260 



TH 



UAiA,.UrjlNX!iIYO 



ri 



lVyUJC^ 



- — . . , A — »-* *. f o^rv one is i air and light, is generally excellent water for most 



syringes his plants with it ; and in fad -every™ . ^ ^^ it dually contains a minute 

 more or less practically aware of the superiority (jP^^J? ^ osnhoric acid / an<i the luxuriant 

 soft over hard water. 



We do not see any use in taking the troub e to 

 prove such a self-evident fact, and the lea s so if in 

 Sie inquiry, errors are stated as well as ; truths ; for, 

 ?*£» the value of _all evidence hecon^o- 



better to state a prac 



portionably weakened. It is bett er to «aw « ^ 

 Seal and well known fact plain y and nniply, .than 



estionable theoretical 



to attempt to prove it bjr 9«^JJ £3^X 



mentof the things which are washed ; but when a 

 calculation is made as to the whole quantity of soap 

 which is annually wasted in London, m consequence 

 of the hardness of the water the calculation being 

 based on the supposition that all the soap which is 

 destroyed by the salts of lime is entirely lost and 

 useless ' and further, that the soap itself can produce 

 no cleansing effect until all the lime which the water 

 contained is thus separated at the cost of the soap, 

 it is plain that the calculation is formed on very 

 questionable data, and is of little real practical 

 value. In the same way most persons are willing 

 to allow that the presence of much lime in water 

 unfits it for a number of culinary purposes ; but this 

 is in no way strengthened by the strange and un- 

 founded assertion that hard water takes much longer 

 to heat than soft water does ; and that soft water 

 evaporates one-third more rapidly than such as con- 

 tains a few grains more of lime in the gallon ! The 

 superiority of soft water over hard water in tea 

 making is also pretty well acknowledged, and would 

 be denied by few ; but it surely does not at all 

 support the statement to refer to experiments in 

 which the chalk has been precipitated from water 

 by the addition of oxalate of ammonia ! When this 

 is done of course the chalk is removed, and in so far 

 the water is purified ; but it must not be forgotten 

 that all the ammonia thus added remains in the 

 water in the state of a carbonate, and to the presence 

 of this the increased solvent powers of the water are 

 chiefly due. 



This subject is, as we have already said, a very ex- 

 tensive one, and its consideration would soon lead us 

 into matters which are foreign to our objects. Into 

 the supply of water for domestic or culinary pur- 

 poses we therefore shall not enter further; but, 

 there are one or two points relating to its horti- 

 cultural uses, which are deserving a little attention. 

 If, as it is stated in the Report, hard water evaporates 

 so much more slowly than pure water, it is plain that 

 it cannot be so effective in keeping the air of houses 

 in a uniform state of mosture. We believe, how- 

 ever, that this statement is wholly incorrect ; when 

 bard water is boiled, it gradually deposits a fur or 

 earthy incrustation, which in time, as it becomes 

 thicker and thicker, at last greatly interferes with 

 the action of the fire ; setting this aside, we doubt 

 whether the presence of lime at all interferes with 

 the evaporation of water, and it certainly does not 

 at all effect its volatility at the common temperature 

 of any hothouse. 



Attention has of late years been directed to the 

 corrosion of tanks, and hot-water pipes, by parti- 

 cular kinds of water : these effects are sometimes 



quantity of phosphoric acid, and 

 growth of Confervse, on which its property of turning 

 green depends, is chiefly to be attributed to the pre- 

 sence of that substance ; and it is probable that the 

 growth of water plants, and all such as are culti- 

 vated in ponds or tanks, might be improved by the 

 occasional addition of a small quantity of some 

 soluble salt of phosphoric acid to the water in which 

 they grow. 



are to be preserved ; 



the exuence considerable, 



One of the greatest obstacles in the study of plants 

 in cases, at least, where the aid of the microscope 

 is indispensable — is the difficulty of preserving the 

 minute parts and sections which have formed the 

 materials of observation, and which require to be 

 compared again and again, before complete convic- 

 tion as to the certainty of any particular facts can 

 be obtained. Every one who has attempted to dive 

 into the intimate structure of vegetables, knows how 

 hard it is to make useful sections, and that it is often 

 practically impossible to obtain a second of equal 

 excellence with one which a happy direction of the 

 knife has once achieved. An easy method, therefore, 

 of preserving such preparations would be invaluable. 

 It is true that the plan adopted by Mr. Thwaitks 

 and others with such success, is available for a very 

 large class of objects, but there is much difficulty in 

 preparing both the cells and fluid in which they 



and after all, not only is 

 expence considerable, and the necessity of 

 keeping a large quantity of very brittle objects in a 

 separate cabinet, with a very strict system of label- 

 ling, if the collection is to be of any real value, an 

 unavoidable waste of much time, but after all, even 

 in the best hands, the varnish is apt, after some 

 months, to get into the cells and destroy the delicate 

 specimens. Besides which, objects so mounted are, 

 in consequence of the thickness of the cells, of no 

 use for the microscopes called doublets. 



