get themselves or their sons made dentists without loss of time. We recommend the subject to our esteemed contemporary the editor of the Mechanics' Magazine and Spirit of Literature. Cond.

Ear-rings are an idolatrous and heathenish abomination. As the sun shineth, I believe them to be unsightly relics of a barbarous age. If we are to retain the customs of savages, why exempt the nose from its annular appendage? (New Monthly Magazine, July, 1830. p. 18.)

We have always been of this opinion. The use of cosmetics and of various appendages to heighten beauty is natural, because they are in imitation of nature; but rings, like tattooing, are an outrage. We have found many ladies who, though agreeing with us, continued the custom, because their ears were bored. We do not think this a sufficient reason; but, nevertheless, let every lady follow her own taste. To parents, however, we would address ourselves, and entreat of them not to have their children's ears perforated till they attain the age of maturity. When the fashion of leaving off ear-rings becomes general among the higher classes, it will soon pervade those which are below them, and that money and care now bestowed on these barbarous ornaments may be transferred to the teeth, to which the lower and middling classes of Englishwomen are perhaps rather deficient in attention. - Cond.

With regard to Mr. Owen's Plan for reforming all Classes I have given some consideration to his plan, read his books, and also entered largely into his doctrines. I cannot say, however, that I either approve of them, or think them practicable. It appears to me that no perfect community of interest can exist between different people, unless they know that their union must be; and that, whether they succeed or fail, are happy or miserable, satisfied or discontented, they are obliged to remain with each other; having no wealth but what is derived from a common source, and being compelled to make the best they can of their situation, without the possibility of changing it but by losing a portion of their own respectability and consequence in the world. This perfect and permanent union, which can only exist between husband and wife, or parent and child, seems to me indispensable to the happiness of those who live constantly with each other; for, without some ties of equal potency, the jarring tempers and discordant habits of human beings can never be amalgamated into one perfect mass. All communities that have been hitherto presented to my observation have been sources of misery. I was a short time a boarder in a convent, and I was disgusted with the petty quarrels, the envies, hatreds, and jealousies that · corroded the bosoms of the good nuns. I have seen the same effects produced in boarding-schools and boarding-houses, and have heard of them in regiments where the families of the respective officers form a species of community something similar to that proposed by Mr. Owen. I also think that, constituted as we are, men and women cannot live together without feeling sentiments of a more violent nature than is consistent with Mr. Owen's ideas of tranquil happiness. It is an old and trite remark, that male and female servants in the same house must always be either quarrelling or making love, and I am sure it is the same in boarding-houses. Besides which, I do not think that the human breast can share its inmost recesses with more than one: when others are admitted, it is only into the outer courts; the adytum is held sacred, and is then only occupied by self. Mr. Owen, I believe, says that we are the creatures of circumstances, and that we are often good or bad solely from the characters by which we are surrounded, or the events which may have chanced to bring our passions into play. This, to a certain extent, I am quite ready to admit. But, as a radish seed, though it may produce a finer or weaker plant according to the soil in which it may be sown, can never, under any circumstances, be forced to produce a cabbage, so the mind of any individual, though it may be modified and partially changed by education or other causes, can never be essentially altered. Its original character must remain the same; and, when powerfully excited, it will break forth. The acquired habits, indeed, are then like the clothes of a dancing dog tempted by the sight of his natural prey; they are either forgotten, or regarded as trifling impediments; and though they cannot be quite thrown aside, are at least obliged to become subservient to the stronger impulse of the moment.-J. W. Bath, May 10, 1830.

Permanent Relief to all Classes. - Whatever may be the temporary or partial alleviation of the present distress by Mr. Owen's scheme, or any other, we entirely agree with Lord King, “that we can only expect to derive permanent relief from our distresses and impoverishment in our condition, from the strictest economy in every branch of the public expenditure, from the abolition of all exclusive privileges [all those of the nobility, and especially hereditary legislation, included] and monopolies; from an unrestricted supply of the first necessaries of life, and of the materials of manufacture; and from a real free trade; by which the whole community, as consumers, will be greatly benefited, the labouring classes enabled to procure a fair reward, the capitalist to augment those funds by which all labour is supported, and the efficiency of British industry fully permitted to produce its natural result in enriching the country, and thus to restore and secure the public prosperity." (Lord King's Speech. Spectator, Feb. 7. 1830.) -The two principal means which will operate towards producing these aineliorations are the spread of political knowledge among all classes, and the pressure of public burdens on the middle ranks. The aristocracy would submit to the pressure of public burdens, because in the army, navy, and church they share the spoil; but the middling classes, who do not share in the spoil, will not submit to them much longer. It is singular that Lord King's resolutions, as delivered in the House of Lords in February last, and the most enlightened and liberal that ever were spoken there, of which the above quotation is the concluding one, should hardly have been noticed by the legislature, and only commented on by two newspapers, the Spectator and the Examiner, the latter the most consistent and independent in London. - Cond.

