Collections and Recollections. S(c. 525 
Twelfth, — Has the present system been duly considered according^ to its 
merits? And are the public confounding it with those puerile attempts 
which have lately been carried to an extent that has deranged all confidence 
betwixt the inventor and those whose capabilities ought to have given every 
encouragement? 
Thirteenth, — Is not the inventor of the present system a real practical gar- 
dener ? which was not the case with any of the new methods which have 
lately appeared. Answers to these, will oblige, 
A GARDENER OF THE OLD SCHOOL, 
Who has practised near half a century. 
IT.— COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
To Polish Shells. — "If the shell has the animal alive in it, and you want to kill 
it, nothing more is necessary than to dip the shell and fish in boiling water, and 
after some minutes have elapsed, plunge them into cold water, which condenses 
the fish, and renders it easier to be extracted. Crooked wires and other sharp 
instrume.its, are sometimes necessary to effect a perfect extraction. After the 
animal is taken out, if yon have a large quantity to clean, dissolve half-a-pound 
of potash and half-a-pound of soft soap in two quarts of boiling water, stirring it 
until all the particles are dissolved. Then pour it warm over the shells, and let 
them remain in this liquid two or three days, frequently warming it, and pouring 
it over them. Rinse them out of this with a brush, and cleanse them well in 
warm water. This method will generally be sufficient to clean all smooth shells, 
such as Olives, Cowries, Cones, &c. When dry, brush them with a nail brush, 
and if they are not dead shells they will have a sufficient polish. 
"Rugged shells generally require a different process from the preceding, though 
it is prudent to try that method first, but when the shells are covered with adhe- 
sions, or the epidermis will not separate from the shell, it is necessary to use acid, 
which should always be applied with a careful and a skilful hand. After the 
shells have undergone the foregoing process and are dry, with a camel's-hair 
pencil apply muriatic acid to the parts which require it, dipping the brush in sand, 
and using constant friction until the adhesions are removed. After this, cleanse 
them in warm water, and dip them in alkali, to neutralize the effects of any acid 
that may remain. Then cleanse them again in warm water, and with a soft brush 
put a weak solution of gum arable over them." T. K, S. 
To Destroy the Red Spider in Vineries. — In the month of February, or 
March, when the houses are white-washed, put to about every four gallons of 
white-wash, twelve oz. of sulphur vivum ; then wash the whole house over with it, 
taking care not to come nearer the furnace-end of the flue than six or seven feet, 
or when strong fires are made, the effluvia will rise too powerfully, and probably 
injure the Vines, &c. The best way is to wash close to the furnace over with 
plain white-wash. John Woolley. 
Ill —SOCIETIES, 
CONNECTED WITH HORTICULTURE AND NATURAL HISTORY. 
LONDON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
At the Meeting of this Society, held on the 6th of March, an interesting paper by Mr. John 
Wilson, one of the Under-Gardeuers in the Garden at Chiswick, " On the Cultivation and 
Curing- of Tobacco, for g.irden purposes," was read. A large-leaved variety of the Virginian 
Tobacco, (seeds of vvliich had been received from the Sandwich Islands,) was the sort experi- 
mented on, and the specimens whirb illustrated the communication, bore testimony to the 
efficacy of the mode adopted in effecting the desired object. Grafts of the most esteemed of 
Mr. Knight's new Seedling Pears, and of bis Sweet Red Currant, were distributed during the 
Meeliiig. The exhibition contained .losephine Pears; some excellent specimens of Coffee, both 
