346 NOTES FROM NORTHUMBERLAND. 
which strong, healthy plants of Dictamnus albus were cultivated, I often 
repeated the experiment, but always without success, and I already 
began to doubt the correctness of the observation made by the daughter 
of Linneus, when, during the dry and hot summer of 1857, I re- 
peated the experiment once more, fancying that the warm weather 
might possibly have exercised a more than ordinary effect upon the 
plant. Ihelda lighted match close to an open flower, but again with- 
out result; in bringing, however, the match close to some other blos- 
soms it approached a nearly faded one, and suddenly was seen a reddish, 
erackling, strongly sooting flame, which left a powerful aromatie smell, 
and did not injure the peduncle. Since then I have repeated the ex- 
periment duriug several seasons, and, even during wet, cold summers, 
it has always succeeded, thus clearly proving that it is not influenced 
‘by the state of the weather. In doing so I obtained the following 
results, which fully explain the phenomenon. On the pedicels and 
peduncles are a number of minute reddish-brown glands, secreting 
etherie oil. These glands are but little developed when the flowers 
begin to open, and they are fully grown shortly after the blossoms 
begin to fade, shrivelling up when the fruit begins to form. For this 
reason the experiment can succeed only at that limited period when 
the flowers are fading. Best adapted for the purpose are those pant- 
cles which have done flowering at the base, and still have a few blossoms 
at the top. The same panicle cannot be lighted twice. The rhachis 
is uninjured by the experiment, being too green to take fire; and. be- 
cause the flame runs along almost as quick as lightning, becoming 
extinguished at the top and diffusing a powerful incense-like smell. 
Dr. Haun. 
NOTES FROM NORTHUMBERLAND, SEPTEMBER, 1863. 
Fumaria Borei, Jord. Hedgebank at Preston, near North Shields. 
Sinapis muralis, var. Babingtonii, Syme. ` Plentiful on ballast at 
Seaton Sluice. rum 
„Arenaria leptoclados, Guss. Characteristic specimens on Hartley 
Links, near the station for Anchusa officinalis, whieh latter, at any 
Tate for the time being, has entirely disappeared. | UTI 
"Rui. The Brambles of Northumberland are, so far as I know; €n- 
