400 Notices of Communications to the Society, of which 



as possible. In this situation, it will retain its quality, 

 and be fit for use, many weeks after the period, at which 

 it would have decayed, or become useless, in a common 

 fruit room : the only attention necessary is, not to expose 

 the fruit, when wanted, to the air, until a few minutes 

 before it is to be used. Mr. Braddick observes, that when 

 the thermometer is under 50°, and above the freezing point, 

 which is always the case in a good wine cellar, the juices of 

 the fruit remain, for any definite time, without variation in 

 their qualities ; but that, as soon as the fruit is received into 

 a warmer atmosphere, the change of temperature produces 

 such an effect on the vital powers of the fruit, that decompo- 

 sition and decay quickly follow. 



At the same meeting, Roger Wilbraham, Esq. ex- 

 hibited a basket of Blood-red Potatoes, which were, at this 

 time, in a perfectly good state for dressing. They were 

 of considerable size ; and are much cultivated in Cheshire, 

 where they sell at a higher price, than other sorts, being 

 held in great estimation, in consequence of their continuing 

 good for use, when all other potatoes are gone by. 



September 3, 1816. John Knight, Esq. of Lee Castle, 

 near Kidderminster, sent to the Society a quantity of the 

 fruit of the Dimocarpus Longan, ripened by him, this sum- 

 mer, in a stove, erected for the purpose of growing tro- 

 pical fruits. He afterwards presented the Society with a 

 drawing, made by Mr. Hooker, of a bunch of the fruit, 

 from which the engraving, which accompanies this Notice 

 was made. Two species of Dimocarpus have been introduced 



