192 Obituary, 



be done with a watering-pot or garden-engine, it will be beneficial to pre- 

 pare a portion of the infusion with an additional quantity of gum arable, to 

 be applied with a brush to the stems of the bushes, at least for a foot or 

 more above the ground. The air of the atmosphere will generally keep the 

 gum moist, and any vermin that may rise from the earth in the course of 

 the spring will be arrested by the gum, and the tobacco will kill them 

 effectuall}'. There is one species of grub that never quits the ground 

 until it becomes a kind of butterfly. This species destroys cabbages and 

 cauliflowers by attacking the roots about an inch below the surface of the 

 earth. It will, therefore, be necessary, before these vegetables are hoed up, 

 to give a small portion of the infusion to each plant from a watering-pot; 

 and it is further recommended, when these plants are taken up to be 

 transplanted, that the roots be put into the infusion for a few minutes 

 before they are dibbled into the earth. It is wonderful how much this 

 infusion promotes the vigour of vegetation, when it gets to the root of any 

 plant. Vipers, which are common in gardens in England and the south of 

 Scotland, will soon forsake the garden in which this infusion is used freely. 

 The essential oil of tobacco, if applied to the mouth of a viper upon the 

 tip of a small rod, will kill the reptile to a certainty. This oil will kill the 

 most poisonous snakes of warm climates. The tobacco leaf yields a con- 

 siderable quantity of essential oil, which is readily obtained by smoking 

 tobacco in a nipple-glass. The oil will condense in the bulb of the glass; 

 and it is so extremely caustic, that it will destroy the epidermis when it 

 touches the human skin." 



Before I conclude, it may be proper for me to mention that I have never 

 made trial of the above infusion, and cannot therefore speak as to its 

 efficacy. I am. Sir, &c. — Agricola. Near York, March 1 . 1828. 



Disease of the Anemone. — Sir, I am glad that my simple query, respect- 

 ing an apparent disease of the anemone (Vol. III. p. ."22.), has called forth 

 such a valuable and interesting communication from Mr. Baxter of Oxford. 

 (Vol. III. p. 491.) 1 have examined the specimens of the anemone leaves 

 (herewith returned), and have little doubt that the causes of barrenness in 

 botli cases, originates in these curious little parasites. One point, however, 

 remains to be explained. Admitting my plants were attacked in this way 

 to what cause can be attributed the uncommon size of those leaves, and 

 those only, which bore these hidden parasites beneath. They exhibited, 

 if I -may be allowed the expression, a morbid luxuriance, in being 1 or 

 2 in. higher, and considerably stouter, than the surrounding leaves. Was 

 this an eflfbrt of nature, to counteract the absorption of sap thus unnatu- 

 rally drawn by the parasite it nourished ? If not, one would expect that 

 those diseased leaves would have been smaller, and less luxuriant, than the 

 others, and would have prematurely withered. The solution of this ques- 

 tion rests with the physiological botanist. I hope Mr. Baxter will give it 

 his consideration. Yours, &c — A. B. March 19. 



Art. XL Obituary. 



Died, at Chelmsford, on the 13th of April, Mr. Richard Vachell, well 

 known as a florist at that place, and throughout Essex. — T. F. 



Died, April 14th, at Boughton Mount, Maidstone, John Braddick, Esq. 

 F.H.S., aged 63. Mr. Braddick was a warm supporter and generous pro- 

 moter of all scientific pursuits, and was particularly attached to, and skilful 

 in, horticulture, as his papers in the Transactions of the Horticultural 

 Society and in this Magazine bear testimony. 



