General Notices. — Foreign Notices. 65 



MISCELLANEOUS LNTELLIGENCE. 



Art. J. General J\"utices. 



Action of Tannin, and some other Suhstances, on the Roots of Plants. By 

 M. Payeii. It lias been repeatedly stated iliat trees soon die when tlie roots 

 come into contact with the remains of the n)ols of oak trees cut down near 

 them. This was snpposed to be owinfj to the action ol the taiuiin in tlie oak 

 roots. ]M. Payen, after makinfj a iuiml)er of exi)eriments on the subject, ar- 

 rived at the following conclusions: — 1st, Tainiin, even in small (inanlity, a<;ts 

 deleteriously on the roots of certain i)lants; 2dly, Acids, in small proportions, 

 are hnrtfid to germination; 3illy, Alkalies, in small quantity, are favorable to 

 the progress of vegetation ; 4tlily, The neutralization of the acidity develo|)ed 

 during germination hastens its progress, and favors the ulterior develojiement 

 of the plant. These e.\[)erlments account (or one of the useful eftects of 

 lime or vegetable ashes, and of calcareous marl ; and also for the unfavorable 

 influence of alkalies used in too great quantity, or unequally distributed. — 

 {Journal de Chimie Medicate, April, 1834, as quoted in the Loud, and Edin. 

 Phil. Mag. for August, 1834.) 



Art. it. Foreign J^otices. 

 ENGLAND. 



Tlie Metropolitan Society of Florists and Amateurs had their grand show of 

 georginas, roses, flowers, flowering plants, &c., at the Surrey Zoological Gar- 

 dens, on August 13 and 14. The assemblage of company was most numer- 

 ous, not less than 10,000 or 12,000 persons, it is stated in the newsjiaper 

 reports, having entered the gardens in the course of the first day. The show 

 of flowers was more than usually magnificent. Silver cups, and volumes on 

 the science of horticulture, were the prizes awarded to the successful candi- 

 dates by whom the best flowers had been reared. The names of the nursery- 

 men to whom the cups were adjudged were: — 3Iessr&. Chandler, VVidnall,. 

 Harding and Wilmore, whose georginas were preeminent in magnificence and 

 splendor of color. Mr. Brown was also the winner of a silver cup ; and, 

 among the amateurs, Messrs. Shepherd, Crowder, Lee, Alexander and Salter 

 obtained prizes. The prizes for the best pelargoniums were given to Mr. Hill 

 and Mr. Gains; and Mr. Hopwood, Mr. Rivers and Mr. Redding were par- 

 ticularly suecessful in obtaining the prizes for collections of cut flowers and 

 hot-house and green-house plants. There were many other florists and am- 

 ateurs to whom prizes were distributed, but the above were the principal 

 winners; and, indeed, so nearly equal were the merits of many of the com- 

 petitors, that the judges had considerable difficulty in making their award. 

 The animals in the gardens were in the highest condition ; and were, of course, 

 second only to the flowers in attracting the curiosity of the company. The 

 rhinoceros was surrounded with a crowd of visiters of all ages; and the mon- 

 keys, parrots, elephants, &c., also came in for their share of attention. The 

 very greatest praise is due to Mr. Cross, the principal proprietor of this estab- 

 lishment, who not only gave the use of his grounds, for two days, gratis, but, 

 as we were informed, was also at the sole expense of the numerous tents and 

 the band of music; and, besides, subscribed 50/. to the Society. — Gard. Mag. 