The Size of Fruits produced on trees, and suspended in the air, it has VOL. VI. No. 27.

I I

been proved by M. St. Hilaire, may be somewhat increased by supporting them. The fruit experimented on was the pear. It is curious that the Lancashire gooseberry-growers have long been doing nearly the same thing with their prize berries.

66

The Everlasting Potato, and the late Red Roger Potato. With regard to writing two words" upon them, they are not worth one, being nothing more than a small variety of the common potato; any of which may be cultivated to the same purpose, and in the same way: this being selected for its smallness, as more resembling new potatoes when taken up from its bed in winter; which bed, when the tops die in autumn, is to be thickly covered with litter or leaves, through which, in spring, the shoots will come up freely, and root in very thick clusters. The specimens sent are removed at a bad time, having tops to be pulled off; which if they do not reproduce or die, I will send you more, an you wish it. They are very common about here; and, in winter, form a delicate supper vegetable, having all the excellence of new potatoes (an there be any excellence), without their sweetish insipid wateriness. I send you also a most excellent variety of potato, here called the Red Roger, and highly esteemed by fancy solanists as a late sort, coming into eating about May, and keeping good till the great crop of others is quite ripe, while most vegetables are scant. It is, however, a very poor cropper. Mr. Murray, at dinner with me in July, thought this variety a treasure, and took some with him to Stranraer in Galloway. This is the Spider Murray who figures in your Magazine of Natural History. — John F.M.D. Westfelton, May 30. 1830.

ART. II. Foreign Notices.

FRANCE.

Paris, June 10. 1830.- Notwithstanding the severity of our winter, all the plants of Magnòlia grandiflora at Sceau have stood without losing any of their leaves. The Laurustinus and Alatérnus, the common whin, and some other evergreens, have been cut down to the ground. Cupressus sempervirens, at the least 40 years old, almost killed. Rhododendrons, and other evergreens, in southern exposures, killed or much injured, while those exposed to the north are unhurt. This, I believe, takes place in most countries, the injury being done by the sudden influence of the sun. Thos. Blaikie.

GERMANY.

Michael August Stoettner, of Nuremberg, has one of the most extensive assortments of pelargoniums on the Continent. We saw them in the autumn of 1828; and Mr. Stoettner, who has lately visited London, has presented us with his catalogue for 1829, which contains upwards of 430 names, with their authorities. This gentleman, who is an amateur, has, with the assistance of M. Reider, a well known gardening author of Nuremberg, commenced the Geraniacea there, after the manner of Sweet's. The engravings and colouring of this German Geraniacea, he says, are much superior to those of the English one; but this, till we see a specimen of the work, we must take the liberty of doubting. — Cond.

POLAND.

The Pfandbrief or Mortgage Society here had its origin in the following manner :- The landed proprietors in Poland, after the late wars and disturbances on the Continent, found themselves encumbered with debts, for which they were compelled to pay a high interest to Jewish and other money-lenders. The consequence was, that great numbers were either

obliged to sell their land, or find out some other way of paying. They applied to the Emperor Alexander for permission to establish a Society for lending money on land, which was granted. A person who borrows can receive one-fourth of the value of his estate, for which he pays during the space of twenty-eight years interest 6 per cent.; and 2 per cent. goes towards paying off the capital, and 4 per cent. is the interest, so that, at the end of twenty-eight years, both capital and interest are paid off. For greater security, every estate is liable, not only for its own debt, but for the debts of the whole. The government have a great many estates in their own hands, which they have begun to sell to the highest bidder. In order to facilitate their sale, they have taken from this Society as much money as it will lend them, and the person buying does not require a great sum of ready money, because he pays it off in twenty-eight years. An industrious farmer with 20007. might become a large landed proprietor. —J. L. Warsaw, May 13. 1830.

NORTH AMERICA.

