Natural History. 4d& 



the genus prunns^ and a yellow colouring matter in the bark of the 

 roots of the species belonging to the genus galium. On the third 

 point, he cites the strychnia and veratria, found by MM. Pelleticr 

 and Caventou ; the first in most of the strychnos, and the second in 

 many colchicums. The author thinks that the same principle may 

 be applied to the different families composing any group or order. 



In his experimental results, M. Runge has found that all the 

 species of semiflosculuses, flosculuses, radiola, diphyscium, Vale- 

 riana, and tcahiosa, gave him one common principle, but con- 

 tained in different parts, as the root, stem, leaves, &c. This sub- 

 stance resembles the vegetable acids which form soluble and un- 

 crystallizable combinations with alkalies, and insoluble precipitates 

 with metallic oxides. In the first state it has a yellow colour, but 

 by the addition of oxygen becomes of a bluish green colour. Being 

 combined in these two states with oxide of lead, the following 

 results were obtained : 



Colourless acid .... 52.9 Coloured acid .... .54.6 



Oxide of lead .... 47.1 Oxide of lead .... 45.4 



100.0 100.0 



Having found this principle in neighbouring families, it was 

 afterwards sought for in those which were more distant, and was 

 found in the umbelliferous plants, the caprifolias and the plantains; 

 but he found no trace of it in the genera campanula and ruhia. 

 On the other hand, in these he discovered a principle which h^ 

 found in no other family. — Isia^ 1826. 



13. On the Application of a Ligature to Fruit Trees^ and to Vines^ 

 by Dr. J. W. Fischer. — The process recommended by the author, is 

 intended to be applied in place of the annular incision, which is 

 made round fruit-trees, for the purpose of increasing the growth 

 land the quantity of fruit. In the same place where the annular 

 incision would otherwise be made, an iron wire is to be passed tightly 

 round the tree two or three times, and the ends twisted together. 

 This operation is to be performed in winter, especially in February, 

 and before the sap is in circulation. It is unnecessary to observe, 

 that the ligature should be applied to those branches or young trees 

 which are to be rendered more productive. In the summer follow- 

 ing, after the flowering, and when the fruit begins to increase in size, 

 the ligature is to be removed, so that the wound which may have 

 been occasioned in the bark may cicatrize. These ligatures may 

 be repeated every year, their places being changed : they are said 

 to produce all the good effects of ringing, and to be free from the 

 objections which may be urged against that process. In place of 

 iron wire, a hemp-string well soaked in oil may be used. — Bull. 

 Univ. D. vii. 109. 



\i.' Method of reviving Plants, Shoots^ Sprigs, Slips, and other 



