Miscellaneous Intelligence. 327 



The cultivation of oleaginons herbs enters into the course of cropping; 

 they exhaust the soil almo'st as much as grain, on account of the number, of 

 seeds to be ripened ; they require, therefore, a considerable quantity of ma- 

 nure. These herbs are generally of the cruciform family, containing azote, 

 an element of the animal kingdom which forms excellent manure; so that, 

 after the oil is expressed, the cake which remains serves to restore the ex- 

 hausted soil. Rape is a species of cabbage with thin roots, whose seeds yield 

 excellent oil. The poppy is an oleaginous plant, with white, scarlet, and 

 violet flowers, while the seeds are white or black. They yield oil, perfectly 

 innoxious and wholesome, though drawn from the same plant which supplies 

 us with opium. Flax also is an oleaginous herb. It is, however, chiefly 

 cultivated for its stalks, from which linen thread is fabricated ; but its seed 

 also yields the oil we call linseed-oil. It is much used in the art of painting. 

 Hemp is of the same description. There are some few oleaginous herbs of 

 the leguminous family, such as the subterranean arachis (Arachis hypogwa), 

 a plant we derive from America, which has the singular property of ripening 

 its seeds under ground. This plant requires a loose sandy soil, in order that 

 the lower branches may be enabled to bury themselves in the ground. In a 

 state of cultivation, the earth should be heaped over them, as is done with 

 potatoes. The upper branches, which blossom in the air, ripen no seed ; 

 while the lower lateral branches, which burrow in the earth, develope no re- 

 gular blossom ; that is to say, have no petals; but the stamens and pistils 

 bring the seeds to perfection.— Conversations on Vegetable Physiology. 



The Barberry.— This tree is a native originally of the eastern countries, 

 though it is now found in most parts of Europe, where it thrives best upon 

 light and chalky soils. It grew formerly wild, in great quantities, in the 

 hedgerows of England, but has been universally banished, from a general 

 belief that its presence is injurious to the growth of corn. Duhamel, Brous. 

 sonet, and other scientific writers, treat this belief as a vulg'ar prejudice. It 

 should, however, be remarked, that the fructification of the barberry is in- 

 complete*, unless the stamens be irritated by insects, when the filaments sud- 

 denly contract, in a most remarkable manner, towards the germ. The flow- 

 ers are, therefore, by a beautiful arrangement of nature, peculiarly attrac- 

 tive to insects; and thus the barberry may become injurious to neighbour- 

 ing plants.— Library df Entertaining Knowledge, vol. ii. 



On the Cultivation of Lucerne in Scotland.—! by no means wish to be 

 understood as saying that a very light soil is the best adapted for the culti- 

 vation of lucerne, although I am of opinion that it will grow, thrive better, 

 and be more profitable upon a very light soil, than perhaps any other plant. 

 Still, if you want to have it of the best quality you must give it good land. 

 The soil which we have found to suit it best, is* a deep soft loam, although it 

 seems to thrive very well on any dry sort of soil, provided it has a loose 

 open subsoil, so that the roots may get down, as they will reach the depth 

 of from three to four feet. 



I cannot presume, exactly, to state what may be the best possible prepa 

 ration of the soil for the cultivation of lucerne, or the best method of sowing 

 the seed ; but from the experience we have had for the last three years, the 

 following opinions have been formed : 



In no preparation of the soil has it succeeded better than where it was 

 sown in the year ls-2(i (although a very unfavourable season), after turnips, 

 eaten off the ground by sheep. 1 would certainly recommend to those who 

 wish to cultivate this valuable plant, to sow it (if convenient) with the same 

 preparation; but under whatever circumstances it may be sown, no trouble 

 should be spared in making the ground perfectly clean, otherwise disap- 

 pointment will, undoubtedly, be the result. There never should be more 

 town in one year than can be properly attended to in the cleaning when 

 young; Mid 1 think there are few farms that may not have some acres 

 adapted to the growth of lucerne. The only spot where it did not seem to 

 thrive well, was upon a piece of wet hard clay. After the first season, it re- 

 quires little more attention than to be gone over, perhaps once or twice, 

 with the three-toed pickers, once in autumn, and again in spring, when it 

 ought to be well harrowed. And 1 should suppose, that it will be found by 

 those who try it, to be a most valuable plant, and a complete substitute for 

 tares, which are both an expensive and a severe crop for the land. 



