Domestic Notices ; — Scotlatid. 495 



watering. It ought to be stated, however, that he found its beneficial effects 

 not universal ; and that if he had used it indiscriminately, it would have been 

 certain destruction to some tribes of plants, particularly those with fine 

 fibrous roots, such as the Epacrldese, Ericaceae, and i^hodoraceae ; and, 

 according to the experiments then tried, it would also have had a similar effect 

 upon all plants potted in peat. 



Cow urine, as a manure, is the most powerful of all the manures we are at 

 present acquainted with, and should be used with the greatest caution ; for, 

 though diluted with four parts of water, we have seen much injury arise, even 

 by watering with it the ^rassica tribe. But, notwithstanding the great caution 

 requisite when used for watering plants, it may, nevertheless, be used with 

 great advantage in agriculture and horticulture, Jsy being spread over the soil 

 before or after digging or ploughing, and, of course, before the ground is 

 either sown or planted. {FL Cab.^ June, p. 59.) 



Art. II. Foreisn Notices. 



FRANCE. 



The Galaclodendron speciosum, or cow tree, has attained the height of 

 15 ft. in the hot-house of an amateur at Rennes. During the summer, it stands 

 without injury in the open air ; and, in the course of April and May in 1835, it 

 grew 2i ft. (M. D. C. Lanscreur aine, Horticulteur a Rennes.) Communicated 

 by W. Hamilton, M.B. Aug. 1838. 



NORTH AMERICA. 



A South Sea Explowig Expedition has just been fitted out by the American 

 government, and will sail on the 12th of August, 1838, The expedition con- 

 sists of two frigates, two store ships with crews, amounting in all to about 500 

 men. The flower of the American naturalists are engaged in it ; some being 

 selected from every branch of natural history. Mr. W. D. Brackenridge is 

 engaged as the horticulturist. In short, this expedition is got up with great 

 spirit; and the results, it is expected, will be highly creditable to the country. 

 The expedition is expected to be absent about three years. — W. U. B, Phila- 

 delphia, Aug. 8. 1838. 



The New York Horticidtural Society is defunct. This has arisen from a 

 sort of apathy that prevails in those parts with respect to every thing that 

 does not bring in money. In Boston, horticultural and other societies succeed 

 to a charm. When the exhibition of dahlias took place in New York in 1836, 

 it was advertised in six of the most widely circulated papers in the city every 

 day for a week, with twelve white flags flying on twelve omnibuses, stating 

 when and where the exhibition was, and after four days' toil the produce was 

 163 dollars. My friend, Mr. Samuel Walker of Boston, this spring (1837), by 

 exhibiting his bed of tulips four days, made over 150 dollars, at 25 cents each 

 admittance, and his garden is at Roxbury four miles from Boston. The ex- 

 hibition of dahlias in Boston this year (1837) produced in four days, taken at 

 the doors, 850 dollars and 25 cents. Philadelphia is especially successful 

 with exhibitions. So much for the diffusion of taste. — W. Neale. New York, 

 Dec. 30. 1837. 



Art. III. Domestic Notices. 



SCOTLAND. 



The New Bmying-Ground at Dundee is now much frequented, as a pro- 

 menade, both by town's people and strangers ; though, from the severity of 



