Natural History, 233 



be mixed and left for twenty-four hours. The mole-tracks are then 

 to be opened, and two or three of these worms placed in each hole. 

 If the meadow is large, they cannot be placed in every hole ; but by 

 multiplying them as much as possible, a good result is sure to be 

 obtained. — Ann. de Agricul. de la Charente» 



25. On grpwing ScUad-herbs at /Sefl.— Op long sea- voyages, 

 whatever esculent roots, or fruit, or whatever vegetable essences 

 may be stowed in the steward's stores, whether for the use of the 

 officers or crew, nothing can be a greater treat to the former, espe- 

 cially within the tropics, than a dish of fresh salubrious salad-herbs. 

 The want of such an addition to the ordinary fare on board a ship 

 has often been a cause of disease, and misfortune, and even death I 

 —it is needless, therefore, to insist on the usefulness, or to state 

 the antiscorbutic, and consequently sanatory qualities, of fresh 

 vegetables in such situations ; and however limited the means to 

 supply such a want as is described below, yet, as it may be highly 

 useful to convalescents, and in individual cases, the publication may 

 not be deemed altogether valueless. 



Provide one, two, or three deal boards, made of well-seasoned 

 inch stuff, sixteen inches square, with a ledge all round, rising one 

 inch above the smooth surface of the board ; and as it is intended 

 to hold water, the ledges must be closely and neatly fitted : at each 

 corner a nail, or small hook, should be placed, with strings tied into 

 a loop above, by which the board may be slung in the necessary 

 horizontal position; a thin covering-board, made of the same 

 material and dimensions, is also necessary, and which will serve for 

 all the boards. 



Pieces of the thiclcest flannel must be had for each board, cut so 

 as to fit exactly within the ledges. These flannels require to be 

 well soaked, and repeatedly washed in boiling water, before they 

 can be used, to discharge from them whatever is pernicious to vege- 

 tation as they come from the manufacturer's hands. 



The board and flannel thus prepared, dip the flannel in water, 

 and place on the boards; sow the seeds pretty thick and regularly; 

 sprinkle them lightly with the hand, till all are moistened and the 

 flannel completely saturated ; in which state it should always be 

 kept during the growth of the plants. Too much water floats the 

 seeds when first put on, and are thereby shifted from their places 

 by the motion of the ship. The cover-board must now be put on, 

 and the whole hung up in its place. The use of this board is to 

 assist the vegetation of the seeds, which it will do sufficiently in the 

 course of twenty-four hours ; after which it may be laid aside. 



The board must be frequently examined, and when the moisture 

 thereon is diminished by evaporation, or imbibed by the crop, a 

 supply must be given, just enough to keep the flannel in the proper 

 saturated state. 



In six or seven days the crop will be (if the weather has been 

 favourable) two inches high, — it is then fit for use. The produce 



