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New Variety of Wheat, 



Advices from St. Petersburg, to the 12th August, mention that a 

 new variety of the Arnautka wheat has recently been discovered and 

 cultivated in Bessarabia. It is called the Kolus or large-eared wheat, 

 on account of the peculiar beauty of its ears. At present it is limited 

 to mere seed-wheat, and fetches twice the price of the ordinary Ar- 

 nautka. One other and more important peculiarity of this grain is, 

 that it is less affected by drought than any other varieties. At the 

 same time it possesses several other features, being distinguished by 

 its greater fertility, its deep amber color, and its earlier ripening. 

 This important discovery was made by a peasant of the name of Bu- 

 latowisch, in the village of Troitzk, in the district of Bender, who, 

 being a close observer of nature, detected in his crops certain ears 

 which were larger and became ripe earlier than the rest of the crop. 

 These he collected and sowed separately, and the result was an abun- 

 dant harvest, and the introduction of a new and valuable variety of 

 wheat. The Russian Government it is to be hoped will not let such 

 an opportunity pass of rewarding one so deserving of a substantial 

 mark of its favor. The event had created a great sensation amongst 

 the agriculturists and dealers in grain, and the new wheat well merits 

 being named after its discoverer. — Morning Chronicle, August 25, 

 1848. 



Note on Alsine rubra, var. media, Bab. 

 By Fenton J. A. Hort, Esq. 



In the September number of the ' Phy tologist ' Mr. Woods speaks 

 of having found at West Lulworth "on the chalk a form of Arenaria 

 marina, with a very stout, woody root, showing several concentric 

 circles." This brief description will apply well to a plant which I 

 have myself observed in several localities this summer, possessing 

 characters so marked, that botanists residing on various parts of our 

 coasts may think it worth their while next year to make observations 

 on the permanence of the form and the extent of its distribution. I 

 take it to be the Alsine rubra, var. media, of Babington (Lepigonum 

 medium of Fries) : Mr. Babington tells me that on further study 

 of his plant on the cliff at Tenby, and I have little doubt of its iden- 

 tity with mine, he is so convinced of its distinctness as to feel inclined 



