The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-02-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEA.

Winter Food for Pheasants.—To gentlemen fond of
the sports of the field, the Jerusalem Artichoke offers
peculiar claims to notice, as pheasants are excessively
fond of the roots, preferring them to grain ; moreover
the expense of feeding pheasants with grain in winter is a
very considerable item, which I have no hesitation in say-
ing might be almost, or altogether saved, were the Jeru-
salem Artichoke introduced largely into game preserves.
In the severest weather the instinct of the birds leads
them to seek out the artichokes, which trom the dense
covering of their own leaves are always tolerably preserved
from frost ; by which means the pheasants are able to feed,
to all appearance, as well as in open weather. The ex-
pense of the first planting would be very inconsiderable ;
and when once planted they would soon increase them-
selves to any decree.— W. H. in Gardeners' Chronicle.
A New Fruit Discovered.—lt appears t hat a new fruit
has been discover, d in Massachusets, North America,
44 deg. 30 min. N., by a Mr. Needham, resembling a
blackberry in growth and habit ; the fruit is however a
transparent white, with very fine flavour. The fruit is
larger than the blackberry, arid produced in greater
abundance.— Gardeners' chronicle.

Firing Apple trees in Devon—an Old Custom.—The
singular old custom termed firing the apple-trees, to
induce fruitfulness. although showing some symptoms of
innovation and decay, is still observed in many parts of
Devonshire with great hilarity. On cld Christmas eve,
soon after it becomes dark, the villagers assemble, some
of them with guns charged with powder; when, after
appointing a leader, they proceed to the nest orchard,
and, selecting one of the oldest. best-bearing apple-trees,
they make an oblation, by pacing a piece of toast on the
stem, and pouring some cider over it ; the leader at the
time commencing with—
.' Hail to thee, old apple-tree !
We drink thy health at Christmas,
Remember us at Michaelmas.
CHORUS.
Bear an' blew,
Apples anew (enough);
Hat fulls,
Cap fulls,
Three-bushel bag fulls,
Hip, hip, hurrah 1"
After this they proceed, with a volley from the runs, to
the farm-house, where they are usually regaled with warm
toast and ale ; which after partaking, they march off to
perform the same ceremony at all the neighbouring
orchards.—J. C. in Gardener and Farmers' Journal.
LoPlia Anceps.—Where orchards are cultivated this
species should form one of the collection. It is one of
the best of the genus, flowers freely—the flowers being
large and of various shades of rose colour, and have the
property of remaining a long time in perfection, like most
other o' chide. To be duly appreciated it is requisite to see
a tolerably good specimen ; as a small plant, even when
fi'wered, has hut an insigtoficant appearance by the side
of a fine, large, well-flowered specimen. It is one of
those kinds that are "at home" in a cool temperature,
where the thermometer ranges from 60 to 65 deg. in
winter, and 70 to 75 deg. Fahrenheit in summer; then it
grows with great vigour, producing its flowers at a season
when they are the most valuable. Fine specimens of it
are in flower at K.•w, and have been for a month past ;
they are at present in high perfection, and will continue
for a month to come.—J. H.