302 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



with the bursting of such fruits as the tomato, grape, cherry, etc. Prof. 

 Bessey informs us that the researches of German biologists shed much light 

 on the exact manner in which the injury occurs. 



The protoplasm of newly-formed cells is in some respects like glycerine in 

 its capacity for absorption of water. In its sudden imbibition, as the Germans 

 express it, of water, after a season of scant supply, an actual swelling of the 

 tissues takes place somewhat like the swelling of a sponge as it absorbs water. 

 The sudden imbibition of large amounts of moisture through the bark near 

 the earth's surface, added to the liberal supply from the roots consequent upon 

 copious rains after a season of drought, or in winter after a season of severe 

 freezing followed by melting snows, may cause the tissues near the ground to 

 become so enlarged as to rupture the inelastic bark. 



Varieties seem to vary in capacity for absorbing water through the bark at 

 the earth's surface. For instance, the Warfield, notorious for bursting, will 

 retain a moist, and even wet, bark for three or four inches above the ground, 

 apparently by capillary attraction, during a dry, sunny day, when the bark of 

 a Duchess at this point will be perfectly dry. 



OLD SEED AXD VINES. 



At a meeting of the Botanical Society of France, M. Duchartre called atten- 

 tion to a statement of M. Cazzuola in the Bulletin of the Tuscan Horticul- 

 tural Society in 187?, to the effect that melons raised from fresh seed bear a 

 large proportion of male flowers and very few female flowers, while on the 

 other hand, seedlings raised from old seed bear many more female flowers 

 than male. The statement was confirmed by M. Millet, a French grower. 

 We, years ago, stated this fact as well known among practical gardeners, and 

 also the fact that seeds from five to eight years old, if well kept, would pro- 

 duce less vine, and earlier fruitage, an important point with plants that run 

 strongly to vines. The rule will apply not only to melons but also to cucum- 

 bers and squashes. Seeds of the cucumbers and melon family retain their 

 vitality for ten years, and we know not how much longer. 



CARNIVOEOUS PLANTS. 



A correspondent of the London Garden, who confesses himself to be a 

 disciple of Darwin, thinks there is a good deal of speculation, not much 

 entitled to the name of science, connected with Darwin's ideas on plants 

 feeding on insects. This correspondent has himself had some of his fine 

 pitcher plants badly injured by the insects caught by them. Some of the 

 insects cause the plant to decay where they lie, and this decaj- spreads and 

 kills the leaf, showing the poisonous effect of the decaying flies on the sensitive 

 surface of the leaf. The writer adds: — ^'For my own part I never could see 

 anything more remarkable in a plant absorbing animal matter by one surface 

 than another, — by the stem than the root. The feeble, illogical writings on 

 insect-eating plants are certainly no gain to knowledge." The simple truth is 

 that Darwin in this and in other positions, first erected a theorv and then hunted 



