630 General Notices. 



are not in accordance with the strict truth, but they are sufficiently so to suit 

 my present purpose. The light which permeates coloured glasses partakes, to 

 some considerable extent, of the character of the ray which corresponds with 

 the glass in colour: thus, blue glass admits the blue or chemical rays, to the 

 exclusion, or nearly so, of all the others ; yellow glass admits only the per- 

 meation of the luminous rays, while red glass cuts oiFall but the heating rays, 

 which pass it freely. This affords us a very easy method of growing plants 

 under the influence of any particular light which may be desired. The fact to 

 which I would particularly call attention is, that the yellow and red rays are 

 destructive to germination, whereas, under the influence of violet, indigo, or 

 blue light, the process is quickened in a most extraordinary manner. The 

 experiment is very readily tried by covering a box in which seeds are sown 

 with coloured glasses. The plants will grow most luxuriantly beneath glass 

 of a blue character, but beneath the yellow and red glasses the natural process 

 is entirely checked. Indeed, it will be found that at any period during the 

 early life of a plant, its growth may be checked by exposing it to the action of 

 red or yellow light. Here we have the very extraordinary fact, that that 

 portion of the sun's light which produces the greatest impression on the 

 organs of sight, and that also which diffuses warmth through the creation, are 

 destructive to the first processes of vegetation. It is with much satisfaction 

 that I find the results to which I have arrived corroborated by Dr. F. R. Horner 

 of Hull. In conclusion, I may be allowed to point out, that by studying the 

 effect of these different rays, isolated and in different states of combination, 

 we have the means of imitating the nature of any clime of which a plant may 

 be the habitant. By blending the violet with the yellow light in certain pi'o- 

 portions, we may artificially produce the light which shines on ' Syria's land 

 of roses;' by uniting with these the red light, we may produce effects on our 

 island soil similar to those seen on the arid wilds over which ' the acacia 

 waves her yellow hair;' and by isolating the violet rays we may, to some 

 extent, imitate the climate of the fi'igid zone." (^Gardener's Chronicle, \b\.\. 

 p. 347.) 



Charcoal Dust spread over soil would appear to deter insects from laying 

 their eggs there, and hence it is recommended as a preventive of the onion 

 grub, and of clubbing in cabbages. {Ibid., vol. i. p. 163.) 



Sawdust mixed ivith Stable Manure, in forming hotbeds, causes them to keep 

 longer in heat than when made altogether of stable manure. {Ibid,, p. 149.) 



Pounded Bricli-bats are recommended as a substitute for crocks ; a flat crock 

 being placed over the whole, and some rough peat on the top of the brick 

 drainage. (Ibid., p. 229.) 



The Guernsey Weeding-Prong. — The head of this implement {fig. 58.) is 

 in the shape of a claw-hammer, with the one end flattened into a chisel, 1 in. 



Fig. 58. The Guernsey Weeding-Prong^ 



wide ; and the fbrked, or clawed end, consisting of two sharp flat prongs, by 

 which the weeds are grubbed up and lifted at the same time. The length of 

 the head, from the extremity of the chisel end to that of the prong end, is 

 9 in., and it is attached to a handle 5 ft. long. A great part of the labour of 

 weeding may, in most gardens, be performed by women and children ; and it 

 will not only be lightened, but their hands will be kept clean, by the adoption 

 of the Guernsey prong. (Ibid., p. 66. ; and Sub. Hort,, p. 238.) 



Sending home Seed from Foreign Countries. — To emigrants and others 

 sending seeds from foreign countries. Dr. Lindley recommends strict ob- 

 servance of the following rules : — " 1. Let the seeds be thoroughly dried by 

 exposure to the sun (not a fire), or in a dry chamber ; this is of the first 

 importance. 2. Let the papers, also, or canvass bags, in which they are 



