554 AiinaJes des Sciences Physiques ct Natwelles, Sfc, 



180,900 nests of eggs, and, as each nest contains, at an average, about 60 eggs, 

 the total number destro3etl was 11,214,000. 



This subject is, no doubt, of far more interest to the Continental vigneron 

 than to the British gardener ; but, still, we think that the latter might adopt 

 both the lamp and the gathering systems among his cabbages and gooseberries. 

 At all events, a knowledge of what has been done in France will tend to 

 enlarge his mind on a subject intimately connected with his profession. This 

 important discovery of M. Audouin is about to be published, under the 

 auspices of the French government, in a work which will be entitled Histoire 

 des Insectcs nuisibles a la Vigne, which we shall elsewhere notice. The pecu- 

 liar merit of M. Audouin as an entomologist is, that he directs his attention in 

 a particular manner to the insects injurious to agriculture, unlike many others 

 who occupy themselves solely with classification and nomenclature. 



The Seed of the Orobanche minor, which is very small, and attaches itself 

 to the seeds of clover, hemp, and tobacco, may be removed from these seeds 

 by thorough washing and rubbing in water, and afterwards powdering the 

 washed seed with ashes to render it dry and fit for sowing, (tome i. p. 430.) 



On the Improvement des Fosses d' Aisances ; by Dr. Bottex. This is a very 

 scientific paper, in which the subject is first treated chemically, and next the 

 progress of improvement in this department of architecture and domestic 

 economy is traced from the year 1786, when the architect Giraud of Ver- 

 sailles proposed certain changes, to the invention of M. Caseneuve in 1818, 

 which was exhibited in London, in Gerrard Street, Soho, in the year follow- 

 ing. The chloride of lime is recommended as the best disinfecting substance, 

 and it is also stated, that stercoraceous matters may be disinfected with river 

 mud carbonised, with peat-ashes, with sawdust, with tan, or with various 

 other substances ; in short, it is only necessary to carbonise a mixture of 

 argillaceous soil with faecal matter, in order to obtain a perfect disinfected 

 powder. Hence the vapours from all manner of dunghills, when too near a 

 house, may be rendered innoxious, by covering or mixing them with loamy 

 soil, and more particularly with cleanings of ditches or ponds. 



To preserve Corn for several Years, sink it in the earth, where it will not 

 undergo change of temperature, and where the temperature will be so low as 

 not to admit of hatching the eggs of insects. Air and moisture must also be 

 completely excluded, (tome i. p. 473.) 



Report on the Domain of M. Niviere, a scientific farmer, who keeps his 

 farm in the very best order, and is remarkably exact with his accounts. 



Mbvus Seringewna (in compliment to the director of the botanic garden of 

 Lyons) has been raised from seed of ilforus multicaulis, and is considered 

 preferable to that variety, from its hardiness and the largeness of its leaves. 

 The fruit is small, and of a dark violet colour. 



A hybrid Chrysanthemum, between the Chinese species and Chrysan- 

 themum leucanthemum, and a specimen of a double-flowered Melon Plant, 

 were presented to the Society. All the flowers of the melon plant, from 

 which the specimen was taken, were double and sterile, (p. 492.) 



Flat Clay Roofs have been formed in Germany, and described in a pamphlet 

 published in Brunswick in 1837, entitled, Der Bau der Domschen Lehmdacher 

 &c., and the essence of which is here given. Clay, tan, coal tar. Burgundy 

 pitch (resi7ie de Bourgogne), and sand, or powdered bricks, are mixed to- 

 gether and beaten till the entire mass is homogeneous, and may be readily spread 

 by the hand or a trowel. It is then spread on the roof, or on balconies or 

 terraces. Owing to the lightness of the timbers which may be employed, this 

 kind of roof is found to be much cheaper than one of tiles, and the experience 

 of six or eight years seems to show that it will be durable, (p. 503.) 



-Morus multicaulis was killed to the ground in the neighbourhood of Lyons, 

 and in various places in Languedoc, during the winter of 1837-8. (p. 536.) 



Theory and Application of Labours on the Soil. This is an excellent paper, 

 and well worth translating for an agricultural journal. After describing the 

 different kinds of labour, such as those for turning up and mixing the soil, 

 viz. digging and ploughing ; those for stirring the surface or destroying weeds 



I 



