06 Short, Papers and Notes. 
peared in the mud, and, just beneath the surface, very quickly 
transformed to the lung-bearing stage, and left for adjacent woods. 
Others in deeper water: remained undisturbed. If a rain came 
suddenly, refilling the-dry pond, the further change of the half- 
transformed axolotls at once ceased, and they continued to live in 
the water as before. But subsequent drying would compel them 
to take on the adult, or amblystoma stage.—Prof. Kellerman, in 
Lndustrialist. 
Short Papers and Notes. 
Al Vegetable Compass. 
MONG the wonders of the ‘‘ Wild West” that have 
recently been discovered is a vegetable compass. 
The American Association for the Advancement of 
Science publishes in its Zyvansactions a report penned 
‘ by General Abford, of the United States army, and 
treating of an extraordinary plant growing wild in the States of 
Oregon and Texas, the leaves of which point due north and 
south, and are consequently utilised by belated prairie-hunters as 
convenient substitutes for the magnetic needle. Professor Gray 
Meehan, who has examined specimens of this gifted shrub at the 
request of the Association, defines it as a dwarf variety of the 
osier, named Sy/phium Laciniatum. It is a perennial, and attains 
a maximum height of 3 feet 6 inches. The peculiar propensity 
of its foliage is attributed to the fact that both surfaces of its 
leaves display an equal receptivity for light. All the other known 
varieties of the Sy/phzum class are characterised by the presence 
on the lower surface of their leaves of from twice to thrice as 
many respiratory vessels as are contained in the upper surface, 
which is therefore the more sensitive to light influences of the 
two. But both surfaces of the Laciniatum are clothed alike with 
an epidermis exceptionally receptive of light ; and, according to 
Professor Meehan, the same instinct of its leaves that prompts 
them to require an equal distribution of light upon their either 
surface, causes them to assume a vertical position, and to point 
due north and south—one flat of each leaf thus facing the east 
and the other the west. 
Destruction of the Pbylloxera. 
Dr. Clemm has patented the following process in most civi- 
lised countries. He incorporates with the soil sulphides and 
carbonates, which easily undergo decomposition, preferably those 
