88 Vhilomatic Society. 



Van Marum, of Haarlem, comparing them with analogous 

 experiments made with the Tylerian electric apparatus. 



The fame chcmilt made fomc experiments with the Voltaic 

 pile conducted, according to the directions of Van Marum, 

 with ^'Z plates of zinc and copper, each five inches fquare, in 

 two divifions : the principal phenomenon obferved was the 

 combudion of metals. 



PHILOMATIC SOCIETY. 



C. Piclet read a notice on the itate of agriculture in the 

 environs of Alicant. The foil in the neighbourhood of Ali- 

 cant is in general light; on the heights it is formed almolt 

 entirely of the wrecks of rocky and calcareous mountains, 

 while in the valleys it is fandy, with beds of clay and marl ; 

 but in a climate fo warm, this difference in the nature of the 

 foil is of lefs importance to agriculture than that which re- 

 fults from thedrynefs or moiftnefs of the ground. C. Pi6tet 

 defcribes feparately the agriculture of the dry lands and that 

 of thofe which are watered. 



The tree referved almoft exclufively for the dry land is 

 the almond-tree, with a hard or foft fhell : it flowers in the 

 month of February. The green bark of the almonds is em- 

 ployed in the manufacturing of foap, on account of the alkali 

 •which it contains. 



The caroub-tree, the fruit of which ferves as food to the 

 mules, is alfo cultivated, and that variety of the olive-tree 

 which produces fmall black olives : the oil of them is of a 

 bad quality, becaufe the olives are left heaped upon each 

 other for a long time before the oil is made. 



The date-tree at Alicant rifes to the height of 60 feet; the 

 fruit is inferior in quality to that of Barbary. The leaves of 

 this tree are employed for a very lingular purpofe: they are 

 blanched, and being then bleffed by the pridts, are fold to 

 individuals, who place them in the balconies of their houfes 

 as prefervatives from all kinds of danger. Thefe blanched 

 leaves are exported alfo to Italy. I he leaves of the male or 

 barren date are employed for this purpofe. A perfon climbs 

 up to the top of the tree, turns up the exterior leaves which 

 have (hot forth, and they are Unrounded by a cord which 

 is gradually drawn tighter, after which they are covered with 

 a bundle of draw to lecure them from the light. The bundle 

 of itraw is not entirely clofed over them till the month of 

 Auguft. This operation may be repeated every three years 

 on the fame tree. 



The land is cultivated in the neighbourhood of Alicant by 



two mules yoked to a plough. After the land is ploughed, 



4 the 



