David Goudie, 

 overseer upon Hillhead Farm, near Kilmarnock. The implement somewhat 

 resembles the grubber harrow, being held by two handles, drawn by two 

 horses, and supported upon two wheels. Details will be found in the 

 Kilmarnock Journal, in the Stirling Advertiser for October 14. ; and the imple- 

 ment itself may be procured of Messrs. Drumraond, Agricultural Museum, 

 Stirling. — Cond. 



The Scotch Pine, a Substitute for Candle. Distillation of Oil of Turpentine 

 from its Poofs. — The Pinus sylvestris, or native fir of Scotland, abounds 

 with resinous matter and turpentine throughout its whole structure, which is 

 particularly the case in the lower part of its trunk and roots. Dr. HoMason, 

 many years ago, when residing in and passing through various parts of the 

 Russian empire, observed that the principal (or almost entire) light used by 

 the peasantry in the northern departments was produced from slips or laths 

 of the fir tree fixed horizontall}', or in a slightly sloping direction, on iron 

 stands, and set fire to at the lower extremity. These laths might be a yard 

 in length, and of small diameter. Each one gave a flame of greater size than 

 a candle, and continued burning for a considerable time, when its place was 

 supplied by a fresh one. Might not the same method be followed in some 

 parts of Great Britain ? In the Highlands and northern islands of Scotland 

 the peasantry use the extreme roots of the fir tree, dug out from the bogs 

 and peat mosses, as a substitute for candle ; and, in consequence of the quan- 

 tity of turpentine contained in them, they burn with vivacity and splendour, 

 furnishing a brilliant light. Around the cottages or isbas of the Russian 

 peasantry Dr. Howison observed the large roots of the fir tree, dug from the 

 earth after the trunk had been cut down for the numerous useful purposes to 

 which it is applied, lying indiscriminately about. These were obtained previously 

 to the falling of the winter snow, which remains for seven or eight months of 

 the year. During the above period, when no other more valuable work can 

 be obtained, the peasantry break them down into small pieces with hatchets, 

 put them into a small still, and obtain oil of turpentine in large quantities at 

 no expense, the exhausted slips, the refuse of the boiler, from which the 

 turpentine has been already extracted, furnishing fuel for the future fire. The 

 receiver is a glass bottle with a hole in its bottom filled up with a plug. When 

 the distillation is over the plug is withdrawn, the water, falling to the bottom 

 from its greater specific gravity, is allowed to escape, and the floating oil of 

 turpentine is retained. The sale of the turpentine pays the expense of dig- 

 ging up the roots (which leaves the ground free for the plough), and allows 

 a surplus for the labour. Might not the same be done by tlie unemployed 

 labourers in some parts of Great Britain ? — H. 



The Stimulus of Comjjetifion in Agriculture. — Our great manufacturers 

 have thriven under the sometimes too feverish and intense, but yet generally 

 wholesome, stimulus of competition. We think it can hardly be said that of 

 late years this principle has been brought sufficiently to bear upon the growers 

 of agricultural produce. We speak of them, as a body, with the highest 

 respect ; they are the very trunk of our social health and strength : may the 

 day never come when they shall cease to be the first among the classes of 

 the noble country they adorn! But to say that they require to be stimulated ; 

 to say that, unless stimulated, they will not use their utmost and sustained 

 efforts to devise the means of economising production, and of selling as 

 cheaply as possible; and further, that the stimulus they may aflfbrd to one 

 another cannot, under all circumstances, be considered sufficient ; all this 

 is merely to say that they are men, and that they are not wholly exempt 



