The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1850-12-03 00:00:00

MISCELLANEA

Underwood.—Scarcely any plant is equal to the holly
for•uadergrowth, since it will flourish under trees, and is
not limited as to height, and is a thorough evergreen.
Privet is superior as a rapid grower, and of a denser habit,
if not too much drawn up ; but it is deficient in the size
of the leaves, and in act being entirely evergreen. Rho-
dodendrons thrive exceedingly well under shade; but re-
quire careful watering for a year or two. Portugal laurels
and common laurels will endure some amount of it, but
are injured by an excessive quantity. The box tree and
the vew tree are more capable of withstanding its infliiefice.

And the evergreen berberry, as a low-growing bush, is an
admirable plant for placing beneath trees. All these are
evergreen, and, of course, so much the more adapted for
filling up permanently the space beneath trees. Elders,
dogwoods, the Norway maple, snowberries, and even
lilacs, as deciduous plants will thrive beneath shade,
though they cannot be expected to bloom much in that
position.—.!'How to Lay Out a Small Garden," by Ed-
ward Kemp, Birkenhead Park.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Stove, Conservatory, kc.—The early frosts which sus-
pend out-door labour offer a good opportunity for a tho-

• _
rough examination and cleansing of all the plants under
glass, upon which the sponge should be used until every
rough examination and cleansing of all the plants under
"scale." mealy-bug, or thrips is effectually exterminated.
Such plants as have completed their flowering season
should have less water, and should be suffered to remain
at rest during the winter, for which reason a removal to a
cooler atmosphere is desirable.
Flower and Kitchen Garden.—All out-door operations
are at present suspended. We however think it may he
well to inform amateur cultivators that in addition to the
mats which are necessary in frosty weather over the tops
of cold frames, a thin layer of long straw between the
mat and the glass is of great use, and will more than
double the utility of the mats alone.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
H. L., Liscard.—The improved Japan lilies which you
saw at the last Liverpool flovrer-show were exhibited
by Mr. Thos. Whalley, but we do not know whether
they are yet on sale; if not, we suppose they can be
bespoken.
T. Frazer.—The Lapageria rosea which obtained the gold
medal of the Horticultural Society was originally raised
at Aigburth by the fortunate receiver of the prize—Mr.
Selkirk—who was lonz an esteemed member of the
Liverpool Horticultural Society. Mr. Skirving, of the
Walton Nursery, was, however, the first to flower this
splendid climber.
Rusticus.—lt is rather too late to commence such changes
as you propose. Postpone them until February, and
before beginning consult the little book published by
Mr. Kemp, of Birkenhead Park.

GOLD.—A return of the market price per standard
ounce from 1810 to 1849, gives the following results :
In 1810 the price varied only from £4 4s. 6d. to £4 ss. ;
in 1811, from £4 7s. 6d. to £4 19s. 6d. ; in 1812, from
£4 18s. 6d. to £5 65.; in 1813. from £5 4s. to £5...103. ;
_ _

in 1814, from £4 Bs. 6d. to £5 Ss. ; in 1815, from £4 2s.
to £5 7s. ; in 1816, from £3 18s. 6d. to £4 2s. ; in 1817,
from £3 18s. 6d. to £4 Os. 61 ; in 1818, from £4 Os. 6d.
to £4 2s. 6d. ; in 1819, from £3 17s. 100. to £4 3s.
From 1820 ro 1849, both inclusive. the lowest price has
been £3 17s. sd. in 1824, and the highest £3 18s. in 1839
and 1840. Since that time the price has been £3 17s. 9d.
without variation.:7Companifm_to the .Almanac for 1851.

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A SAILOR.—The hint Eme-
rald of London, arrived in the Downs on Monday week,
-
having on board a sailor who was picked up at sea, floating
on a piece of cork, off Cape Finisterre. It appears that
the sailor, along with two others, was swept overboard
from the deck of a Portuguese schooner in a storm. 'The
other two were drowned ; but the survivor got hold of a
sheet of cork, (which was washed from the deck of his
vessel at the time,) to which he clung for nearly two days.
On the night of the day he was washed overboard a
schooner passed close to him ; bat from the darkness and
not hearing his cries it did not go to his assistance. On
the following night, however, he was picked up by the
Emerald, Cadiz trader, very much exhausted ; but he
soon recovered.—Dover Chronicle.

THE STRATEGY OF LOVE : SIEGE AND FLIGHT OF THE
DAMSEL.—Not twenty miles from Dunning, a sapient
knight of the awl, heartily wearied with the monotony of
single blessedness, lately fell in love with a maid, fair, fat,
and (past) forty. The popping of the question having
been kindly entertained, he, in the fulness of his heart,
communicated his success to a widower, who, instead of
acting the part of a friend, stealthily paid the fair one a
visit, proffered his hand, and was accepted. On Friday
week Jamie, not dreaming of what had taken place,
dressed himself in his best, and paid Betty a visit, for the
purpose of making arrangements for the proclamation of
the banns •, but, instead of getting a loving welcome, as
he naturally anticipated, the damsel was not to be seen ;
while her master, the farmer, gave him to understand that
she was too old a sparrow to be taken with chaff. Dum-
foundered by this intelligence, Jamie went home, and next
day summoned a conferer.ce of friends, with no less a per-
sonage than Baillie Law, ornithologist and apothecary, in
the chair ; when, after long and grave deliberation, it was
agreed, as Betty had never given Jamie a personal refusal,
he should never rest satisfied till the same was obtained.
The visit was accordingly made, but it was equally unpro.
fitable as the former; while, in addition, he was threatened
with even a more unmannerly welcome should he ever
come back on the same errand. Again the friends met in
on,
ao,st
ns
fotheol
totvhayuseaadlidndvni that
flflaallacicaattrciemhcoadetmni
:u
Iv; i
psi njahoobtninelalytrece: i•
tdh cut
tatfi.sati
311
noeor,
itugfet,
el
yhrdt
:idhsceeebopsewnpbusyaaateasicgintokaigunionn sough,oft
he ti
solemn conclave; and, matters now looking doubly serious,
u
soe
he
anisaatogunrwdmlegayetbi eras resolved
that,
safety
thesod oocf
rob l
andtnit,
ger
art and part in the breaking up of the match, and fearful
of vengeance, hurried off a servant for the aid of the dis-
trict constable. The farmer needed not to have been so
frightened, for the moment Jamie and his friends were
assured that the " bird had flown," they quietly left with-
out firing the ',remises; and so ends the matter in the
meantime; but Jamie is threatening an action for damages
both zgz:n t Betty and her master.