NOTES CULTURAL, CRITICAL, AND SUGGESTIVE. 
NOTES, CULTURAL, CEITICAL, AND SUGGESTIVE. 
Meudon Pine Culture.- — The following are the details of this mode of culture : — The suckers are 
potted in four-inch pots in August or September, the earliest period after the fruit is cut being preferred, 
and in these four-inch pots they remain till spring. In March or April following a bed is prepared, 
half dung and half leaves, and covered -with ten inches of peat soil, and into this the rooted suckers, 
turned out of the four-inch pots, are all planted for the summer. In October the plants are carefully 
taken up with a little soil at their roots, which are not at all cut, and potted into seven-inch pots, in 
which they remain during the winter. In the following spring, about March, when the plants show 
fruit, a number of the strongest are selected for the purpose of being turned out of the seven-inch pots, 
and finally planted, free, in a bed of peat soil, in houses, where they remain to ripen their fruit in the 
course of the season. The remainder, not so planted out, are fruited without being shifted out of the 
seven-inch pots. Beds of half dung and half leaves are prepared about March, and when the heat has 
been properly regulated the plants arc plunged, and there in the seven-inch pots they are fruited. It 
thus appears that the plants are always in pots in winter. The suckers are in small pots the first 
winter. The plants are turned out into peat soil, free, during the first summer. All are repotted into 
seven-inch pots, and so kept during the second winter. In the second summer the strongest are planted 
out of the pots into peat soil for fruiting, and the remainder are fruited in the seven-inch pots, plunged 
in beds of dung and leaves, — R. Thompson in Jour. Hort. Soc. 
Distribution of Islands in a Lake.- — The distribution of islands in a lake or pond requires some 
judgment ; they will always appear more natural when sufficiently near the shore, on either side, to 
maintain in appearance some connection with it. Although islands do sometimes occur near the 
middle of natural lakes, yet the effect is by no means good, as it not only breaks and distracts the 
effect of the whole expanse by dividing it into two distinct parts, but it always indicates a shallowness 
or want of depth where the water should be deepest. There are two situations where it is universally 
admitted that islands may be happily introduced. These are at the inlet and the exit of the body of 
water. In many cases where the stream which supplies the lake is not remarkable for size, and will 
add nothing to the appearance of the whole view from the usual points of sight, it may be concealed 
by an island or small group of islands, placed at some little distance in front of it. The head or dam 
of a lake, too, is often necessarily so formal and abrupt, that it is difficult to make it appear natural 
and in good keeping with the rest of the margin. The introduction of an island or two, placed near 
the main shore on either side, and projecting as far as possible before the dam, will greatly diminish 
this disagreeable formality, particularly if well clothed with a rich tuft of shrubs and overhanging 
bushes. Except in these two instances, islands should be generally placed opposite the salient points 
of the banks, or near those places where small breaks or promontories run out into the water. In such 
situations they will increase the irregularity of the outline and lend it additional spirit and animati on 
Should they, on the other hand, bo seated in or near the marginal curves and indentations, they will 
only serve to clog up the recesses ; and, while their own figures are lost in these little bays, where 
they are hidden, by lessening the already existing irregularities they will render the whole outline 
tame and spiritless. — Downing's Landscape Gardening. 
Quince Marmalade. — This should be made with ripe fruit ; let them hang on the tree till one falls 
to the ground, then gather the crop. Pare, quarter, and core them ; but scrupulously save every pip. 
The pips of Ouinces abound in mucilage, as may be perceived by taking one into the mouth and 
chewing it, when it will make the lips stick together as a piece of gum arabic would. Put the Quinces 
with the pips into a stew-pan, with a sufficiency of lump-sugar, and just enough water at the bottom 
to keep them from burning. As the sugar dissolves and the liquor boils, continue stirring the whole 
mass. When the fruit becomes tender, break and mash it well with a spoon. In about an hour from 
the commencement of the operation, it will be done enough. It may then be turned out into preserve 
jars ; a portion should be put into shapes, to be used at dessert in the same way as Bullace and Damson 
cheese. The next morning it ought to be perfectly stiff and gelatinous, from the strong mucilage of 
the pips having been thoroughly incorporated with the whole mass. The quantity of sugar used may 
be rather less than is necessary for other preserves. If tied down the usual way it will keep good for 
a long time. The medicinal qualities of this preparation are applicable to those cases in which muci- 
lage is administered internally; and a pot of Uuincc marmalade would be as agreeable a prescription 
to a dysurctic patient as a dish of roasted Onions, or a dose of Linseed jelly. 
Silt 
