266 [Assembly 



soaked it into the ground. When harvested this piece of wheat 

 yielded 6^, while a piece of the same size and condition along side 

 of it gave 4^ of weight of the whole plants. After being thresh- 

 ed out and fanned, the sulphatized wheat weighed 2| and the 

 other 1^. Beans treated in the same way compared thus : those 

 sulphatized weighed 2 J, the other 1^. Potatoes thus treated 

 gave 9 for the sulphatized and 6 for those not, and all the sul- 

 phatized plants and fruits are more beautiful. Tliis result ap- 

 pears in potatoes, wheat, beans, onions, carrots, cauliflowers, 

 asparagus, peaches, pears, vines, &c. 



CALCEOLARIA— SLIPPER FLOWERS. 

 A genus of Scrophulariacea:. 



Translated by H. Meigs, Esq. 



These plants are found iii abundance in all parts of the world, 

 from the coldest regions in which flowering plants can vegetate to 

 the hottest place w'ithin the tropics. Lindley's Vegetable Kingdom. 



Revue Horticole, Paris, 1850. 



We borrow from Van Houtte his culture of these charming 

 plants, which after having remained almost a monopoly of Bel- 

 gian Horticulture, has at last become definitely established in 

 France. The Messrs. Boudoux, of Paris, and Mr. Belot-Defou- 

 g(>res, at Moulins, have furnished us with many beautiful varie- 

 ties. If the cultivation of the calceolaria calls for all the atten- 

 tion of the gardener, yet by way of recompense it indemnifies 

 him amply by its vigorous and brilliant flowering and long dura- 

 tion, and is worthy of all care. Sow annually, in August, in a 

 well drained bed of earth, in the shade, under glass, or in a cold 

 glass conservatory without covering the seeds. Put each young 

 plant in a pot, and keep througii the next winter on a little 

 table in the cold conservatory, where it must be well aired and 

 exposed to the rays of the sun ; early in spring change it into 

 other pots twice at least before flowering, in order that the young 

 plants may acquire a great vigor and produce abundant flowers. 

 Humidity is bad for them. Whenever the weatlier permits they 