The Osage Apple and Maclùra aurantiaca. Sir, On the 20th of last month I sent you a second osage apple [duly received], and I will send you trees, a male and female, next November, Deo volente. The fruit does ripen in this State. The tree is immensely valuable in its native region. It is so tough and elastic that the Indians make their bows of it, and it also affords a fine yellow dye.

Sweet Maize or Sweet Corn, · I send you also two ears of Indian corn, of the kind called "sweet corn," from its superior sweetness to all the other varieties of that inestimable grain, the magnum Dei donum to the United States, and to all climates in which it will ripen. I do not know whether this variety is the same as that cultivated by Mr. Cobbett (p. 60.). Although the grains appear shrivelled when dry, they are plump when ripe, and brilliantly white. In this climate (Pennsylvania), if planted about the 10th of May, the corn will be fit to eat in the middle of July: in the southern States, at an earlier date. The proper state in which to eat it is when the milk flows or spurts out thick, upon pressing the grains with the thumb nail. The best way to enjoy it, is to boil the ears with the husks on, and, when brought to table, to cover the ears with butter, adding a little salt, and to eat the grains off the cob. Over-refined people think this is a vulgar mode, and shave off the grains from the cob; but in so doing they lose much of their sweetness. This variety of Indian corn was found by the officers attached to the army or expedition of General Sullivan, in the year 1779, which was sent against the Indians, in the Gennessee country, and brought to Connecticut, whence it has proceeded south. The "nubbins," when about the size of the middle finger, are sometimes pickled in vinegar, and constitute an ornamental article, and pleasant condiment. Other varieties of corn are used in the same way. I also send an ear of blood-red corn, called "chicken corn," and a large variegated ear. have also different kinds of yellow corn. J. M. Philadelphia, January 13. 1830.

We

We have sent the ears to Mr. Charlwood's, seedsman, Great Russell Street, Covent Garden, who will distribute them to whoever calls, and undertakes that the intended grower shall send us an account of his suc

* We are much obliged to our much valued and most sincerely esteemed correspondent; but we already have a female, on which we intend, this summer, to bud a male. Can he send us any seeds of a tree or a plant, no matter of how common a sort, from Mount Vernon or Monticello? These would remind us of two of what we consider the greatest men that ever lived, or, speaking relatively to age and country, probably ever can or will live. Cond.

cess, with an ear of each kind of the corn. The sweet corn is the only sort that merits attention in point of utility, and we hope will be tried by gardeners, with a view to its introduction as a cottage vegetable. — Cond.

SOUTH AMERICA.

Caraccas, March 20. 1830. Sir, On my arrival in Caraccas, I was informed that there was a botanical garden establishing there, and being curious to see the state of forwardness it was in, I was accompanied by Sir John Lewis, of His Britannic Majesty's ship Baron, who was acquainted with the proprietor, Mr. Fanning. We found him very busily employed amongst his plants. On our walking through the garden, he showed us the cherry-trees in flower which had not been more than one month planted, and not more than ten weeks from London: some of the cherries were formed, and in a forward state. The whole of the fruit trees appeared in a fine state, the sycamore, hazel, oak, walnut, chestnut, pines, and elms, were in a very forward state.

In conversing with Admiral Fleming respecting the garden, &c., he professed great astonishment at the state of forwardness Mr. Fanning has brought the garden to, and he has taken great interest in Mr. Fanning's welfare, and has frequently visited the garden, as well as all the general officers of his fleet.

The garden is small, but neatly laid out in squares; the walks are well proportioned, and some of them beautifully shaded with the Fig banana, which has a splendid appearance; the towery stems and expanding leaves, with its rich and delicious fruit, give the garden and walks a grand appearance. During my stay in Caraccas I frequently visited the garden in the afternoon, where I met with most of the grandees of Caraccas, it being the only place to take a walk in or about the city. Mr. Fanning being a man of mild and gentle manners, and having rendered great services to the country, he is much liked by the ladies as well as the gentlemen, and, indeed, deserves great credit. I am happy to learn that, from the Admiral's interference, General Paez has ordered Mr. Fanning to take charge of several working people of his to work in his garden, and has given Mr. Fanning apartments in his private house to live in: and I have every reason to believe that the General will promote the views of Mr. Fanning in all his undertakings. I am, &c.— E. A. Williamson.

ASIA.

