Answers to Queries. 155 
373.—Noctiluca.—In Mr. Griffin’s article on this subject in the 
Journal of Microscopy, for January, 1887, the evidence for and 
against the presence of an excrementary canal in this animal will 
be found fully discussed. (Gash vex 
377 —Plant Crystals.—Oxalate of lime is a bye-product formed 
in the process of vegetation and has no useful function to perform 
in the economy of the plant. It is found in largest quantities in 
the old leaves, and is got rid of when these are shed. GHB: 
382.—Plant Hairs.—These serve to protect the leaves in 
several ways :—Firstly, from the attacks of insects, by hindering 
the smaller kinds (e.g., aphides), from crawling on the leaves; 
secondly, in some few cases it has been thought to screen the leaf 
from the fierce glare of the sunlight ; lastly, there can be no doubt 
that in certain cases they prevent particles of dust from settling on 
the leaves and choking up the stomata. The first use is no doubt 
the most important, but there are many plants with very woolly 
leaves, which derive considerable protection from dust from the 
hairs on them; even after carefully blowing on or shaking them, 
a considerable amount of dust will still be found arrested by the 
hairs. G.,-EIr Bs 
386.—Hens.—Nettles act like all other green food, and causes 
laying. If greens were given to the hens in winter, and a little 
more lime, eggs would be much more plentiful at that season than 
is now the case. Wey AC lee 
387. —Pear-Grafting.—In grafting trees they should be regu- 
lated according to the hardness of their wood. Soft wood grows 
faster than hard, and consequently causes death to the tree in 
time. It is common in America for new comers to find soft and 
hard wood trees grafted together, and in a few years one falls 
apart from the other by its own weight, and thus dies. I have 
noticed this in cherry-trees particularly. Wie vst le 
389.—Chemical.—See Francis Sutton on “ Volumetric Analy- 
sis” (Churchill, 16/-); Dragendorff’s “ Quantitative and Qualita- 
tive Plant Analysis” (Bailliere, 7/6); Frankland’s ‘“ Agricultural 
Chemical Analysis” (Macmillan, 7/6); Ville on “ Artificial 
Manures,” 31 plates (Longmans, £1 15S.). VAAL EE 
389.—Chemical.—I would recommend Mr. Hogg to get “The 
Handbook of the Farm Series.” ‘These are edited by J. Chal- 
mers Morton, and comprise—1, Chemistry of the Farm; 2, Live 
Stock of the Pann; 3, Crops.of the Vasms 45-Soil) of the Farm ; 
5, Plant-Life of the Farm; 6, Equipment of the Farm. They 
are sold separately at 2/6 each (Bradbury). A. 
389.—Chemical.—‘“ Agricultural Chemical Analysis,” by F. F. 
Frankland (Macmillan, 7/6); ‘‘ Elements of Agricultural Che- 
mistry and Geology,” by Johnston and Cameron (W. Blackwood, 
