4,2 General Notices. 



some kinds of insects, I have been led to send you the foregoing' account, 

 hoping, at least, it may save some trouble and disappointment to others, if 

 no better use can be made of it. — Sigma. Saffron Walden, March 3. 1831. 



This article should be read in connection with that subsequently writ- 

 ten by Mr. Robert Mallet, and published in our Vol. VII. p. 557. — Cond. 



The Culture and Curing of Tobacco by every Gardener, in order to employ 

 it in destroying the Insects which infest his Plants. — There is nothing more 

 common, when walking through houses of different descriptions, than to see 

 many of their inmates covered with insects, which might be easily destroyed 

 by fumigation; and should you make an observation on this, you will 

 frequently be told that the owner grudges the expense of a few pounds of 

 tobacco in a year for their destruction. I have myself been placed in such 

 circumstances, and been driven to many shifts to get rid of insects, rather 

 than apply for the proper remedy. These shifts have for some years 

 past induced me to grow my own tobacco : and, although I do not manu- 

 facture it pleasant enough for the mouth, I do it well enough to destroy 

 any insect for which tobacco is used. As I have in general plenty of it, 

 I have no occasion (except for a single plant) to use either bellows or 



{>atent syringe : for I make a few small heaps about the house upon a 

 ichted coal, and it requires no other attention till burnt out, when the 

 insects will have dropped; as, not having to be in the smoke, I can 

 o-ive them a little more than I should perhaps like myself. Should this 

 appear in your Magazine at an early period, perhaps some of your corre- 

 spondents will give farther information on the subject before the spring, that 

 I and others may receive the benefit of it. I have tried many ways to 

 obtain the best crops of tobacco : such as sowing in frames very early, 

 pricking out and potting in small pots, then finally planting out, &c. ; but 

 the best method I am acquainted with is the following : — About the 

 middle of March make up a dung bed, according to the quantity required to 

 be transplanted ; say 2 yards wide and 3 long, and 2 ft. high ; put on about 

 3 in. of mould, not too light, as a loamy soil hangs better to the roots when 

 wet, and thereby assists the plants when removed. I usually cover part 

 of the bed with hand-glasses, and leave part without protection. By this 

 means, that which comes up first is, of course, soonest fit to plant out, and 

 the other does to make good any that may have failed at the first time of 

 planting ; as there will always some fail. Plant out as soon as large 

 enough, either in single rows in different places, or in rows 5 ft. apart and 

 about 18 in. from plant to plant in the row. No other attention is neces- 

 sary, but to pick off the flowers as they appear, and gather the leaves when 

 full grown, and, if it can be done, dry them in the shade. When dried, so as 

 not to be in danger of the leaves rotting, put them in a heap to heat, or, 

 if the quantity is not sufficient to heat, press it well into a sack, and lay 

 it either in a sufficient quantity of moist litter or on a flue with a gentle 

 fire ; in a short time it will acquire the smell of tobacco, and may be laid 

 by in boxes, and used as required. I have sown the seed in the autumn in 

 a vinery, not forced, and planted out the plants in the spring, which is a 

 good way to have it forward ; but, for general practice, the first method is 

 recommended by yours, &c. — E. S. 



To detect stolen Posts or Pales. — Bore holes in them, and fill them with 

 gunpowder, or crackers ; when the thief puts them in the fire they will tell 

 tales. (Newsp.) 



Blue Colour from Buck Wheat. [Qy. from all the Polygonums ?] — The 

 following is given as a method of extracting a blue colour from the straw of 

 buck wheat : — The straw should be gathered before the grain is quite dry, 

 and placed upon the ground in the sun, until it becomes sufficiently dry to 

 be taken from the husks with facility. The wheat having been removed, 

 the straw is to be piled up, moistened, and left to ferment till it is in a 

 state of decomposition, when it will become of a blue colour : this indicates 



