No. 149.] 389 



in the atmosphere previous to the existence of all organized be- 

 ings. 



The phenomena of showers and of storms, all tend to prove 

 these opinions to be true ; we know that a series of flashes of 

 lightning passing through humid air, produce a combination of 

 nitric acid and ammonia, and that nitrate of ammonia always 

 accompanies rain ; but as this n'trate is in its nature fixed, it can- 

 not sustain itself in the atmosphere as a vapor, besides it is the 

 carbonate of ammonia which is distinguished in tlie air. 



It is at this day, out of all doubt, that the ammoniacal carbon- 

 ate is the most energetic agent of vegetation. 



For practical illustration — within a conservatory of about fifty 

 feet in length, take a piece of carbonate of ammonia, about the 

 size of a walnut, a little moist, rub it either on the heating pipes 

 or on a piece of heated metal, (if the pipes are not hot,) and the 

 odor is instantaneously detached — repeat this at the end and in 

 the middle of the conservatory, and in a few moments the whole 

 mass of air in it will have a sufficient dose. After the plants liave 

 for some time breathed this air, syringe them from one end to the 

 other as much as possible like a shower of rain. The aspect of 

 the plants changes for the better, even directly under tlie eyes, . 

 and grow with unusual vigor. 



ANNALES UE LA SOCIETE CENTRALE DE HORTICULTURE, 1850. 

 [Translated by H. Meigs.] 



Report as to a new pea by Mr. Crout, who brought it two years 

 ago, from Berg, where they had no name for it, but they supposed 

 that it came from Russia. A committee consisting of Messrs. 

 Boussiere, Forest and Neumann examined it last August at the 

 Lausage farm at Villejuif. 



We think that it must be ranked with the late peas. It is 

 about fifteen days later than our earliest peas. It may be 

 classed as second in ripening. It requires strong pea sticks to 

 bear it up, for it is very vigorous ; it reaches more than six feet 

 in height, is of great yield, the pods almost ahvays twins, well 

 filled with large peas pressing in each others sides. Wllen young 

 the } eas are of a light, very tender geen color. When dry and 

 old, of a yellowish hue. We tasted them when young and found 



