366 Transactions of the MoHicultural Society. 



unplanged plants being excited to produce a strong growth of 

 shoots from the bottom, at the time of setting, which diverted 

 the powers of the plant from the production of fruit. The 

 President was at a loss to account for this, till he saw M. Du- 

 trochet's publication on vegetable physiology, in which the 

 ao-ency of electricity is shown to have great effect in the mo- 

 tion of vegetable fluids. Applying this new doctrine to the 

 case of his insulated Mango plants, he supposed that the 

 roots received too great a share of aerial electricity, and were 

 thereby excited to produce shoots below, instead of propelling 

 the stimulated sap to the extremities. The President has also 

 noticed similar derangements of the proper growth of the 

 Gherimoyer [Anbna Cherimblia), and imagines that this may 

 be the cause why many other hot-house plants so kept never 

 show flowers or fruit. On the other hand, it is admitted 

 that certain fi'uit-bearing plants, as the peach, nectarine, and 

 strawberry, are improved in flavour, and the fig in fruitfulness, 

 by being so exposed to the air. 



How far M. Dutrochet's discoveiy, or Mr. Knight's appli- 

 cation of it may be right, it is unnecessary to enquire ; it is, 

 however, more than probable, that practical men might come 

 to a different conclusion from that of the worthy President. 

 We request our practical readers to contrast this paper of 

 Mr. Knight's in favour of bottom heat, with those which he 

 formerly published against it. 



6. Some Account of the Malcarle, or Charles Apple. By John 

 Lindley, Esq. F.R.S. L.S. &c. Assistant Secretary. Read Fe- 

 bruary 19. 1828. 



The Malcarle is a tender Italian apple, having many excel- 

 lencies ; there seems, however, no chance of its being brought 

 to perfection in this climate, unless planted against a south 

 wall, in some favourable inland situation. 



7. Review of the Fifty Kinds of Grapes described by Mr. Speech- 

 ley, in his Treatise on the Vine. By Mr. Joseph Thompson, 

 C.M.H.S. Gardener to His Grace the Duke of Portland, Wel- 

 beck, Nottinghamshire. Successor to Mr. Speechley. Read 

 February 5. 1828. 



This is a history of the different kinds of vine collected chiefly 

 by the late Mr. Speechley, and mentioned by him in his treatise 

 It is composed from memoranda of the writer, and of Mr. 

 Thomas Hunt *, a fellow-student, while under Mr. Speechley, 



* Mr. Thomas Hunt was kitchen-gardener at Bulstrode for several years 

 previous to 1796, when he retired, from bad health. He died about 1799, 



