Transactions of the Horticultural Society. 419 



are warmer and earlier, vegetation is less vigorous from a de- 

 ficiency of moisture at the root. The progress of some 

 plants, for example of most bulbs, seems to depend more on 

 the supply of moisture than of heat. Plant in autumn a 

 common garden hyacinth in the open ground, and another 

 in a cold green-house or frame ; leave the former to all the 

 vicissitudes of the winter, and water the latter as green-house 

 plants are generally watered; in April both will be in flower, 

 but the one in the open air sooner by about a week. At least, 

 this has come repeatedly under our observation in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London. 



48. On the Cultivation of Plants in Moss. By Mr. John Street, 



CM.H.S. Biel, East Lothian. 



From Mr. Street's success in growing plants in moss, (that 

 is, the softer kinds collected from thick and moist woods,) it 

 appears, that in our artificial treatment of them, we may often 

 deviate widely from the laws of nature, and yet succeed in 

 keeping plants not only in health, but also in considerable 

 perfection. With the greatest ease we can grow small salad 

 herbs on flannel saturated with water; bulbs and others in 

 water only ; epiphytes on dead trees ; parasites on living 

 ones ; and some plants suspended in the air. Mr. Street 

 recommends his practice as uniting the advantages of cleanli- 

 ness, lightness, and safety in removal, whether from pot to pot, 

 or from one place to another. 



The mosses collected for this purpose are the several species 

 of i/yp'num, viz. the purum, squarrosum, and Schreberz, with 

 any other decayed vegetable substances which happen to be 

 gathered up amongst them ; sometimes a little sand or loam is 

 added. The material is pressed closely into the pots, and the 

 plants are put into them as if in mould. Cuttings of some 

 kinds of free rooting plants strike well in moss. — The sub- 

 ject is new and amusing, and the way to discover whether, 

 and to what ends, it may be permanently useful, is to push it 

 as far as it will go while it is in hand. We hope Mr. Street 

 will do this, and favour the world with the results of his expe- 

 rience. 



49. Description of a Pit and Stoves heated by Fire and Steam 



jointly. By Mr.W. MacMurtrie, CM.H.S. 

 The same communication, with some trifling verbal alter- 

 ations, given in this Magazine (vol. i. p. 407.). 



49. * Account of some new Seedling Pears. By T. A. Knight, Esq. 

 F.R.S. Pres. H.S. &c. 

 These pears we have already noticed (Gard. Mag. vol. i. 

 p. 341.). 



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