Notes and Gleanings. 2J3 



The Currant Worm once more. — Our correspondent, ]\Ir. George Cruick- 

 shanks, of Whitinsville, Mass., writes us that the whale-oil soap and kerosene 

 mixture which he recommended in the July and September numbers of our last 

 volume (page 23 and page 176), for destroying the currant worm, has proved 

 equally effectual this year. The worms first appeared on the 20th of May, and 

 on the 22d were plentiful on part of the bushes, but in two hours after applying 

 the solution were nearly all dead. Mrs. Paul Whitin, who has given it a thorough 

 trial, says it ought to be known by every one who grows currants, for it not only 

 kills the worms, but cleans the bushes of other insects and invigorates the plants, 

 as is proved by the fine show of fruit this season. As many of our readers have 

 not our last volume, we republish the recipe here. " Five pounds of v/hale-oil soap 

 and one wine quart of kerosene with twenty-five gallons of soft water. Stir the 

 soap and kerosene till thoroughly mixed, add two pails of hot water, stir till the 

 soap is dissolved, then add the balance of the water cold, when it is ready for 

 use. Apply with a syringe v^'xih force in bright sunshine. I do it in the middle 

 of the forenoon. Since I have used this solution I have had but few currant 

 worms after three applications in bright sunshine. The sun dries the liquid on 

 the leaves, whereas if applied in the evening, as is the custom with many, the 

 falling dew gives the worm a chance to revive, so as to go on with its work of 

 destruction the following day." 



The Effect of Sod on the Temperature of the Soil was studied by 

 Malaguti and Durocher. They observed that it hindered the warming of the 

 soil to about the same extent as a layer of earth of three inches depth. Thus a 

 thermometer four inches deep in green sward acquires the same temperature as 

 one seven inches deep in the same soil not grassed. 



Hoiv Crops Feed, by Prof. Johnson. 



The Compass Plant {Silphmm lacitiiatiini). — This plant possesses the 

 peculiarity of holding its leaves in such a position that the edges point north 

 and south, so that it is used by the settlers on the western prairies, when lost in 

 dark nights, to get their bearings. The possession of this property has been 

 denied, but careful observation has shown that it certainly does possess it when 

 young, though when the leaves become large and heavy, so as to be borne in dif- 

 ferent directions by wind and Ain, they have not always the power of regaining 

 the position lost. It was suggested by Dr. Gray that this position was taken as 

 the one in which the two faces would obtain an equal amount of sunhght, and 

 we are informed by W. F. Whitney, in the American Naturalist, that this sug- 

 .gestion has been found correct. It is well known that the two sides of a leaf 

 usually differ in structure, that the number of stomata, or breathing holes, is 

 much greater on the under than the upper surface, and that the tissue of the 

 upper is denser than that of the lower stratum. Careful examination with the 

 microscope has shown that in the Compass Plant the number of stomata in the 

 upper and under surfaces of the leaves is equal, and hence they seek an equal 

 exposure to the light ; — the mean position of equal exposure, in northern lati- 

 tudes, being that in which the edges are presented north and south, the latter to 

 the maximum, the former to the minimum, of illumination. 