Royal Botanic Garden, Mauritius, March 12. 1830.— With reference to the remarks in Vol. I. p. 54., I am happy, not only to state that the botanic garden at this place is still kept up, but that, since I have had the honour of superintending it, several interesting species have been sent from different parts; and I am not aware of any garden, whether in regard to soil or situation, within the tropics, that could possess such a number of species. The Eucalyptus, Mimòsa, and all the large-leaved plants of New Holland, and many Cape plants, thrive remarkably well; while those from the East Indies and China enjoy the luxuriance of their native climate. We have frequent correspondence with almost every part of the globe, and exclusive communication with that great field of science, Madagascar, which no other garden can possibly possess. Our garden, although laid out in the oldest French style, has the advantage of being irrigated, thereby saving a number of hands, and effectually watering the plants in the driest seasons. I will send you a sketch of this garden, which may be considered as one of the oldest tropical gardens existing, and as having been the source from which most of the nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon is sent to the West India Islands.

Culture of Asparagus in the Mauritius.-Although the mode of cultivating vegetables within the tropics will be of little interest to the generality of your readers, as methods superior in every way are adopted in England, it

may not be amiss to relate my mode of cultivating asparagus here. I think it may be cultivated with equal success from 18° to 24° of latitude. Although I had seen some fine asparagus at the Mauritius from a garden of Mons. Bouillard, who is famed for growing asparagus, as well as many other plants; there appeared to be no method in practice for obtaining a continual crop of nearly eight months in the year. Considering it the chief part of my duty to endeavour to bring into practice among the inhabitants the best methods of producing vegetables in greater abundance, I have succeeded in bringing the cultivation of asparagus to the greatest perfection, in nowise inferior to that of Europe. Every situation, however, will not admit of cultivating this plant in my way. It should be a piece of ground lying dry, and upon a gentle slope, with a command of water, which is to be obtained in almost every valley in the Mauritius. I trace marks 3 ft. distant, so that the man may dig a trench about 14 in. wide and 8 in. deep, throwing the mould taken out of the trench between the rows. The trench is then filled with dung, leaf mould, and common earth, mixed together, and covered over with an inch of the mould taken out of the trench. The seeds are sown about 9 in. apart in the rows at almost any time. In about a fortnight they begin to appear above ground; in two months afterwards they begin to show flowers, though very weak the first time. When the seed berries are red, the stalks are cut down, and 2 in. of light mould is added to the bed. If the weather be dry, they must be irrigated, or well watered (with pots), and in a fortnight they will shoot up about the size of quills, and from six to eight shoots at each stem. When they ripen their seeds again, the bed is well manured with dung and leaf mould, or mould only, and not watered, as in the previous cutting; by this time it will be strong enough to commence forcing it (if I may be allowed the expression), and upon this depends the fineness and quantity of the future crop. According to the quantity required for a family, say two or more rows of asparagus, that have the seeds very ripe or fallen, are cut completely down to the ground, and if the mould is considered not deep enough to blanch them, an inch or two of light mould is added. The water is let in upon the two beds every other day, as it may be required; in about five or seven days the young asparagus begins to shoot, and will at this cutting produce many stems, nearly as thick as in Europe, but too many must not be cut this time. As soon as they commence shooting, two or more beds must be treated in the same way, and so on to the end, keeping the beds that have been previously cut, occasionally watered, until the seeds ripen again then proceed as before, adding a little manure each time. The fineness and quantity of asparagus that can be produced in this way is scarcely credible; and from the time of sowing until the first cutting for the table occupies no more than ten or fourteen months. I think it advisable, at the end of two years, to destroy the beds, having always arranged other beds for succession, as it gets weaker after five or six cuttings, and there is so little trouble in preparing and keeping the beds.

The prices of vegetables and other necessaries of life at the Mauritius are exorbitant. Potatoes, from March till August, are from 6d. to 1s. 6d. per lb. ; the other part of the year, when the potato crop at the Mauritius and arrivals from Europe, Van Diemen's Land, &c. appear in the market, they are tolerably cheap. Cabbages are sometimes cut into small slices for those who cannot afford to purchase the half or whole; I have seen cabbages sold for 18. 6d. each. Peas, although always dear, are perhaps cheaper than some other vegetables when in season. We can (taking care to save the seed and sow it again immediately) obtain three crops of early sorts of peas in a season from the same seed. Animal food is dear in proportion to vegetables. You will perhaps conclude from this, that it would be a desirable place for a gardener or a grazier to obtain a fortune: almost the contrary: it requires a large capital, or, if credit could be had, the grinding interest of ten or