A very easy and compendious method of pre- 

 serving all such preparations as readily imbibe 

 water has lately been proposed by C. Muller, 

 which bids fair to be of great value. Slices of the 

 very best and most translucent talc are cut of any 

 convenient size, and made so thin that they will 

 admit of being easily divided with a fine pointed 

 penknife. The lamina is then to be slit to the 

 middle, and the object inserted in the fissure with a 

 little water. It will be found convenient if possible 

 to make the fissure nearer to one surface than the 

 other, and to mark the divided end by cutting off 

 the corners. With a little practice it will be found 

 that the division will always be effected in 

 such a way as to secure the cohesion of the tw r o 

 laminae, and the retention of the object. When 

 the objects are wanted for the microscope it 

 will be necessary merely to dip the marked end 

 of the talc in water, with a pair of pincers; and by 

 means of capillary attraction, the object will at once 

 be properly moistened. A slip of paper neatly 

 gummed upon the undivided end, will at once 

 answer the purpose of a label, and will point out the 

 upper surface of the talc, a matter of some import- 

 ance where deep doublets are used, supposing the 

 lower division of the plate to be thicker than the 



than it does 

 of flowers, 



v**y, zuiu lis period of beaut,/ T ** «• erfw 



November, I think that a £l nof ^ Wfc 

 mode of cultivation, will be at^ Wfl 

 In the month of June, sow tK a *? KTiST 

 soil, and place it in a warm frame i^ *<5| 

 in rough leaf, and then remove them L ' **! 

 where they can receive plenty of ai? ^ * «* W 

 during hot sunshine for a fortnight uK 1 '^^ 

 ready to pot off singly m thumfp^" ^^ 

 soil, and plunging the pots to the rim 

 dust in a cool frame. Keen .v, " 



usm? 



Nti 





4 



"Ml 



dually exposed to the sun and aiVT'afterXT^ 



only require to be covered with the etJl >!«! 

 cold or wet weather. Shift into WtL'SLS 

 the .autumn and following sprint as C ^** 

 taking care never to let them become ££» 

 their beauty is much lessened by beine • ^" 

 stinted, either in pot room, moisture or rid!" ^ *i 

 By liberal treatment they will retain all theffi!* 







planting out better than heat and a close tZS* 

 Give plenty of water before turning them Jrfl 

 pots, and also for a week or two after plagfc -5 

 they are fairly established in the soil, which djyf 

 composed of turfy loam and well decayed mI3 

 leaf-soil. ^^ 



When kept under glass to flower in pots for b^- 

 d3Coration, they are not half so beautiful u^u 

 exposed to the open air ; their colour in-door* to*. 

 kind of greenish pink, which gives the plants ifcL 

 appearance. Slightly fumigating them during the bm 

 months will keep them free from insects, which utm 

 to infest the under surface of their foliage. Tk IF* 

 of the Calendar. 



very remarkable, and' the cause of them is not ^PPf^- 1 * is r \ear that objects so preserved may be 



Kept between the same sheets as the specimens from 



always quite evident. When 

 kept in leaden tanks, or allowed to remain in leaden 

 pipes, it invariably corrodes them, the lead in time 

 becoming honey-combed and useless, whilst the 

 water acquires a slight impregnation of lead, suffi- 

 cient to render it decidedly unwholesome, if not ab- 

 solutely poisonous. On the other hand, when water 

 contains a considerable quantity of saline or earthy 

 impurity, though it then does not act upon lead, it 

 often corrodes iron pipes with great rapidity; this 

 sometimes is traced to the presence of a large quan- 

 tity of carbonic acid and air dissolved in the water 

 and sometimes is caused by the salts themselves ; it is 

 also frequently caused by the presence of two metals, 

 as where iron pipes are joined by lead, in which case 

 a galvanic action is established, which increases the 

 corrosion of the one metal. The inconvenience ex- 

 perienced ih syringing plants with hard water, is for 



however, possible that this method may be modified^ 

 the most part causedTby the presence of chalk, held S0 as . to comprise e v^n this important class of micro- 

 - in solution by carbonic acid ; but such water is also SCOpiC ob J ects * 



which they are taken, and will therefore be imme- 

 diately accessible without any loss of time. In a 

 collection of Mosses, for instance, and Jungerman- 

 nise, especially where the specimens are small and 

 unique, and where in consequence it is often impos- 

 sible to examine the peristome more than once, 

 unless the preparation can be preserved, we have an 

 admirable method of making even the rarest indi- 

 viduals available for future observation. 



The same method will apply to the greater part 

 of fungi and other Cryptogams, and to a host of 

 minute analyses of higher vegetables. Jt is inappli- 

 cable only where, as in Algae, the tissues alter so 

 much in drying as to retain few of their characters 

 and where the application of moisture does not make 

 the tissues swell out to their original size. It is 



BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



(Cage Bird*, No. 11.*) 



No. XXVIL— You will find that the sight of id* 

 bag, and a peep at the two nest boxes, rfl torn 

 inoculate the H happy pair " with a desire to enter upon 

 the duties of an active life. The chances ue, thai to 

 very first day they enter a breeding cage Trill see & 

 nest-bag pulled to pieces, and the nest itself progrewj 

 far towards completion — the Jten, be it observed, is Iki 

 most alert in this matter. 



