MELLAGETTA PEPPEK. 
29 
of Geant des Batailles Rose, which, have been exposed to a temperature of 16°, bqt still promise to 
open ; and on Christmas-day last, we gathered a very nicely-expanded hud of the same kind from a plant 
quite unprotected. With the simple protection of glass, autumnal Roses might be had in abundance 
until Christmas, and a house so arranged with an admixture of Chrysanthemums, &c., would have a 
most charming effect. The frame-work of the Rose-house being in the dressed ground might through 
the summer he covered with summer climbers, and climbing Roses budded with the perpetual kinds, 
which might hang in festoons from the rafters. Standing upon the inner walls is shown a row of 
Strawberry pots in fruit; or a border one foot deep and nine inches wide, might be partitioned off by 
bricks on edge, in which strawberries might he planted, and Russian violets in the Rose-house. 
In planting these houses, we propose to train the trees, whether fruits or roses, into pyramids, tall 
and short alternately, the tall growing to the top of the house, and the short ones about four feet high. 
These will be placed so that the sun w T ill shine over the small trees to the larger ones on the opposite 
side of the pathway, and so all will he alike exposed to light. Trees trained into the pyramidal form 
will present a much larger surface than when trained flat; and we see no reason why peaches and 
apricots should not he covered with natural spurs the same as pears and plums. 
Although we have heard it remarked by a learned authority, since the above was written, that it 
was not fair to draw comparisons between glass walls and such contrivances as this, until the former 
had been properly proved, we must take the liberty of stating, that if any reason can be shown why 
glass walls should not be adopted, the sooner it is done the better, for if they are what they are repre¬ 
sented to be, no opposition that can be urged against them will be of any avail. We, however, advise 
all who read these pages to pause before they adopt them, for it is quite certain that glass can be 
turned to a much more profitable purpose than for the construction of walls. It is certainly not an 
economical application of glass to use it as Mr. Ewing does—viz., more than twenty feet to cover two 
superficial surface of ground, while it is quite certain that this might be made to cover sixteen feet. 
Making the best of glass walls, glass-houses must be very preferable to them; but we do not want 
them put up on the cheap plan. What is worth doing in gardening matters is worth doing well, and 
we are quite sure will be the most economical in the end. 
Since the above was written we have seen a scheme similar to our own, from Mr. Spencer of 
Bo wood, particulars of which we hope to give hereafter.—A. 
MELLAGETTA PEPPER. 
^ELLAGETTA PEPPER is produced by the Amomum Granum Paradisi, synonymous, according 
'A to Sir W. J. Hooker, with the A. grandiflorum (Smith), the A. exscapum (Sims), and the A. 
Afzelii (Roscoe). The term Melegueta, or Mellegetta Pepper, has been applied to several zingibera- 
ceous plants. It has usually, observes Dr. Periera, been considered synonymous with the terms 
Grains of Paradise, and Guinea Grains. Melegueta Pepper is said to have been known in Italy before 
the discovery of the Guinea coast by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century. It was brought by the 
Moors, who used to cross the region of Mandingha, and the deserts of Libya, and carry it to Mundi 
Barca (or Monte de Barca), a port in the Mediterranean. The Italians, not knowing the place of its 
origin, as it is so precious a spice, called it Gran a Paradisi. Another kind of Amomum, known as 
Melegueta Pepper, is the A. Melegueta (Roscoe), figured in that author’s work on scitamineous plants. 
The fruits of both kinds seem to be indifferently employed in lieu of pepper in Western Africa, and are 
esteemed the most wholesome of spices, and generally used by the natives to season their food. 
The principal consumption of Grains of Paradise in Europe is in veterinary medicine, and to give 
an artificial strength to spirits, wine, beer, and vinegar. Although the seeds are by no means inju¬ 
rious, an act was passed (56 Geo. III., c. 58) that no brewer, or dealer in beer, shall have in his pos¬ 
session, or use, Grains of Paradise, under a penalty of £200 for each offence, and no druggist shall sell 
it to a brewer under a penalty of £500 for each offence. (Pot. Mag.) 
The plant which produces this spice is of very curious structure. From a mass of tuberous knobs, 
