time, that rara avis in terris," the black swan of Van Dieman's Land, with its splendid red bill. Closely observing his habits, he appeared to us a much more lively and animated bird than the white; and such we learned to be the case from a guide who attended us, and is in the habit of noticing him daily the neck did not appear to be quite so long as that of the white swan. Amongst them were a number of fine geese, which the guide called "American." Passing the bridge under which the water falls, we soon arrived at the house, which appears very old, and fast going to ruin: the rooms are spacious, and contain some excellent paintings. On remarking to our guide that the house appeared much neglected and going to decay, he said, "he supposed His present Lordship would not rebuild it, but that there was every probability of Lord Boyle's (the eldest son) doing so, as he was greatly attached to the place, and always quitted it with tears in his eyes for England, where the family chiefly reside since the death of the amiable countess, who seems to have been almost adored by the people here. Our guide added a piece of intelligence, which to us was most unwelcome, that, since her death, about seven years ago, the chief flower-garden, in which she spent most of her time, has not been entered by any person but the gardener and the assistants, though it is said to be kept in as neat order as ever." As a recompense for this disappointment, he conducted us over a wooden bridge, on a distant part of the canal, to another garden most delightfully situate on the side of a hill gently sloping to the south, and embosomed in a thick wood, through which a winding pathway, planted on each side with the choicest evergreens, led to the entrance gate. Here we were delighted to find a number of half-hardy shrubs, apparently acclimated in a high degree, if we were to judge from their great size and healthy condition; amongst them the Magnòlia grandiflòra and conspicua, Kálmia latifòlia, myrtles of every kind, with numerous others. I never saw the Chinese roses, odorata and índica, half so large or healthy as against the green-house wall, with a south-eastern aspect: perhaps the yellow rose would answer equally well here, if tried. In the green-house, or conservatory, which is indeed a mean one, and ill suited to so extensive a place, we observed a very fine Nèrium spléndens, Brugmansia arbòrea, and Acàcia, I believe, decípiens. In mentioning the acclimated shrubs in the garden, I omitted Camellia japónica, which seemed quite as hardy as the Prunus Lauro-cérasus in its neighbourhood outside, and forming as numerous blossom buds, and as forward, as some under glass. The myrtle is said to thrive particularly well in this part of the country, which lies within four or five miles of the southern coast, from which sea sand is procured for its cultivation. Some that I observed at Youghall, near this, were at least 20 ft. high and well furnished, and required no protection during the winter season. The Arbutus Unèdo, our favourite native, was here, on the banks of the canal, in higher perfection and vigour than I found it at Killarney. A vast number of the inhabitants of the sweet village of Castlemartyr, adjoining the demesne, are kept employed almost constantly, not a withered leaf being allowed to remain beyond a day on the walks; indeed, it exceeds in neatness of keeping many places of note which I have visited in England.-A. B. C. Cork, Oct. 5. 1829.

ART. IV. Rural Architecture.

TOLL-GATE Houses in the neighbourhood of London have been a good deal improved within the last seven or ten years, and it were much to be wished that only the most elegant compositions of this kind were erected all over the country; because they could not fail to have an influence on the general taste in matters of architecture. Toll-gates and parochial or village

taste; because they are inevitably seen by every body, and the latter when we are young and open to impressions. We should be glad if some of our architectural readers would send us perspective views or isometrical elevations of this description of buildings, and in the mean time we shall make the commencement by giving a view of a toll-house lately erected at Edgeware. (fig. 76.) On the summit of the cupola of this house there was

originally a lamp with three burners and three separate reflectors. Two of the reflectors directed the light along the road in opposite directions, to show what might be coming or departing on either hand; the third reflector threw the light directly across the road, and down on the gate, for the purposes of the gate-keeper and those passing through. After this light had remained between two and three years it was taken down, as being too brilliant, and as having frightened some horses; but it surely might have been softened so as to be retained. Where there are two gates, a lamppost is very properly placed between them, as is now done at Edgeware, which answers all the purposes of the cupola and triple lamp formerly there.

