foliage, it has all the character and appearance of an evergreen shrub. — The Whitlavia 

 grandiflora, among new hardy annuals of recent introduction, ranks with the prettiest. It 

 is a native of California, and grows from nine to eighteen inches high, branching freely, and 

 blooming profusely, if not in a very rich soil. The flowers are bell-shaped, of the richest 

 gentian-like blue color, with a tinge of rose inside. Each blossom is an incli long, and an 

 inch and a half across the mouth. — The Lily of the Valley does not grow well in very rich 

 or very dry soil. — Universal Compost. Turf cut from an old loamy pasture, such as is used 

 to lay down for lawns, about three inches thick, and laid in a heap to rot, is invaluable. 

 This rubbed through a sieve that would let a hazel-nut through, two barrowfuls ; peat earth, 

 full of fibre of a spongy, light nature, used for heaths, half a barrowful ; and cowdung rotted 

 into mould, half a barrowful, with a sprinkling of white sand, and]small pieces of charcoal, well 

 mixed together, form a compost for almost everything. — To kill rats and mice, cut cork 

 into thin slices, and fry them in fat, butter, or meat gravy ; the animals are very fond of 

 them, but cannot digest them. They are equally destructive of cats and dogs. — Observa- 

 tions which have extended over many years, prove that with the seasons the solar powers are, 

 relatively to each other, subject to an interesting change. In the spring, the actinic power 

 prevails, and during this period its agency is reqiiired for the development of the germ. As 

 the summer comes on, the actinic rays diminish, and those of light increase. We see the 

 necessity for this, since luminous power is required for the secretion of carbon, with which 

 the woody fibre is formed, and also the approximate principles of the plant. Autumn, the 

 season of fruit, is characterized by the increase of the heat rays, and a diminiition of the 

 others ; this change being necessary, as science now teaches us, for the production of flowers 

 and fruit. — There are now cultivated, pink and red fuchsias, with white corollas, and a scar- 

 let sepal, and snow-white corolla. — A garden can be kept in constant bloom by cultivating 

 larkspurs, lupins, coreopsis, sweet peas, nemophila, mignonette, convolvulas minor, and such 

 like plants, in small pots, very few seeds in a pot, and lightly covered ; give plenty of water. 

 These, with care, will grow strong and healthy, and may be used to fill up the places vacated 

 by others that decay. The removal of a plant, and filling its jDlace with one in good order, 

 is only the woi-k of a minute. — The London Gardeners^ Chronicle of April 12, Jirst inserted a 

 brief notice of the Lawton Blackben-y. Dr. Lindley might safely read one or two American 

 periodicals. — Another English paper, devoted to horticulture, says : " A correspondent asks 

 whether any attempts have been made to cultivate and improve the common blackberry, 

 and he wishes to know whether any of our readers can "show any just cause or impediment" 

 why a fruit should not be produced as much superior to the present as a Ribstone pippin is 

 to the original crab." — Italian rye-grass is much cultivated now in England, and the price 

 of the seed has nearly doubled, so that orders can scarcely be supplied. — Great frauds in 

 the seed trade have excited much remark in the London papers. By means of steam, sul- 

 phur, and old age, all sorts of rubbish are made to pass for articles of sterling value ; dead 

 rape does duty for turnip-seed, and so on. London is getting a very bad character for adul- 

 terations. — On the wall of a conservatory camellias may be trained, say varieties such as 

 colvillei and imbricata, both of which flower at one time, and their blossoms being of ditfer- 

 eut colors, contrast admirably with one another. Camellias managed in this way make 

 charming coverings for walls, and where a border for planting them in does not exist, boxes 

 either of slate or wood answer the same purpose. If made of the former material, they are 

 of course more durable than if wood is employed. — William Minards, of Palperro, says the 

 Cornwall Gazette, has in his possession a cat that is very expert in catching trout and eels. 

 When the water is low in the river that runs down the valley, near the outlet of which is 

 built the little town of Palperro, the cat watches on the margin of the river, and, when any 

 of tlie finny tril>e approaches within her reach, she lays aside the natural dislike that is 

 common to the feline race, that of wetting their feet, and instantly darts her paws into the 

 water, and fixes her talons in her prey, brings it from its natural element, and carries it in 

 triumph to her master's house. Tliis feat she will repeat several times a day. — A Scotch 

 newspaper declares that the following rather remarkable circumstance is worthy the con- 

 sideration of poultry breeders. A duck, rather under the ordinary size, belonging to Mr. 

 Hay, of Laggan, has this season deposited an egg every day for one hundred and forty-three_ 

 days in succession. The little useful animal was hatched from the egg of a wild duck, and 

 laid an enormous number of eggs last year. Miglit it not add to the profits of the poultry- 

 yard if similar experiments in breeding were oftener tried ? — Orcliard-houses for peaches, 

 &c. &c., are now tlie rage abroad, and are even penetrating into the far north of Scotland. — 

 Picea Nordmanniana succeeds perfectly, grafted on the Silvt^f Fir. — " The Blood Manure 

 Company" is introducing a valuable manure, made from the blood of animals. It is 

 recommended for wheat, barley, oats, &c. This substance is lost in America, but steps 



Vol. YI.— June, 1856. 19 



