168 



Annates dcs Sciences Physiques et Naturelles 



it in gardens. M. Vilmorin is now occupied in civilising the wild cabbage ; and 

 he recommends to other amateurs the perennial lettuce (Z,actuca perennis L.), 

 as worthy of being improved, and rendered an object of culture as a culinary 

 vegetable. A verge-cutting plough is figured and described, which is said to 

 be used with success by M. Jacques, gardener to the king, at Neuilly. It 

 might perhaps be useful in England, for cutting the verges of public roads; 

 but we think it would leave a very deep, ugly, raw edge in garden scenery. 

 The French are not nearly so particular witb their edges and 

 walks as we are. The wheel verge-cutter, figured in our second 

 volume, p. 66., and here repeated (fig. 32.), is a very superior in- 

 strument, well meriting introduction into England, because it may 

 be employed so as to cut the leaves of grass, without paring off 

 any of the soil. 



A new planting-instrument, as a substitute for the dibber, is 

 described and figured, formed on the plan of the old transplanter 

 for florists' flowers, but we do not think it is likely to be of 

 much use. It may truly be said, that, in the multiplicity of 

 garden and agricultural instruments, there is no end. 



The Nouveautes of the Bon Jardinier for 1837 include various 

 curious implements and contrivances ; the greater part of them, 

 we are informed in a note, were taken from London to Paris 

 by M. Audot, the publisher of the Bon Jardinier, who pays 

 occasional visits to this country. 



The Nouveautes of the Bon Jardinier, for 1836, comprise 

 various designs for the jets of artificial fountains, which are ma- 

 nufactured by M. Dugast, Rue Sainte Marguerite, No. 54., 

 Faubourg St. Antoine. The ajutages are contrived to form 

 the following figures : a tulip, corbeille (basket), candelabrum, moulinet (wind- 

 mill), berceau (cradle), panache (plume of feathers), &c. 



The "Additions et Corrections" to the Bon Jardinier, for 1835, also contain 

 some designs for ajutages to fountains. Those of which engravings are given 

 are entitled : l'evantail (the fan), la gerbe (the wheatsheaf), la tulipe (different 

 from that figured in the Bon Jardinier for 1836), la coupe (the cupola), la 

 double girandolle, le miroir, la boule entiere (ball), and le Chinois. As foun- 

 tains are becoming fashionable in England, we have thought it might be useful 

 to refer to these figures, and to give the name and address of the maker. 



Art. II. Annates des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles d' Agricul- 

 ture et d' Industrie. Publie par la Societe" Royale d'Agriculture, 

 &c, de Lyon. 4to. Tom. I. Livraisons 1, 2, et 3., pp. 346., plates 

 and folding tables, meteorological and exhibiting agricultural 

 book-keeping. Lyons, 1838. 



This is one of the most respectable works of the kind published in France, 

 whether we regard the matter, or the appearance of the publication. There 

 are several papers in the three parts now before us, of a highly scientific, and 

 yet practical, character, which would be well worth translating and publishing 

 in an English agricultural journal; and there are others, which we should 

 translate for the Gardener 's Magazine, if we could find room. 



The first article treats of the physical geography and the geology of that 

 part of France to which the Society confines its exertions, viz., the Depart- 

 ment of the Rhone ; an excellent idea, carried into execution in a supe- 

 rior manner, and illustrated by maps, diagrams, and weather tables. An 

 article on bulbous plants, by M. Seringe, shows how they may be propa- 

 gated by cutting over the bulb or bud a few lines above the plate, which 



