1886.] M ISC EL LA yKO US. 591 



suggests that some of our patriotic, scientific, or agricultural societies 

 might make an experiment on a few cwts. of nuts, and if the experi- 

 ment proved a success the industry might be successfully started, 

 and would undouljtedly in that case be of great profit and utility. 



A NEW industry in the southern forests is the utilization of the 

 needles of the loug-leaved pine. The leaves are soaked in a batli 

 to remove the glazing, and then " crinkled " for stuffing cushions 

 or other upholsteiing purposes. They are specially valuable on 

 shipboard and other places where furniture is in danger of be- 

 coming infested with insects. The turpentine which remains in 

 the leaves makes a most inhospitable abode for these annoying 

 visitors. 



Enoemous Conteacts in Sylviculture. — Speaking of the exten- 

 sive planting operations by Government in South Australia, an 

 American paper says : — " One and one-third million of trees are a 

 good many, and all these planted in eight years ! But we know 

 of one firm that has planted during five years 2,720,000 timber 

 trees in a single county of Kansas, aside from the millions they have 

 grown elsewhere. It may be added that not only did this single 

 firm furnish all these trees and take the contract to plant them, but 

 agreed to care for them and deliver them over standing six feet 

 high and four feet apart, established, shading the ground and able to 

 take care of themselves. We are not doing as much work in sylvi- 

 culture as our rapidly vanishing forests warn us that we should do, but 

 we are doing a great deal, and doing it well. This plan of contracting 

 to care for the young forest seedlings during their critical early 

 years, and delivering them only when they have become lusty 

 saplings, capable of maintaining themselves, is an American novelty. 

 Persons desiring to make forest plantations on a large scale, can in 

 this way insure themselves against loss by a guarantee that their 

 young stock will have the most intelligent care when such care is 

 most needed." 



The Babylonian Willow {Salix Babylonica). — This the most 

 elegant of all the willows, is very abundant in the Levant, which is 

 said to be its native habitat ; but it is so abundant in all parts 

 surrounding that region, that it may be questioned where its habitat 

 ends. There is no doubt its introduction into Britain is of com- 

 paratively recent date, and if popular legend may be relied upon, the 

 credit of having first planted it is due to the poet Pope under 

 very odd and purely accidental circumstances. The poet, it is alleged, 

 received a present of figs from Turkey, a much greater rarity in 



