IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CULTURE OF VEGETABLES. 5 J 



of the kind described by Moris* Guettard, agrees, in its 



general characters, as well as in its texture, with that one 



which has been juft described. In this specimen, at its 



superior surface, there are, as Mons. Guettard observes 



is sometimes the case, four openings ; and the pedicles, as 



well as its lateral processes, which appear like roots, seems 



to have been formed with a great degree of luxuriance. 



A very perfect fossil of this kind, and similar in its sub* Avery perfect 

 * , . , . i . , , , . one of the 



stance and texture to the alcyonia, which have been just same texture. 



described, but of a dark red colour, where it is not in- 

 vested with its cortical part, which is of a grey colour, 

 pervaded by a slight tinge of red, is represented Plate IX. 

 fig. 8. The pedicle, and the opening at the superior part, 

 are here very perfect. Slight traces of lines, passing from Fibres for 



the pedicle to the opening, are discoverable on this speci- draw ! ng man<J 

 r , . r ejecting water. 



men, and, doubtlessly point out the arrangement of fibres, 



by which the animal was enabled to draw in and eject the 

 water which supplied it with food. This fossil, I have rea- 

 son to believe, is English. 



VIII. 



An Account of Improvements in the Culture of Vegetables, 

 by John Christian Curwen, Efq., M. P. of Work* 

 ington Hall, Cumberland *. 



I 



SIR, 



AM fearful you should suppose, that I am become indo- 

 lent, and that the favours so liberally bestowed on me by 

 the Society had ceased to operate as a ftimulus to the far- 

 ther exertions of my humble endeavours to assist those ob- 

 jects, which by the fostering hand of the Society, have been 

 so essentially promoted. You will excuse me for wishing Objects of in> 



to assure you that I am not idle, and to inform you that the P 0,tance in 



agriculture* 



* Trans, of the Society of Arts, vol, XXVI, p. 79. The gold medal 

 of the Society was yoted to Mr. Curwen for these communications. 



E 2 objects 



