384 Scientific Tntelligencp^ Sfc 



alluded to the statements made as to its poisonous qualities, it being 

 more venomous than the serj^ent, and the extraordinary tales which 

 were related of it; perhaps, however, tliey might be enlightened on 

 this head by some gentleman better acquainted with the West Indies. 

 With regard to its mode of procuring food, he stated, that it dropped 

 from the branches of trees into the nests of birds, and preyed not 

 only on the birds but on the eggs ; in consequence of which it derived 

 its name. 



The Rev, Mr. Hcrpe stated, that it was not the true avicularia 

 described by Spix and Martius, but that it was named after Spix. 



[The insect has been deposited at Mr. Miller's Nursery, Durdham 

 Down, that it may have the advantage of stove heat.] 



Mangel WurzeL — Mr. Rootsey mentioned the result of various 

 experiments he had made in extracting sugar, spirit, &c., from 

 mangel wurzel, and converting the plant into malt, specimens of 

 which were exhibited to the Section. The sugar was obtained in 

 strong crystals, and the refuse of the plant was dried on a malt-kiln 

 at a proper temperature, where it required the flavour and properties 

 of common malt, and afforded an excellent beverage. The molasses 

 were fermented into a spirit, the flavour of which was comparable to 

 the peach brandy of America. Forty tons of the plant, which were 

 sometimes raised upon an acre of land, afforded three tons of malt, 

 and three and a half tons of molasses. 



Mr. Rootsey then exhibited a specimen of the Haltica nemorum, 

 or turnip fly, which he stated was the only insect which attacked 

 the plant. Some discussion took place as to the best means of pre- 

 venting the ravages of the insect, and it was thought, that by steep- 

 ing the seed the insect would be destroyed ; it was stated, that this 

 was already done by farmers, but it was of no avail, as the eggs of 

 the fly were not only deposited on the root, but in the hedges, and 

 on the lands.* 



On the Acceleration of the Growth of Wheat. — Mr. G. W. 

 Hall said, that the object of the present paper was to call attention 

 to a statement of facts connected with the acceleration of the growth 

 of wheat. The average length of time required for the growth of 

 wheat was about ten months, but observations had led to the con- 

 viction, that much of this time might be saved, and the result has 

 shewn, that five months has sufficed to produce an abundant crop of 

 wheat (a sample of which was exhibited to the Section) by adapting 

 the plant to the soil. The lighter silicious soils, when manured, 

 possess a warm and stimulating character, and conduce to very rapid 

 growth of plants, but they soon became exhausted ; and it must be 

 evident that an acceleration of the growth and ripening of the plants 

 committed to a light soil, and a diminution of the time required for 

 perfecting its crops, must not only be congenial to its character, but 

 tend to economize and prolong its productive powers. These cir- 

 cumstances had been observed and acted on with the most beneficial 

 results in various ways. The paper then touched at length on the 

 means to be employed in accelerating the vegetable growth, and the 

 evils attending it, and concluded by alluding to the benefit of the 



• The plan wljich has been adopted in Scotland is to sow the seed very thick. — 

 Edit. 



