I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 359 



that the explanation is to be found in the establishment of a 

 siphon arrangement, by means of which the juice is carried 

 over the bend from the main stem in excessive flow. Be this 

 as it may, the fact remains, as illustrated by an experiment 

 prosecuted by this gentleman. In early spring, when the sap 

 was running in the vines, he took four plants of about the 

 same size, and trimmed them so as to leave one stem to each, 

 these being arranged vertically, obliquely upward ; horizon- 

 tally, and obliquely downward. He then cut off the stems, 

 and collected and measured what exuded, and found the 

 amount from the branch inclined downward was more than 

 three times greater than that from the others. 3 JB, March 

 7,1872,381." 



SCARCITY OF SMALL BIRDS IN FRANCE. 



A recent writer in Les Monties remarks upon the great 

 scarcity in France during the present }^ear of small insectiv- 

 orous birds, and ascribes this to the extreme rigor of the pre- 

 ceding winter, which caused myriads of the feathered tribes 

 to perish with hunger and cold. The consequences of this 

 scarcity, according to the writer, were very soon manifested 

 in the unusual amount of devastation caused by the cater- 

 pillars, which, not satisfied with devouring the leaves and 

 young shoots, have even eaten into the wood, fruit trees be- 

 ing attacked in preference to others, and to such an extent 

 that many orchards and groves in May were as destitute of 

 foliage as at Christmas. 3 B, October 12,1871,122. 



INFLUENCE OF FOOD UPON POULTRY AND EGGS. 



The influence of the food of poultry upon the quality and 

 flavor of their flesh and eggs has not generally been taken 

 into consideration ; but it is now well ascertained that great 

 care should be exercised in regard to this matter. In some 

 instances it has been attempted to feed poultry on a large 

 scale in France on horse-flesh, and, although they devour this 

 substance very greedily, it has been found to give them a 

 very unpleasant savor. The best fattening material for chick- 

 ens is said to be Indian corn-meal and milk ; and certain large 

 poultry establishments in France use this entirely, to the ad- 

 vantage both of the flesh and of the eggs. 12 C, November 

 1,1871,87. 



