118 
NATURE 
[Wov. 25, 1869 
often employed as the watchmen of their villages. The Cultivat- 
ing Bheels continued to live peacefully in hamlets under the rule 
of their Turwees, though still preserving traces of a ruder and 
wilder state, such as was prevalent among the Mountain Bheels, 
who, owing to the difficult nature of the places inhabited by 
them, had never been altogether subdued, and subsisted only by 
plunder. Notwithstanding these distinctions the Bheels were 
one people, and their different tribes intermarried, though with 
certain restrictions. Polygamy was the rule with them, and it 
was by no means uncommon to find men with four or five wives. 
Many children were born, but a large portion died young, owing 
perhaps, in a great measure, to the malaria in the jungles, where 
fever and diseases of the spleen were common. ‘The writer then 
proceeds to give a brief description of their dress and arms, their 
language and some of their customs. The Bheels are said to be 
very vindictive and to keep up feuds for many years, sometimes 
for generations. ‘‘ Blood for blood” is their general maxim, 
The life of a man can, however, be made good to his relatives by 
payment in kind or money of 120 rupees, or of a woman of 
60 rupees. In cach community the head Bheel is called Turwee. 
- His office is hereditary, and the police arrangements of the village 
are carried out by him. On thesuccession of any of the Rajput chiefs 
it is considered essential the head Bheel Turwee should make a 
mark with his blood on the forehead of the chief, without which 
ceremony no succession is considered complete. By the Rajputs 
intermarrying with the Bheel women, a race results called Bheel- 
alahs, to which most of the chiefs of the Vindhya Bheels belong. 
In consequence of their descent from the Rajput conquerors they 
obtain superior rank and authority among the Bheels, though, as 
is generally the result of a blending of different races, they seem 
to combine the viciousness and roguery of the subdued Bheels 
with the arrogance and haughty bearing of the conquering Rajput. 
The reading of Mr. Waterhouse’s paper was followed by a lively 
discussion, in which seyeral of the members present took part, 
who, from a residence in the places occupied by the tribes in 
question, were able to supply some new and interesting particulars 
with regard to their dialect and manners. It was then announced 
by the chairman that the next meeting would be held on Monday 
the 29th inst. 
Royal Horticultural Society. Scientific Commitiee, Nov. 
16.—Mr. W. W. Saunders, F.R.S., in the chair. The Rev. M. 
J. Berkeley exhibited some walnuts, in which the outer rind was 
completely blackened and shrivelled by frost, the nut in the inte- 
rior being unaffected. Mr. Glaisher remarked that during winter 
the temperature of the atmosphere was usually considerably 
warmer at a level of 20—Soft. above the surface than at a lower 
altitude. He expressed his opinion that the peculiar appearances 
presented,by the walnuts were due rather to dryness of the atmo- 
sphere than to actual frost. Prof. Ansted called attention to the 
effect of wind in blackening the leaves on one side of a tree, 
while on the unexposed side they retained their green colour. 
The chairman stated that an illustration of this fact might 
recently have been seen in Somersetshire, where the trees for a 
distance of thirty miles or more were thus affected. Mr. A. 
Murray then alluded to a peculiar beetle preying on the foliage of 
orchids introduced from widely diverse countries, and pointed out 
many interesting facts. Dr. Masters, who spoke on the part 
of the sub-committee appointed to watch the progress of 
the plants in the experimental ground at Chiswick, exhibi- 
ted a series of diagrams, showing in a graphic form the re- 
lative degrees of vigour exhibited by the plants at the various 
dates of observation, and the fluctuations in the intervals 
between them. Similar tables had been prepared, showing the 
amount of heat and rainfall during the entire period of observation, 
and the fluctuations in the intervals between each separate observa- 
tion. The most striking results shown in the diagrams were as fol- 
lows :—In almost every case the plants in the unmanured boxes 
were the least vigorous. The application of purely mineral manures 
was productive of little or no result in the case of the grasses, 
but was much more effective in promoting yigour in the case of 
the clovers. A striking contrast was exhibited in the case of 
almost all the twelve separate kinds of plants treated with am- 
monia salts, or with nitrate of soda respectively. It was shown 
in Dr. Masters’ tables that almost invariably when the plants 
treated with ammonia salts manifested an increased degree of 
vigour, those treated with nitrate of soda showed a correspond- 
ing decrease. These contrasted fluctuations occurred at a time 
when the weather tables showed a high rainfall and a decreased 
