Transactions of the Prussian Gardening Society, 593 



which they are protected against severe frosts, and also in 

 the beginning of spring against those fine days which occa- 

 sion their early vegetation. They are pruned in spring after 

 the leaves are removed. 



16. Some Ohserxiations on the Chestnut (Fagus Castanea). 

 By M. Hansen. 



The wood of the chestnut, he says, is of little value for 

 firing or for building ; but it is very durable in the ground, as 

 much so as that of the best oaks. If used as casks for wine, 

 it gives the liquor not only a beautiful colour, but also an 

 agreeable flavour. 



17. Description of the Imperial Garden at Nikita. 

 By Dr. von Steven. 



This garden was laid out in the year 1812, during the 

 time of the governor Due de Richelieu. It is about half a Ger- 

 man mile long and 500 fathoms broad, along the shore of 

 the Black Sea. It was first designed for plants from warmer 

 climates only, but now fruit trees are also cultivated in it to 

 supply the increasing population. 



18. Observations on the Grotvth of Plants during different Times of 

 the Day. By M. Meyer, Director of the Botanic Garden at 

 Konigsberg, in Prussia. 



To ascertain in what degree the different times of the day 

 promote the growth of plants, M. Meyer occasioned a scape 

 of Amaryllis Belladonna, well known to grow very rapidly, 

 to be measured thrice a day, — at six o'clock in the morning, 

 twelve at noon, and six in the evening. The thermometer was 

 also observed, and the results are exhibited together in a table. 

 This table shows that the plant grew in the day almost twice 

 as much as during the night, which M. Meyer ascribes to the 

 influence of light and warmth. He observes that the increase 

 of the plant was proportional to the height of the temper- 

 ature ; but in what degree the light contributed to the growth 

 could not well be ascertained. The entii'e deprivation of 

 light would have lowered the temperature, and also injured 

 the health of the plant, in which case the result of the ob- 

 servation could not be depended upon. 



22. Some Observations on the Grotvth of Trees. 

 By Professor Reum. 



After he has described his method of transplanting seed- 

 lings, &c., he recommends hard-shelled seeds of trees to be 

 put in pots of sand or mould during the winter, which pre- 



VoL. IX. — No. 46 Q a 



