230. MisceUdri^ouB Intelligence, 



to the size of the object required, is sawn off the tree, the flowers of 

 which are to be produced, and is plunged into a sprint^, if one can 

 be found, where it is left for an hour or two, to give time for such ice 

 as may adhere to the bark to melt, and to soften the buds ; it is then 

 carried into a chamber heated by a stove, and placed in a wooden 

 vessel, containing water; quick-lime is to be added to the water, 

 and left for twelve hours. The branch is then to be removed into 

 another vessel, containing fresh water, with a small quantity of 

 vitriol, to prevent its becoming putrid. In a few hours the flowers 

 will begin to appear, and afterwards the leaves. If more quick 

 lime be used, the flowers will appear quicker ; if, on the contrary, 

 none be used, the branch will vegetate more slowly, and the leaves 

 will precede the flower. — vi. 216. . 



14. Chinese Method of Planting Branches. — The following me- 

 thod is described as being practised by some Chinese retained by 

 Count Linhares, in Brazil. The tree practised upon was a Brazi- 

 lian myrtle. The branch to be separated and planted, already some 

 inches in thickness, was surrounded by a band of straw, mingled 

 with horse-dung, forming an envelope five or six times as large in 

 diameter as the branch itself; then an annular incision was made 

 below this part, and water was allowed to drop from a considerable 

 height on to the wrapped part. The vessel is usually a cocoa-nut 

 shell, pierced with very fine holes. In about two months the branch 

 is separated from the tree and planted. To obtain rapidly growing 

 trees the Chinese choose the upper smaller branches, but for more 

 productive and better trees they choose stronger branches that are 

 nearer to the earth. — Bull. Univ. D. ix. 342. 



15. On a Plant living entirely in the Air. — This plant, which is 

 described by M. Loureiro, in the * Lisbon Memoirs,' ii. 83, is not 

 the Epidendrum flos aeris of Linnaeus, but a different species, which 

 grows in Cochin China, and in one part of China itself. The calyx 

 is small, oval, and of one flower ; the corolla has five equal petals ; 

 the nectarium consists of two horizontal petals, of which the lower 

 is oblong, fleshy, concave, and shaped like a boat ; it is covered by 

 the upper nectary, which rises and turns at one side into the form 

 of a tube, whilst the other side extends horizontally. The stamina 

 are two short elastic filaments united to the internal extremity of 

 the lower leaf of the nectary ; the anthers are oblate, simple, and 

 covered ; the pistillum consists of a three-sided, thin curved stem 

 which supports the flower ; the flower is of a yellow colour, larger 

 than that of the jessamine, of an agreeable appearance, and pleasant 

 odour. The root consists of intertwined bulbs. This plant is found 

 in the woods, suspended from the branches of trees ; being removed 

 and hung upon a string, or some other support, it continues to ve- 

 getate, though slowly, and flowers every autumn. It is multiplied 

 by producing each year new filaments, which send out roots, be- 



