Annales de la Societe de Horticulture de Paris. 263 



29th of March, 1826, about midday, Reaumur's thermometer at 10° above 

 zero {55° of Fahrenheit) in the hot-house, the first of five flowers composing 

 the umbel, was observed to open, and the pistil, then in the middle of the 

 flower, became visibly agitated, bending itself to the left, towards the sta- 

 mens, where it remained half an hour before it regained its place in the 

 centre. At the time of this collision, the observer thought he also saw 

 peculiar movements of the anthers and divisions of the perianth. — 

 Monstrosity of a Crassane Pear. This circumstance was noticed, and 

 communicated to the Secretary, -^^^^i:^^ '^^ 



by M. Bonnet, of Rhetel (Arden- 

 nes). From the eye of the first 

 and naturally formed fruit, arises 

 a second, almost equalling thefirst 

 in size. The pulps of both are 

 slightly united at the point of 

 contact, where, also, there is the 

 remains of the first calyx; the 

 second rotted before the other. 

 No description of the internal 

 structure is given. [These mon- 

 strosities in the fruit of the Cras- 

 sane pear, are very common in 

 England. In the autumn of 1827, 

 we saw a number in the garden at Pains Hill, and brought a curious speci- 

 men {fig. 78.) from the garden of a gentleman at Woking.] — The Econo- 

 mical Society of Haarlem offers gold medals for the cultivation of the wax- 

 tree (ikfyrica cerifera) in the Netherlands, intending thereby to introduce 

 this curious substance into economical manufacture and general use. — 

 The Royal Agricultural Society of Caen offer a gold medal for the best 

 essay on the means of destroying the Coccus lanlgera on apple trees. 

 The essay to be authenticated by experimental and practical facts, and to 

 be presented to M. Lair, the secretary, before the 1st May, 1828. It is a 

 pity the name of this well-known insect is not determined and fixed. In 

 this advertisement of the Caen Society, it is called by the different names of 

 the Apple aphis, Myzoxyle {myzcu), to suck, xylon, wood), and Vinefretter, 

 thus making the identity uncertain. 



Liiv. V.for January, 1828, first, of the Second Volume, contains 

 An Introduction, by C. Bailly de Merlieux, editor, setting forth the value 

 of gardening, the necessity of societies for its encouragement, and the ad- 

 vantages which may accrue to France and the whole world from the exer- 

 tions of that of Paris, united as it is with similar establishments in other 

 countries. 



i. M^moires, Rapports. — The first article states the terms of the reward 

 of 400 francs for the discovery of any cheap, easily applied, simple substance 

 or quality, which will be fatal to the grub of the cockchaffer, without injur- 

 ing plants, or tending to change the nature of the soil. — Report by M. Vil- 

 morin, upon a notice relative to the cultivation of Chinese Paddy (unmilled 

 rice) sent to the Society by M. Jacques, head-gardener to His Royal High- 

 ness the Duke of Orleans. There are two kinds of rice, one cultivated by 

 irrigation, which is the principal ; the other does not require such treat- 

 ment, and, therefore, is called dry or mountain rice. This last is sown just 

 before the rainy season sets in ; and then, having showers every day, it is 

 soon brought to perfection. The reporter speaks of trials which have been 

 made with this dry rice, and seems willing to believe that it may be accli- 

 mated in France or Italy; and that, probably, it might succeed from simple 

 irrigation, instead of inundation. Then follows M. Jacques's paper to the 



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