36 A NEW SULPHUHATOR. 



seasons the flowers become less and less in size, and in lieu of 

 double flowers the plants ultimately produce single ones. The 

 roots dwindle away, and at last dry up. 



A. Hollyhock and the common Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) 

 may occasionally be met with ; the latter principally in the Cibao 

 district, which is about from 500 to 600 feet above the level of 

 the sea. In the valley of Constanza, which is so high that frosts 

 occasionally kill the tender vegetation, leaving only the leaves on 

 the fir trees, Pinks and Sunflowers are as luxuriant as in 

 England. I saw in Constanza a bed with White and Red Pinks, 

 that had propagated themselves uncared for in such a manner 

 that they covered a large terrain, yielding a mass of flowers that 

 diffused a most delicious scent. 



The existence of a six months' course of seasons in intertropical 

 countries in lieu of twelve months, which period includes the 

 sleep of winter of the temperate zone, urges the plants, indigenous 

 or inured to the latter, to a constant exertion, which ultimately 

 seems to exhaust their powers. Such a state of things would not, 

 however, refer to the tropical plants of Asia and Africa in my 

 collection ; but it is not my intention to enter into any disquisition 

 on the causes, but merely for the present to give the effects as 

 they have come under my observation. The shedding of the 

 leaves of some tropical trees, and the formation of new wood, may 

 hereafter form the subject of another article. 



VII. — Note on a New Sdlphueatoe. By Robert Thompson. 



The Vine mildew having become so universally prevalent, and 

 sulphur proving the best remedy, various contrivances for distribu- 

 ting this substance have, in consequence, been brought forward. 

 One of the most recent is called " Egginton's Sulphurator, of 

 which the accompanying figure is a representation. 



The instrument was made by Mr Edward Egginton, of 

 Ludlow, under the direction of Mr. Corbett, gardener at Downton 

 Castle. It consists of a copper cylindrical box, about Ah inches 

 diameter at the base, and 4 inches diameter at the top ; the height 

 being also 4 inches. A copper tube, a, y % of an inch diameter, 

 enters the top, extends nearly to the bottom, and is then bent 

 upwards to within an inch of the top. The bottom is flat, 



