174 
COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
for sites to build upon, at Little Sheffield. The site in question is 
within one mile of the centre of Sheffield, and not a hundred yards 
from the great London road ; in the middle of the estate is a spot of 
about 10 acres, the best adapted for a Botanic Garden of any thing 
I ever saw. It has within that space table ground, steep hill, and 
low land, hard spring water, soft spring water, and a small stream; 
the general surface dips to the south, and faces one of the best land¬ 
scapes of the country. There are two approaches to this favoured 
spot, and each is to be protected with a lodge. Now what I want is, 
for you to raise your powerful voice and able pen in favour of a Bo¬ 
tanic Garden at this place, for I know no where in which there are 
more good amateur gardeners than at Sheffield, and being in your 
own immediate neighbourhood, and acquainted as you must be with 
all the good gardeners in the country. I have no doubt, but that a 
suggestion from you, would have the effect of producing a public 
meeting in Sheffield, of all those who take pleasure in the interesting 
science of Botany. From being constantly on the wing, I have but 
littfe time to do more than suggest to others, what appears to me to 
be of utility in a particular district, and in the hope that the sugges¬ 
tion here made may have its effect, in inducing you to entertain and 
promulgate it through the medium of your Register; I consign it to 
your care with many thanks for your attention to my son’s letter. 
J. D. 
P. S. I am about making the experiment of fruit gardens with 
small dairy farms for a noble Earl in Kent, concerning which I may 
probably write you some particulars in the course of the ensuing 
month. 
Preserving Walnuts. —In answer to the enquiry of W. M. 
page 90. I recommend that, when fully matured, the nuts to be 
carefully plucked by hand, selecting the finest fruit, and using the 
same degree of caution that is due in plucking apples, so as not to 
bruise or crush the rind or hull; and then spread them singly on 
shelves or on a dry floor, scarcely permitting any one to come in 
contact with another: after they have lain a month or six weeks, 
give them a very light covering of chaff cut from clean wheat straw. 
When wanted for the table, the rind or hull will cleave from, and 
leave the shell clean and fresh; and the kernel will also peel, and be 
found equally well-flavoured during the entire year as when first 
plucked. Although I obtained the above information by one of my 
• wicked pranks when a boy, yet it will not on that account be one 
whit less efficacious to W. M. if fairly adopted. H. Dyson 
Doncaster , Feb. 4th, 1833. 