Isometrical (isos equal, and metron, measure) Perspective. As some of our young readers may not clearly understand what is meant by this term, and as that description of perspective is particularly adapted for drawing plans of kitchen-gardens, we give the following extract from Waistell's Designs for Agricultural Buildings: "Isometrical perspective is a term given recently by Professor Farish of Cambridge, to a projection made in rays parallel to the diagonal of a cube upon a plane perpendicular thereto. This is a comprehensive and useful method of exhibiting the different parts of a homestead, and any person moderately acquainted with drawing, if they make the attempt, will find it extremely easy to perform; nothing more being required than to divide a circle into six equal parts, which may be done with the radius; and draw the hexagon and three radii, one radius to every other angle, to represent a cube. (fig. 77.) All the vertical or plumb lines in any design are then to be drawn parallel to a b; all those in the direction, say north and south, parallel to a c; and all those at right angles or perpendicular to the last, or in the direction east and west, parallel to ad; and the several heights, lengths, and breadths, being taken from a scale of equal parts, and set off, and lines drawn in these three directions, the projection is produced. The position of any point, or the direction of any other line, may be found, by finding where the first would fall upon any plane parallel to either of the three sides of the cube, and where the latter, if produced, would cross any line in the three directions." (Designs, &c., p. 91.)

The Duke of Wellington's House, Piccadilly, in the garden front (fig. 78.), presents what we think may be called one of the most disagreeable anomaany buildlies in regular architecture we ever beheld. We do not recollect

ing in London that to our eye produces so bad an effect; certainly nothing so offensive in any building in which two elevations out of three are of such

perfect dignity and beauty. Though no reason which it is in the power of man to give would convince us that this northern elevation was justifiable on any received principle of architectural design, yet, we must confess, we should like to know what reason prevailed with the architect so as to induce his consent to the disposition of the windows in the projections as seen in the sketch. (fig. 78.) We will not allow that it was required by the internal arrangement, because we know what that arrangement is; and we know also that some of the windows are false, and if some why not more, or not so many, or a different size or disposition? — Cond.

ART. V. Domestic Economy.

BREWING Beer from Mangold Wurzel.- Mr. Reuben Earnshaw, of Kirkburton, near Barnsley, lately made an experiment by brewing the roots of the mangold wurzel. He says, that when the roots are sliced and drained through a sieve, and treated by a process the same as in ordinary brewing, adding two pounds of treacle to a bushel of the roots, they will produce as much good liquor, with a quartern of hops, as four pecks of malt. (Scotsman, March 6. 1830.)

Spirit from the Berries of the Mountain Ash. — The berries, when perfectly ripe, are first exposed to the action of cold in the open air, then put into a wooden vessel, bruised, and boiling water poured on, the whole being stirred until it has sunk in temperature to 82° Fahr. A proper quantity of yest is then added, the whole covered up, and left to ferment. When the fermentation is over, the liquor is to be put into the still, and drawn over in the usual way. The first running is weak and disagreeable in flavour; but being distilled from off very fresh finely powdered charcoal, in the proportion of 8 or 9 lbs. to 40 gallons of weak spirit, a very fine product is obtained. The charcoal should remain in the liquid two or three days before the second distillation. (Brande's Quarterly Journal.)

The berries of the mountain ash resemble those of the grape, in containing sugar and natural yest, in the due proportions to produce a perfect and spontaneous fermentation. The juice being expressed and left to ferment, when the wine is perfect it may be distilled, and an excellent brandy will be obtained, at the rate of about a pint of spirit to a gallon of juice. (Dr. Lardner's Cyclopædia, vol. iii. Dom. Econ.)

No gardener ought to be without a bottle of whisky, or of some other wholesome spirit. The berries mentioned abound in most shrubberries, and by borrowing a small still from the housekeeper they may easily be turned to account. This hint, we should hope, will be sufficient.- Cond.

