192 
TIIE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, June 29, 1858. 
producing flowers, which occupied a considerable portion of 
s t age-room, and enhanced the beauty of the exhibition. 
Messrs. Cunningham, Fraser, and Co., Comely Bank 
Nursery, had, among other productions of merit, some fine 
blooms of Roses, among which was conspicuous a rich spike 
of the fine Tea Rose, Cloth of Gold. It was much admired, 
and shows to what perfection this queen of flowers can be 
brought, even in our northern clime. 
Mr. W. Young, South Bridge, exhibited an elaborately- 
executed glazed case, filled with nice flowering plants in pots, 
and also some nicely flowered early forcing Geraniums, which 
show how much may be done by the zealous amateur, even 
amid the city smoke. 
Some fine spikes of Muscari comosmn , var, rnonstrosum , 
were exhibited by Miss Yule, Broughton Park. 
John Gibson, Esq., Woolmet, in addition to competition 
articles, exhibited a fine stand of Roses, including two seedlings 
which were much admired. 
The contributions to the kitchen vegetable department, 
! though small in quantity, were of superior quality. In ad¬ 
dition to the prize articles, we noticed, from Mrs. Brydon, 
Murrayfield, some fine Turnips and Cabbages, and a magnifi- 
! cent bunch of Rhubarb, weighing sixty-three pounds, 
Mr. J. Taylor, Inverleith, and Mr, Stewart, Bangholm, 
also had some very fine bunches of Turnips, Broccoli, and 
, Cabbage. 
The hall was well filled throughout the day, with a numerous 
and respectable company, who seemed highly gratified with 
! the rich, intellectual treat provided for them. 
By the kind permission of Major C. Inge, the band of the 
1st Staffordshire Militia was in attendance, and performed a 
selection of the most popular and fashionable music. 
THE POTATO MURRAIN. 
This neighbourhood has been visited with a most terrific 
storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied with very heavy 
rain. It began about half-past twelve o’clock, and continued till 
near two o’clock this morning (June 17th). The lightning 
was very vivid; the flashes succeeding each other in quick 
succession, so much so as to light the surface of the earth for 
nearly half a minute at a time. On looking over my crops of 
early Potatoes I find some of the leaves attacked with the old 
form of disease. I inclose a few for your inspection. The 
kinds attacked most seem to be the Handsworth Seedling , 
and a variety called Hen's Nest, both early round kinds. We 
could not see the least trace of the scorched appearance on 
the leaves before this morning, although minutely examined 
daily. Is not the disease making its appearance, on the leaves 
at least, much sooner than usual, as the tubers are but just 
forming—about as large as Peas ? And does not this instance 
strengthen the opinion, that to electricity, or the state of the 
air during severe thunder storms, may be attributed, in some 
degree, the cause of the disease ? After such occurrences, 
it seems to make its appearance, regardless of any particular 
; time, or stage of growth. 
This being a late locality, the tubers will not be fit for 
table for several weeks yet; so I cannot report thereon. 
I hasten to send you this communication, so that your 
corespondents from earlier districts may give us some in¬ 
formation as to the appearance of their crops; and I hope 
our Potato friend, Mr. Bennett, will let us know how they 
are looking around Worcester. I never saw them look stronger, 
; or more promising, than they do at this time here.—G. T.°F., 
near LeeJc , Staffordshire. 
The Caebageen Moss.—To preserve it for esculent pur¬ 
poses, it must be washed in fresh water and then left to dry, 
when it soon becomes horny to the touch, and resists pressure. 
If boiled, it subsides into a thick colourless jelly, that is 
thought to be very nutritive, and is employed for many pur¬ 
poses. Invalids take it in their tea, or epicures in their blanc¬ 
mange. Calico-printers boil it down into size, and use it in 
their manufactures. It is said to be a good fattening sub- 
stance for calves, if boiled in milk ; and, lastly, pigs are very 
; fond of it when it is mixed with Potatoes or meal. It is 
sometimes known by the name of “ Irish Moss.” It will grow 
in an aquarium. ( The Common Objects of the Sea-shore .) 
PEGGING DOWN VERBENAS. 
Allusion having been made, in The Cottage Gaedenee, 
to the difficulty and expense of procuring hair-pins, I beg, for 
the information of your readers, to say, that they can be 
purchased in this town (Southampton) for lO£d. per pound, 
and that they average twenty-five in each packet, there being 
twelve packets, or thereabouts, to the pound. I have used 
them for the last two years, and find them very beneficial and 
cheap for pegging Verbenas, Petunias, Ac, I enclose one of 
the pins to show you that they are really good.—H. J. 
Buchan. 
[They are stout and about three inches long,—E d.] 
THE FRESH WATER AQUARIUM. 
(Continued from page 87.] 
EECTANGULAE TANKS. 
The rectangular tank is much to be preferred to the cir¬ 
cular aquarium ; for, besides the advantage of a ready in¬ 
spection of the whole of its contents at once, it is stronger, 
and, if of plate glass, unaffected by changes of temperature. 
The framework may be of wood or iron, the glass being j 
fixed in grooves,by either Scott or Davy’s cement, or white or , 
red lead putty; in the latter casesjrequiring a month’s setting. | 
It would occupy more space than is desirable, were I to ! 
state the numerous misfortunes which have befallen me in the j 
use of sheet glass, as a material for glazing rectangular vessels. 
A small one, holding about four gallons, with sides one- 
eighth of an inch in thickness, starred off at each corner, 
merely from changes in the atmosphere. 
My advice to all aquarians then, is—In the construction of 
an aquarium, never use any glass of a less thickness than 
three-sixteenths (of an inch) plate. 
THE COTTAGEE’S TANK. 
I have seen aquaria with bottom slabs, corner uprights, 
and top rail, of plain mahogany or deal, manufactured by 
young men unable to purchase of the regular dealers,—all the 
ornamental parts of one having been finished with a pen- j 
knife. After a little seasoning these vessels become quite I 
water-tight. 
INDIA-EUBBEE JOINTS. 
A safe, and most durable, regulating joint for the corner 8 1 
of rectangular tanks, has been introduced by Mr. J. Russelb 
and is represented in the accompanying engraving. W. is the 
mahogany or iron corner pillar in horizontal section. By the I 
screws S., placed three inches above each other, slips of one- 
twelfth of an inch vulcanised India rubber are kept pressed 
firmly against the surface of the plate glass sides, G. G., 
so that no liquid can possibly pass through the joint. The 
grooves in the slate slab S., at the base, are stopped with white 
lead putty in the usual -way, and varnished, when thoroughly | 
set, with shellac dissolved in spirits of wine. 
