444 Culture of the Pie Plant. 



Indies on account of its fruit, which resembles a small cucumber, 

 of intense acidity, and cannot be eaten raw, but is prepared as a 

 conserve. The flowers of A. Carambola are of a violet purple; 

 the fruit is pale yellow, and of the size of a goose's egg, agreea- 

 bly acid. This last mentioned species is equally sensitive as is 

 Biophytum sensitivum Dec. 



The oxalides are peculiarly acid plants. From 0. Acetosella 

 was formerly extracted that valuable article, oxalic acid; until 

 Scheele discovered that sugar, acted upon by nitric acid, afforded 

 a much more economical process. 



Botanists have greatly differed, respecting the group or natu- 

 ral order under which the oxalides occur. Thus Lindley and 

 De Candolle place them by themselves as Oxalideae, though the 

 latter hints that they have an alliance with Zygophylleae. Adopt- 

 ing the opinion of M. Auguste de St. Hiliare, A. Richard unites 

 into one family the Oxalidese, Tropaeoleaj, Linaceae, and Gera- 

 niaceas of De Candolle, and his own i^alsaminese, under the title 

 of Geraniaceae, of the first named author. 



A word on the method of growing them. Success depends 

 on the proper soil, abundance of light, sun, and moisture. A 

 large proportion of sand, not too fine, whh leaf-mould, will make 

 a hght and rich compost, through which the water will permeate 

 freely. Supply them with abundance of moisture when in a 

 growing state, and on the dessication of the fohage, in the spring, 

 "remove the bulbs from the pots, and keep them dry until the next 

 autumn. The flowers expand in the bright sun, but in a dull 

 day they may be artificially opened, by placing the pots in a warm 

 situation before the fire, taking due care that the heat be not too 

 great. It is said that the petals of the crocus will thus expand 

 in the bright light of a lamp; but for several successive times the 

 oxalis will thus expand its flowers and close them again, even in 

 the evening, as it is placed near to, or removed from, the influ- 

 ence of a constant and uniform warmth, 



Art II. Culture of the Pie Plant, or Rhubarb {Rheum pon- 

 ticum). By Edward Sayers. Newark, New Jersey. 



The pie rhubarb is one of the best known substitutes for 

 green goosebery tarts, in the early part of the spring, and by 



