162 Culture of the Hyacinth. 



stay in Lincolnshire, the damage on a few farms by hail was 

 most extensive, and one farmer lost to the amount of 300/. 

 Withering and blighting blasts, the torrents of rain that fall 

 so partially in spring and autumn, and oftentimes with such 

 " fell swoop," all these, and other meteorological pheno- 

 mena, may be modified by conducting rods in the form of 

 paragreles, and the result be of incalculable benefit. What- 

 ever changes the electric character and state of the atmosphere, 

 that grand depository of the storm cloud, and all its icy and 

 tempestuous contents, must operate in the amelioration and 

 modification of climate, and paragreles may reasonably be 

 expected to do this, and more than we may well even guess at 

 now. In a future communication I mean to extend and fortify 

 my remarks, and give you a sketch of the paragrele. 



I am, Sir, &c. ' J. Murray. 



February 15. 1827. 



Art. XVI. Note on Mr. Campbell's Mode of growing the 

 Hyacinth. By Rusticus in Urbe. 

 Sir, 



The great merit of Mr. Campbell's mode of treating hya- 

 cinths [Gard. Mag., vol. ii. p. 411.) depends entirely on the 

 depth, four inches, at which he plants them. An acquaint- 

 ance raises them in the highest possible perfection, and has 

 done so for many years, by observing no other rule than deep 

 planting. His soil is a sandy loam. The depth at which 

 they are planted is four or five, and even six or seven, inches. 

 All the tribe naturally root deep, witness the harebell in 

 our hedges ; so do the polyanthus, narcissus, &c. This is 

 the point that should be attended to, and probably the orchis 

 family may require no other care. When a root is dug up in 

 the field, the depth should [be observed, and it should be 

 replanted exactly the same. A little observation on this point 

 may be of much use. 



July, 1827. Rusticus in Urbe. 



Art. XVII. Further Particulars of an Experiment made "with 

 a View of bettering the Condition of the Labouring Classes. 

 By John Moggridge, Esq. 



Sir, 

 Twelve months having nearly elapsed since I sent you 

 some particulars of an experiment made with the view of 



