306 Domestic Jfotices. 



protection for this fruit harbored slugs, and, if the weather was wet, 

 gave them a bad taste. If slates were placed round them they were 

 kept clean, but the roots were rendered dry, and the same effect was 

 produced by tiles and slates. The mode which the writer adopted was 

 to set them in ridges about four feet six inches apart, and twenty-four 

 inches apart, and from twelve to fifteen inches between the rows. Be- 

 tween and around these he placed pebbles, the convex surface of which 

 allowed the rain to run between and penetrate to the roots, whilst at 

 the same time it did not evaporate: the surface was kept clean, and 

 there was no dust arising. The pebbles also became warm and reflect- 

 ed the heat of the sun, but they did not impede the growth of the run- 

 ners. Some of Myatt's prospered well, as also Hautbois, although the 

 stems are slender, and they generally fall to the ground, the pebbles 

 being a support to them. {Hort. Jour.) 



Phosphoric light emitted by Flowers. — In the garden of the Duke of 

 Buckingham, at Stowe, on the evening of Friday, September 4th, 1835, 

 during a storm of thunder and lightning, accompanied by heavy rain, 

 the leaves of the flower called (Enothera macrocarpa, a bed of which 

 is in the garden, immediately opposite the windows of the manuscript 

 library at Stowe, were observed to be brilliantly illuminated by phos- 

 phoric light. During the intervals of the flashes of lightning the night 

 was exceedingly dark, and nothing else could be distin-xuished in the 

 gloom, except the bright light upon the leaves of these flowers. The 

 luminous ap|)earance continued uninterruptedly for a considerable length 

 of time; it did not appear to resemble any electric effect, and the opin- 

 ion which seemed most probable was that the plant, like many known 

 instances, has a power of absorbing light, and giving it out under pecu- 

 liar circumstances. {Mag. of Popular Science.) 



Art. III. Domestic Notices. 



Caterpillars destructive to the Isabella grape. — A new foe seems in- 

 troduced with the season, committing its ravages, among other subjects, 

 on the fruit-stalks of the Isabella grape, where we have only noticed it, 

 viz. a small white caterpillar, unknown to us in its insect form, which 

 bites the peduncle half through, by which injury the entire branch falls. 

 We hope some entomologist will give us the name of this little depre- 

 dator. — J. L. R., July, 1838. [If our corresjjondent will send us one 

 of these caterpillars, we will endeavor to procure some information re- 

 specting it. — Ed.] 



Dr. Hosack's collection of Banksias. — We have understood that the 

 rich collection of banksias, consisting of some very beautiful specimens, 

 belonging to the late Dr. Hosack, has been purchased l)y Horace Gray, 

 Esq., of Boston. They will be a treasure to any collection, and wc are 

 glad Mr. Graj', who has a fine large conservatory well adapted to their 

 growth, has not let this opportunity pass of ])ossessing himself of such 

 valuable plants, which would otherwise, perhajjs, have been scattered 

 around in various gardens, and finally lost to the country. We shall 

 endeavor to give some description of them at a future time. — Ed. 



Use of Sea-iveedfor horticultural purposes. — We have been inform- 



