324 Foreign Notices. — Germany. 



rupted by rocks or stones, it is said to perform its work with great rapidity, 

 delivering the earth into carts, or wheelbarrows, brought alongside of the 

 excavation. 



GERMANY. 



Naturalization of Plants. A German author, J. Ch. Lewchs, has lately 

 published a book, in which are some useful remarks on this subject. His 

 work is divided into three parts. 1st. Observations on the climate and 

 soil of Germany, and those of other countries : 2d. Principles of guidance 

 in choosing plants for acclimating : and, 3d. Processes for that purpose. 



In choosing plants to acclimate, it is necessary to attend first to their 

 organization ; annual plants which terminate their development in a part 

 of the year, are easier acclimated than perennials. Plants which abound 

 in sap, have a spongy porous wood, and much pith, succeed with difficulty. 

 In applying these principles, the author lays it down as a rule, that instead 

 of endeavouring to give to foreign plants their ancient climate, we ought 

 to apply ourselves to make them forget it. He recommends to begin by 

 hardening the seed, and for that purpose to put it in the ground before 

 Winter ; to shorten the period of vegetation by increasing the temperature ; 

 to diminish the nourishment, but increase its irritation, by employing 

 stimulating saline manures, camphor, &c. ; to stop the growth in Autumn, 

 by surrounding the plant with cold ; to hinder it from shooting too freely 

 in Spring, by keeping it dry, so as to diminish the quantity of moisture 

 absorbed by the roots, &c. 



Means of rendering Pomology more flourishing. The Pomological So- 

 ciety at Guben in Lusatia, having been consulted on this subject, re- 

 commended the adoption of the following measures. 1. Instruct youth 

 in the cultivation of fruit-trees : 2. Instruct also ministers and school- 

 masters : 5. Oblige ministers and schoolmasters to acquire information on 

 the subject : 4. Render ministers and schoolmasters responsible for public 

 ordinances relative to the culture of fruit-trees : 5. Establish branch Po- 

 mological Societies : 6. Establish a nursery and an orchard for the principal 

 society : 7. Plant fruit trees in the public places of villages, and along the 

 high roads : 8. Let every parish (commune) be responsible for fruit-trees 

 planted in public places : 9. Appoint public watchmen for fruit-trees : 

 10. Increase the penalties for injuring fruit-trees: 11. Prohibit the de- 

 struction of small birds, which are necessary for the destruction of cater- 

 pillars ; but the sparrow is to be excepted, because it attacks both birds 

 and fruits, and only eats caterpillars when it cannot get any thing else : 

 12. Establish public officers to superintend the execution of pomological 

 laws, and judge petty offenders: 15. Name an inspector-general for pomo- 

 logical plantations for each province. Such is the ardour for encouraging 

 the growth of fruit-trees on the banks of the Rhine. 



Neiv Varieties of Fruits. In the Memoirs of the Pomological Society of 

 Altenbourg, (vol. i.) is a paper by that indefatigable fruit-cultivator, M. Hem- 

 pel, on the experiments which ought to be made for establishing the in- 

 fluence that climate and soil have in the creation of new kinds of fruits. 

 The processes recommended by Mr. Hempel consist in sowing the seeds 

 of one sort in pots, and raising and growing them in hot-beds of dif- 

 ferent temperatures till they have ripened their fruit. 



Pea Husks. In a German publication it is stated, that these, when green, 

 if boiled in water, with a little sage, or a few hops added, and the whole 

 afterwards fermented, will produce a liquor not inferior to beer. 



Timothy Grass. The culture of this dirty grass has been tried in Ba- 

 varia, and was found so superior to the old grasses, that horses, 

 cattle, sheep, and even swine, greedily sought it out whether dry 

 or green, on account of its agreeable taste. Horses fattened on the 