temperature. Similar antagonistic results, but manifesting them- 
selves at a later period, when the temperature was higher and 
the rainfall less, prevailed to a less extent in the boxes manured 
with a combination of mineral manures and nitrate of soda, and 
of mineral manures and ammonia respectively. Dr. Gilbert re- 
marked that the experiments, as conducted this year, were 
serviceable rather as indications of what to avoid in the coming 
year, than for any immediate use at present. The soil made use 
of was too fertile, and in consequence the plants made undue 
growth. The contrasting conditions alluded to by Dr. Masters 
probably depended on variations in the relative power of diffu- 
sion of the several salts, and the range of the roots. Nitrate of 
soda was distributed with great rapidity. The ammonia salts 
were converted into nitrates before absorption by the plant, and 
were thus distributed at a lower depth. Dr. Voelcker corrobo- 
rated Dr, Gilbert as to the necessity of caution in drawing general 
inferences from this season’s experiments, and adyised that in 
future the plants should be grown in pots, so as to be more under 
control, and less subject to disturbing influences. Mr, Glaisher 
alluded to the effects produced by the roots of plants in 
increasing the temperature of the soil, and suggested that 
a thermometer should be inserted into each of the seventy- 
two boxes. These thermometers, moreover, should be made 
with great care, and the mercury in all should be derived 
from the same source, so as to secure uniformity of expansion. — 
A report from Mr, Barron, on various experiments that have been 
carried on as to grafting on various stocks, was then read. The 
results had been very varied, and were of a very interesting 
character. In those cases where failure had resulted, the want of 
success was attributed to one or more of the following causes :— 
Imperfection in the mode of operating ; the too advanced condi- 
tion of the stocks or of the buds before the operation ; the want 
of correspondence in point of time between the growth of stock 
and scion, &c. This report will be published zz ex¢enso.—A 
communication from Mr. Barber, forwarded by Dr. Hooker, 
relating to the culture of Aloes, was then read. The Chairman 
remarked that the rocky nature of the country in which Aloes 
grew was serviceable in preventing excessive or long-continued 
moisture. He had ascertained from Mr. Cooper that many of 
the Haworthias grew naturally closely environed by herbage, 
and that when this was eaten by the sheep the plants became 
unduly exposed to the sun, and died in consequence ; hence the 
sheep were only indirectly injurious (not directly, as Mr. Barber 
had stated) by removing the herbage. Mr. Saunders in practice 
substituted a fold of thin paper or muslin for the grass, and thus 
tempered the light, to the great advantage of the plants.—A 
report from Mr. Moore on the experiments carried out at Chis- 
wick with various chemical manures on variegated zonal and 
other Pelargoniums, with a view to ascertain the effect of the 
manures on the colouration of the leaves and the production of 
flowers, was then read.—A lengthy communication on the culti- 
vation of Tea, by Mr. McPherson, was laid on the table, on 
which the secretary was instructed to report to a future meeting. 
—Dr. Masters exhibited, on the part of Mr. D. T. Fish, a 
sample of soil in which there was a thin layer of lime about six 
inches below the surface. This had evidently been put on as a 
top-dressing. Mr. Fish attributed the position of the lime be- 
neath the surface to an annual superposition of a layer of car- 
bonaceous matter on the surface, and to the decomposition of the 
roots. He advanced this view in opposition to that of Mr, 
Darwin, who attributes similar effects to the agency of worms. 
Dr. Voelcker remarked that lime so applied was always washed 
down gradually in the manner described. 
Ethnological Society, Nov. 23.—-Prof. Huxley, F.R.S., Pre- 
sident, in the chair.—Dr. G. W. Leitner gave an account of his 
visit in 1866 to Ladak, Little Tibet, Kashmere, and the unvisited 
country of Ghilghit. He succeeded, by a new route crossing 
the Shingun and Maraug, in reaching Ladak six weeks before 
the usual passes were open. The Abbot of Pugdal—the Buddhist 
monastery where Csoma de Koros spent five years—agreed with 
him to secure the safe passage of any English or Hungarian 
traveller to Lassa ; offering to give a near relative of his own as 
hostage for the safety of the visitor. The Punjab Government 
having commissioned him to obtain information respecting the 
Chilasi people, with a view of tracing a connection between them 
and the Darada, and the Hindu Olympus, the Kaylas, he crossed 
the frontier and penetrated into Ghilghit, four marches beyond any 
previous European travellers. Out of fifty, only two of his followers 
accompanied him to the country of the dreaded Dards. Dr. 
Leitner gave an account of the legends of this people, whom he 
