“A hundred weight of apples yield about eighty-four pounds of juice, which produce nearly twelve pounds of liquid sugar.  Supposing, therefore, the average price of apples to be one franc twenty cents (tenpence) the hundred-weight, and the charge amounts to forty cents (four-pence), good sugar may be prepared for three or four sols (two-pence) per pound [Footnote:  A gramme, fifteen grains English.-A drachm, one-eighth of an ounce.].  The only extra apparatus necessary is a couple of copper evaporating pans.”—­Retrospect, vol. vi. p. 14.

The distressed state of our orchards in the Cider counties has lately much engaged the attention of all persons who are accustomed to travel through them; and no one can possibly view the miserable condition of the trees, without being forcibly struck with their bad appearance:  the principal case of which, I am sorry to say, has arisen from mismanagement [Footnote:  Vide Observations on Orchards, lately published by the author of this work.]; and it certainly does in a great measure tarnish the laurels of our boasted agriculturists, when we find such great quantities of this useful fruit produced in France, that very country which we have been taught to believe so greatly behind us in the general oeconomy of life.

57.  Spergula arvensis.—­This plant has been recommended as a crop for feeding cattle, and is stated to be cultivated for that purpose in some parts of Germany and Flanders:  but I believe we have many other plants better calculated for the purpose here.

58.  Viola odorata.—­This is a very useful plant in medicine, affording a syrup which has long been used in the practice.  It is however discarded from the London Pharmacopoeia.

59.  Urtica canadensis.  Canadian hemp Nettle.—­During the late war, when, from unfortunate circumstances and misunderstandings amongst the potentates of Europe, the commercial intercourse was checked, great speculations were made among the people to discover substitutes for such articles as were of certain demand; and one of the principal was of course the article Hemp, which, although it can be partially cultivated in this country, is a plant of that nature that we should find the article at a most enormous price were we dependent on our own supply alone.  The great growth that supplies all the markets in the world is Russia, where land is not only cheap, but of better quality than here; but with which country we were once unhappily deprived of the advantage of trade.  This caused persons to seek for substitutes:  and I once saw one that was made from bean-stalks, not to be despised; but it is probable that none has reached so high in perfection as that produced from the plant above named.  A person has grown and manufactured this article in Canada, and has exhibited some samples in London, which it is said have obtained the sanction of government, and that the same person is now engaged in growing in North America a considerable quantity of this article.  As this, therefore, is a subject of great interest to us as a maritime nation, I shall insert the following account that is given of this plant.  I am, however, quite unacquainted with its culture or manufacture, and cannot pledge myself for the accuracy of the detail.