Whilst cosily seated on the building materia ai 

 busily arranging it for the reception of her eggs (tk 

 average number of which is from two to five), the ha 

 will keep on giving utterance to a constant success* rf 

 very peculiar, but expressive, conjugal notes. It h 

 quite easy to see that each one of these notes is full i 

 the " dear^-est meaning, and thoroughly comprehend 

 by the male. His lordship, like a good husband, wl 

 be observed thoroughly attentive, tenderly affection* 

 and ready, at a moment's notice, to do her ladjtff 

 bidding. Thus, at one time, we find him feeding her, 

 while sitting on the nest ; at another time, arrang 

 her moss, hair, and wool ; and, at all times, )xfm 

 on her the most "delicate attentions," anticipate 

 indeed, her every wish. So passes the honeymoon. 



The mutual affection evinced by these delicate -W 

 creatures is most extraordinary. Nor do their 'tea* 

 endearments cease until the young ones are nateW. 

 Then come on the cares of state. The great responsitowj 

 from henceforward devolves on the male, to whose m 

 the hen mainly entrusts her infant brood. He "i» 

 feed them, tend them, and watch over them ; wwew 

 mother Hies leisurely about, and exercises wag 

 resolutely bent upon recruiting herself, and recoil 

 her lost strength. If she interferes in the few 

 the young, it is by courtesy more than by an aw^ 

 of right ; but there are, let me add, many except 



this general rule. „ . , A _ a* i$& 



As 8 the young will, generally, behaved j* 

 day, have in readiness some soft victuals in » 

 for their parents to feed them with-sucn » J^ 



u-uvutu ^ 66 , - r — n ~ 



the whole moistened in 



-;ucli 



OUT-DOOR DECORATION. 



The 





often rendered hard by gypsum. Whenever .„ l3 , 



possible, water of this sort should be altogether dis- 0N THE HUMEA ELEGANS AS ADAPTED FOR 



carded, and pure soft water only employed; but when 



this cannot be procured, it" may sometimes be 



worth while to try and soften it artificially. A 



little carbonate of ammonia will throw down the 



whole of the gypsum, and the chalk may be readily 

 separated by boiling the water. The operation of 

 syringing is analogous in its influence to a shower of 

 rain, and the rain which falls in the open country is 

 nearly pure water; the more closely the artificial 

 process resembles nature the better. 



Water, which becomes Fraen when evnncorl *« +t>~ 



jisteneu in «« T«; ig jn5W<e 

 made too thin. 1M 



be given fresh, twice daily. A little ^fTfa,* 

 weed, quite ripe, should also be given to »e« 

 this time, twice or thrice a week at least. ^ 

 When I gave a strict caution that your ^^ 

 be left unmolested and quite private *m . rf 

 '■- -Jarly to the eery r^ ^ 



If 

 them qf "J Id 



'ibccuyuf/ VYcry uvn »uu v»»~— - ■ **- 



they appear as young birds should ao, 



_:i .ff 'a-.-^A** nil S Well. l'> ou 



the process. When the young are hatcfte , j 



needful every now and then to look at tnen ^ ^ 



if O n* jC01 ' 

 with their crops' distended, all is well. , ^ * 



trary, they are of a pale sickly 4 h Jf >f " n eatly * °* 

 ty, then at once construct them* . flg p 



" - - first scalding » na ' 



emp 



be, a new nest (after first sc ^.^"f he " other j ** 



#•«. i • y a . ele f anS f ° r P ,anti "g r ound or near materials), and change the one . 

 fountains placed in the centre of a flower-garden, stands ' al«n th« «««t box. This done, carefuuj 

 unrivalled. Its graceful drooping tresses of silky 

 brownish orange-coloured flowers, which glitter in the 

 sun when moved by the breeze, give it a charm be- 

 yond description, and it is now becoming a general 

 favourite. Although introduced from New South Wales 

 in the year 1800, it is only of late years that this 

 fine biennial plant has been used to any extent for out- 

 door decoration, and it may be truly said that no plant 

 gives more grace to the tout ensemble of the garden 



renio ve 



tte 



ie * 1! 



also the nest box. ^ ^ n _ 



* 0«r ••Tre.M^oatheC.nafj-i;^ , d d S5U**^ 

 ts bi.bl, gr»tii>.r,g for me to to" 8 ? and per*^*,. it 



origmalU, and u hi*, as ^\ \ttc^ "«**££? 

 beeu uuiv-r*aliv commended, ine i- k |n all oa t v 



wb.ch hav* appeared, we«k IV WM - b faot fff()rt iri* 

 Papers, an*, nwr over, coofirma ory ot ^fr r£ * 

 The Nightingale is now amongst »*. , a(te m?t*<»* f *. 

 hU voire , f mo y. H« praxes «« «* thy •'<***:*{*£* 

 W e*k-a., ar.tn.-n. ta»k. indeed .answer , ^ j 

 I mow, h«,». v . . take the " lower fli.^ - 

 altogether prosey. 



