330 MISCELLANY. 



Dicotyledones contains 1,158 species; and Monocotyledones, 359. The total num- 

 ber of British plants, as estimated above, is, therefore, 4,303., — T. B. Hall, 

 Woodside, Liverpool, April 4, 1838. 



Sea Kale Beet, or Silver Beet. — This plant is totally different from the 

 White Beet, and is of recent introduction. It is entitled, by its wholesomeness 

 and delicacy, as well as by its amazing produce and facility of cultivation, to a 

 portion of every domestic garden. Unlike the Mangel-wurzel and Red Beet, 

 which are of the same family, this plant has its produce above ground, the root 

 being small and unimportant. The whole of the leaf is used. The leaf-stalk, 

 which is of an ivory whiteness, is separated from the green part, and boiled as 

 Sea Kale, for which it is an excellent substitute, and whence its name ; the 

 remaining part of the leaf, when boiled, can hardly be distinguished from the 

 finest Spinach ; and, having the same virtues in a high degree, has been recom- 

 mended by medical men as purifying and wholesome. It has besides this 

 advantage, that one sowing, whatever be the season, will yield an abundant 

 supply every day for at least six months. The great difficulty in the growth of 

 summer Spinach is to prevent its running up to seed. This plant being biennial, 

 does not flower till the second year, by which much useless labour and expense, 

 incident to the growth of the Common Spinach, are prevented. Early in April 

 procure one ounce of seed for a bed of the richest soil, 30 feet by 6 feet, make 

 holes 1^ inch deep, and one foot apart, in quincunx order; into each put three or 

 four seeds, and if more than one come up, withdraw all except the finest plant. 

 About the first week in June the leaves will be from two to three feet in length ; 

 they may then be broken off close to the root for use. — Gardener's Gazette, 

 May 5, 1838, communicated by Peter Rylands, Esq. 



Effect of Carbonic Acid on Vegetation. — It is stated by M. Traviranus, 

 in his Physiologie Vcgetale, that vegetation is not so active near springs where 

 carbonic acid is disengaged, but M. Schleiden has proved to the contrary. 

 According to the latter, the numerous springs in the valley of Gottingen contain 

 a great quantity of disengaged carbonic acid gas, and some carbonate of lime in 

 solution, whilst the vegetation of their waters, and on their sides, is always very 

 vigorous, and more advanced in spring and prolonged in autumn than in other 

 situations. Amongst the plants growing in the water, was Sium angustifolium ; 

 and among those growing on the sides of the springs, were Ranunculus lanvgi- 

 nosus, the Pilewort, the Marsh Marigold, and Primula elatior. From all these 

 facts it appears that carbonic acid, either when disengaged or absorbed by water, 

 exerts a beneficial effect upon vegetation. — Athenaeum, April 14, 1838. 



Importance of Azote to Plants. — It is generally supposed that the alimen- 

 tary substances derived from the vegetable kingdom greatly owe their nutritious 

 properties to the azote which they contain. M. Gay Lussac has recently 



