I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 369 



In the course of a few days he was astonished at seeing the 

 roses assume a beautiful red hue, as brilliant and lively as he 

 could desire. 



He tried the same experiment upon a* pot of petunias, and 

 soon after all the pale and indefinite colored ones became of 

 a bright red or lilac, and the white petunias were variegated 

 with beautiful red stripes. Some of the lilac petunias became 

 a fine dark blue. Other flowers experienced similar altera- 

 tions; those of a yellow color alone remained insensible to 

 the influence of the coal. 9 C, November, 1871, 81. 



LIMING FRUIT TREES. 



The periodical liming of fruit trees is generally considered 

 as serviceable, especially in keeping down the ravages of the 

 insects which find their home in the fissures of the bark. It 

 is also important that the operation should be likewise ex- 

 tended to the main branches. For the purpose in question, 

 whitewash has generally been used, causing a decided white- 

 ness of the tree, which is objected to by many persons on the 

 score of the unsightly appearance and the readiness with 

 which the lime becomes detached. It has been shown, how- 

 ever, by experience, that the same beneficial effect results 

 from the use of colorless lime-water, which every one knows 

 how to prepare with unslacked lime, and which, when settled 

 and become clear, can be poured off and used as above indi- 

 cated. In this way repeated applications can be made with- 

 out affecting the appearance of the tree. 9 C, vin., August, 



1871,59. 



> _______ 



CAUSES OF THE ROTTING OF FRUIT. 



According to Decaishe, the rotting of fruit is produced by 

 two microscopic fungi, which develop in moist, confined air, 

 namely, Mncor mucedo and Penicillium glaucum, infinitely 

 minute germs of which are continually floating in the at- 

 mosphere, and which attack more especially any injured or 

 abraded portion of the surface. If, now, the fruit be wrap- 

 ped up in cotton, or with soft tissue paper, or, still better, 

 with waxed paper or tin-foil, the introduction of these germs 

 will be prevented, and the fruit can be kept for a long time 

 without any appreciable change. 9(7, Yin., August, 1871, 62. 



Q2 



