d 'Agriculture et d' Industrie. 



169 



forms the point of union of the stem or leaves and the root. The upper 

 surface of the plate being, in fact, the stem not developed, or but very par- 

 tially so. The scales of the bulbs are rudimental leaves, and in the axils of 

 these, as in those of real leaves, there are dormant buds, which cutting over 

 these scales or leaves calls into action. Sometimes even the frost destroy- 

 ing the outer scales of a bulb will stimulate the buds in the inner part to 

 develope; and sometimes, when the scales are very closely compressed at top, 

 the buds in their axils will develope, and protrude below. M. Seringe illus- 

 trates his general position by referring to a plant of Crinum canaliculatum in 

 the Botanical Garden at Lyons, which, being cut over a little above the 

 plate, threw put no fewer than forty offsets ; 

 and he has given two figures (figs. 33. and 34.), 

 the one to show a hyacinth bulb protruding off- 

 sets, in consequence of the outer scales being 

 destroyed by frost - r and the other to show 

 buds developing horizontally, in consequence 

 of the scale being compressed above. Passing 

 over a paper on the vine, we come to one on 

 the choice of a rotation, and the employment 

 of manure, followed by a new mode of agri- 

 cultural book-keeping ; an excellent paper. 

 One of the maxims of this writer is, that " there 

 can be no f good agriculture without abundance 

 of forage obtained or grown cheap, and sold dear in the form of cattle." " Next 

 to a good plough and a good harrow, the best machine for the farmer is the 

 dung machine called an ox." At a meeting of the 

 Society, held on the 9th of February, 1838, the idea 

 of cultivating Oenothera biennis, for the sake of its 

 roots, which are fleshy, mild, and nutritive, was sug- 

 gested. This has already been done in England, but 

 by no means to a sufficient extent. We do not see 

 why the roots of this plant should not be grown to as 

 large a size as those of the carrot or parsnep; we have 

 tasted them dug up from the flower border, and 

 found them much more agreeable than the root of j 

 the carrot in a wild state. The carrot has been civilised, 

 so to speak, by M. Vilmorin, in three generations. 

 (See our notice of the Bon Jard. for 1838, in p. 167. 

 The same member remarked of the artichoke, that 

 it was known as an edible plant by the Romans, but 

 forgotten or disdained during the dark ages, till it came into notice again in 

 the 16th century. Almost all the parts of this plant, he says, may be rendered 

 useful. From the leaves an extract may be obtained, which will serve as a substi- 

 tute for quinine. The leaves may be cooked and eaten after the fruit is gathered, 

 or used as fodder, and mixed with certain grasses ; they may be substituted for 

 hops in making beer; and they contain a great quantity of potash. At this 

 meeting, in noticing the injuries done to the vine, it was affirmed by some that 

 the lizard eats the grapes, and ought to be destroyed ; by others, that it did 

 not touch the grapes, but only devoured the worms and insects, and ought to 

 be preserved. Notice was taken of the injury done to garden plants by the 

 preceding winter, which appears to have been as great at Lyons as at London, 

 iaurus nobilis, Laurocerasus, the Portugal laurel, the aucuba, the alaternus 

 the phillyrea, roses, and hollies having been either killed or greatly injured, par- 

 ticularly in the nurseries situated near the Rhone. The common box was 

 also injured, but the Majorca box not in the least ; nor the single hibiscus, 

 nor the Scotch and Weymouth pines. Apricots were killed in a great many 

 places ; and the shoots of the past year, of almost all trees, whether indigenous 

 or foreign, were more or less injured. At a meeting of the 16th of February, 

 1838, the subject of the preceding winter was again discussed, when it was 

 Vol. XV. — No. 109. n 