Brandy [and probably Spirit of any Kind] is found an antidote to beer, and it has been proved by medical men in France, that a man intoxicated by drinking the latter will be rendered immediately sober by a glass or two of the former. Intoxication by either wine or spirits is counteracted by vinegar. Hence Lord Byron preferred a glass of port and a glass of claret alternately to either alone. - Cond.

The Croup, one of the most dangerous and rapid of the diseases of children, may be effectually checked by the external application to the throat of equal parts of camphor, spirits of wine, and hartshorn, well mixed together.-J. M. Edinburgh, April 2. 1830. ·

A new Corn Mill is now exhibiting at No. 175. High Holborn, London, of which much is said in commendation. The mill occupies a space but 5 ft. square, and is perfectly portable. It is propelled by a single horse, and by one operation will grind and bolt 1 cwt. of grain per hour. The firsts, seconds, pollard, and bran perfectly separated. The stones are formed upon a new principle, of which the basis is the French Burr. Cond

ART. VI. Hints for Improvements.

PLANTED Cemetery at Liverpool. - We have heard something of a very remarkable cemetery, which has been formed at Liverpool, and planted by Mr. Shepherd: we should be much obliged to Mr. Shepherd, or to any other gentleman in the neighbourhood, who would send us a full account of it, accompanied by a plan and a list of the trees. No gardens want dressing so much as those of churches. If we could purchase 500 acres of the poorest possible dry soil within twenty-five miles of London, we would lay it out as an arboretum and place of burial for all sects and parties, and, were it not for the church, we should say for the metropolis, A railroad and locomotive engine might convey corpses thither once a day, and company at all hours. Those who had near relations buried in the arboretum, should be free of it for seven years; all others should pay a shilling each. The requisite chapels for different sects would serve as ornamental buildings; the poor soil would become enriched and the trees would thrive; and at half the burial fees now taken the establishment would pay.

Cond.

The Establishment of a Fund for the Relief of poor Gardeners and their Widows, as proposed by Mr. French (Vol. V. p. 729.), is a good idea, and deserves support. I have recommended that London should be fixed on as the situation for a central society, and there should be agents in the principal country towns; or that it should be an understood thing, that the secretary of every provincial horticultural society should be in communication with the secretary of the central society. As few gardeners belong to other benefit societies, most of them would readily join this one, and I also think it would be handsomely supported by honorary members who are friends to gardening, and by nurserymen and other commercial gardeners. I hope this matter will not be lost sight of by my brethren, and offer my hearty thanks to Mr. French for having thrown out the suggestion. I am, Sir, &c.-James Rollins. Liverpool, Jan. 7. 1830.

A Substitute for Glass in Hot-houses. Dining, a few days since with a scientific friend, he, previously to our summons to the dining-room, enquired if I would like a peep into his vinery. Replying in the affirmative, and that it was a hobby of mine, we entered it. My attention was more caught with the contents of the house than the materials of its structure; but on his informing me that there was not a foot of glass in it, I looked up, and not perceiving any difference from glass in the light or colour, I did not know what he meant. On closer examination, I found that the whole of his vinery was lighted with a vegetable production from Russia, which I think my friend called Tout [Tale? a mineral, however], and described it as answering every purpose of glass. No hail storm, nor even the stroke of a hammer, can break it; fire has no effect upon it, and it may be cut with a pair of scissors. He considers it cheaper than glass, and he has sent me a sheet of it, which peels off into several sheets of thinner substance. I intend to try it myself in my next vinery, so fully am I satisfied of its advan. G. G. Birmingham, May 16. 1829. tages. I am, Sir, &c.

Rules of Horticultural Societies. Sir, Allow me again to suggest that advantages of some importance might be derived from a compilation, or rather an abstract of the rules of the numerous horticultural societies, the proceedings of which you publish. By making known the best regulations, and pointing out those which are defective, new institutions might be formed, which would promise more beneficial results than many now seem calculated to effect; the competition might be more fairly arranged by classing more accurately the individuals who compete; medals ought to be confined to the best productions, the treatment of which is detailed; marketgardeners should be excited to rivalry, and cottagers and manufacturers.