358 Foreign Notices : — Germany. 



The Society published the memoir sent in by M. Blot, and the following 

 is an extract : — " Pass rapidly, and repeatedly, over those parts of the 

 apple trees attacked by the insects, wisps of burning rye straw. The trees 

 suffer no injury, and the insects are instantly destroyed, before the epidermis 

 of the tree is even heated. The insect is protected by a cottony down, 

 of a very inflammable nature, and its body is covered by a kind of powder 

 which is consumed by the fire the moment it touches it ; the time for 

 using this method is the end of autumn, winter, and, above all, spring. It 

 is seldom necessary to repeat the operation, as the fire penetrates the 

 galls, and destroys the eggs of the insect which are lodged within them. 



Destroying Lichens by Fire. A custom prevails in Normandy, about 

 Christmas time, for children to go about with torches of rye straw (pro- 

 vincially termed coulines), for the purpose of burning the lichens, mosses, 

 and dead leaves on the apple trees. — A Reader of the Gardener's Magazine 

 at Caen. March 3. 1832. 



GERMANY. 



Stuttgardt, Feb. 16. 1832. — Sir, I have finished a plan for a new 

 kitchen-garden here, and shall soon send you a copy of it. I received, 

 some time since, three cases of pine-apple plants, and know only by 

 the handwriting of the names in two of the cases, to whom I am 

 indebted for the plants contained in those cases, not having received any 

 letter, either with them or by post. The third case has the plants num- 

 bered, but not named; and as I neither found any letter in the case, nor 

 have received one by post, I am at a loss to whom I ought to address a 

 letter of thanks, to request, at the same time, a list of the names. Perhaps 

 you will make known my gratitude to the givers of these plants through 

 your Magazine, and add, that I should much wish to hear from the parties, 

 either by letter or parcel, directed to the care of Mr. Nebringer, at Messrs. 

 Charles Burket and Co., 147. Fenchurch Street, London. All my pine 

 plants are looking remarkably well, and I hope to get, in the course of the 

 summer, as large fruit as is generally grown in England. M. Salucci is 

 very anxious to know when you intend publishing his designs for the 

 palace of Rosenstein, and I am very curious to see your engraving of the 

 park. There is a wonderful change for the better in this country since I 

 left it. I am, Sir, yours, &c. — W. Hertz. 



M. Salucci's plans are engraved, and proofs will be sent him shortly. — 

 Cond. 



Munich, March 1 . — We have had a remarkably mild autumn, and, as 

 usual, when that is the case, every thing is late. Our hot-water system of 

 heating has succeeded perfectly, and there is some intention of applying 

 it in our hospitals, and other public buildings; but the country is too much 

 agitated for improvements of this description. The spring of our long- 

 frozen country is about to commence, and we shall soon have the breaking 

 up of the rivers, and a general debacle. — R. R. S. 



Preservation of Seeds. — At a meeting of the Horticultural Society of 

 Berlin, a discussion took place respecting the proper method of preserving 

 seeds. It was suggested that they should be enclosed in a vacuum. But 

 all the practical men who were present objected, on the ground that it 

 would tend to dry the seeds more quickly. They considered the influence, 

 at least partial, of the air essential for the maintaining of the proper state of 

 humidity necessary for the preservation of the seeds. M. Otto stated, in 

 confirmation, that seeds sent to him in tin cases, hermetically sealed, never 

 germinated, whilst those sent in boxes lightly covered with cloth generally 

 arrived in a good state. Professor Link also stated that a vacuum quickly 

 destroyed the genninative qualities of seeds. He mentioned an instance 



