288 



The Horticulturist. 



Effect of Coal Gas on Plants. — A 



small landholder on the contnient, says the 

 Monitetir Horticole Beige, not having a con- 

 servatory at his disposal, wintered his plants 

 in a cellar, as is often done. Here, with a 

 little attention, he succeeded in keeping them 

 in tolerably good condition, when an escape 

 of gas occurred from a defective pipe, which 

 was unnoticed for some time. Its effect on 

 the plants was most disastrous, causing the 

 leaves to fall even before they had time to 

 turn yellow. The foliage of Pittosporum in 

 particular suffered, being completely destroyed 

 in about twenty-four hours from the first 

 escape of the gas. 



Leinjtlt of Thread in Silk Worm Co- 

 coons. — According to the statement of C. V. 

 Riley, St. Louis, the length of the thread 

 in the cocoon of a mulberry silk worm is 

 generally 1,000 yards, and a mile of it weighs 

 15^ grains. 



Scientific Degrees — The University of 

 Edinburgh has issued a regulation to the 

 effect, that candidates for the degree of 

 Doctor of Science shall be required to submit 

 a thesis containing some original research 

 before they are permitted to proceed to ex- 

 amination. 



Poetic Effusions vs. Botanical Facts. 

 — The practical man of the N. Y. Independent 

 thus criticises a communication from a poetical 

 contributor whose botanical education had 

 been neglected : 



When you drew a picture of a forest haunt 

 in summer, I tried to imagine and see what 

 you described. I immediately got into con- 

 fusion. It sounded well ; but, botanically, it 

 was all awry. You drew it from your imag- 

 ination, or rather from the poetry of your 

 reading, and not from nature. I don't know 

 scenery in your region very well ; but (1) I 

 doubt somewhat if the "firs," "willows,"' 

 " aspens," " oaks " and " dogwood " grow to- 

 gether. (2) I doubt those " daisies " in " sum- 

 mer " on the "slope." But it is possible. 

 (3) There is no " heather " in the United 



States, except a very little at Tewkesbury, 

 Mass. (4) If there were heather on that 

 "side-hill" it would be a dry hill, and it 

 would be "brake" and not "fern." (5) 

 " Daffodils " do not grow on side-hills or any- 

 where else except in gardens. (6) Of all 

 green, "emerald " is the very last to describe 

 " willows," which are a very light, whitish 

 green. "Dogwood" blooms in "snow bowers," 

 never in summer, only in early spring. (7) 

 Your " woodbine's golden bell " may be right 

 if you mean what is commonly called honey- 

 suckle. (8) What the "amber" dropped in 

 summer by the poplar is, I cannot tell. 



Health from Floivers — It is reported 

 that an Italian professor has discovered that 

 perfumes from flowers have a chemical effect 

 on the atmosphere, converting its oxygen into 

 ozone, and thus increasing its health-impart- 

 ing power. As the result of his researches 

 he states that essences of cherry, laurel, 

 lavender, mint, juniper, melons, fennel, and 

 bergamot are among those which develop the 

 largest quantities of ozone, while anise and 

 thyme develop it in a less degree. Flowers 

 destitute of perfume have no such effect. He 

 reconmiends that dwellers in marshy localities 

 and near places infected with animal emana- 

 tions should surround their homes with a 

 profusion of the most odoriferous flowers. 



Destruction of Trees in Enylaud. — 

 The destruction of trees in England is attract- 

 ing some discussion. A distinguished mem- 

 ber of the Cheshire Board of Agriculture, at 

 a recent meeting, expressed the opinion that 

 if the practice of destroying trees and hedges 

 went on at the present rate, there would be 

 no shade left, and " the cows would have to 

 carry parasols." 



Drain ripes — Where drain pipes in 

 fields have been coated with gas-tar, all difii- 

 culty about choking with roots is avoided ; for 

 the roots turn away from the tar as though 

 they were sensible of their danger. 



Thirty barrels of blackberry wine brought 

 a Carroll Co., Ky., man, $1,575. The wine 

 was made at odd times last summer. 



