306 Notes and Memoranda. 



Saunders, who described the ravages of the larvae of the Noctua 

 segetum on the young of Swede turnips. Many acres of this im- 

 portant crop had been destroyed by these grubs, which, attacking 

 only that portion of the root below the surface of the earth, were 

 protected from the action of any ordinary remedy. Mr. Saunders 

 suggested that the only probable remedy would be the destruction 

 of the eggs of the moth before hatching. Mr. Stainton described 

 the singular situation of the pupa? of the Tortrix grandcevana. The 

 larvse of this insect feeds on the roots of the common coltsfoot, on 

 the shores of the Baltic, and subsequently forms tubes the size of the 

 finger in the sand, turning to pupa? in these tubes. Frequently the 

 loose surrounding sand is blown away, when the exposed tubes are 

 opened by birds, who devour the insect. 



NOTES AND MEMOBANDA. 



Tuundeestoems and the Moon. — M. Bemardin calls the attention of tbe 

 Belgian Academy to the fact that many thunderstorms hare occurred about the 

 period of the new or full moon, and he invites inquiry for the purpose of ascer- 

 taining whether there is any connection between the movements of our satellite 

 and the electrical condition of the atmosphere. 



Artificial Fecundation oe Plants. — The Moniteur has published an 

 account of the process of M. Hooibrenck, which is reported to increase the 

 fertility of cereal and other plants. When the grain is in flower, he passes over 

 it an apparatus consisting of a string set with tufts of wool, close together, and. 

 having small lead weights between theni. He repeats this brushing of the 

 flowers three times, at intervals of two days. Espalier fruit trees he deals with 

 in another fashion. First, he touches the stigmata with a finger carrying a little 

 honey, and then brushes the flowers lightly with a powder-puff. By this means 

 pollen is brought into contact with the honey, and adheres. Larger trees he 

 reaches with a sort of brush, composed of tufts of wool. A commission appointed 

 by the Minister of Agriculture reports very favourably upon these processes, as 

 increasing the yield of corn, and they observe, that the fruit trees operated on 

 produced an abundant crop, but they could not so easily satisfy themselves to 

 what cause it was clue. The Emperor has directed that these and other experi- 

 ments of M. Hooibrenck shall be repeated, on two of the imperial farms. 



Effects of Belladonna. — In the month of September we saw a magnificent 

 specimen of the Deadly Nightshade, Atropa belladonna, growing in a chalk dell 

 in Hertfordshire, near Wheathampstead. It formed a splendid bush, spreading 

 out on all sides, the stems five or six feet long, and the berries quite as large as 

 small damsons. Shortly afterwards, the plant was visited by a young lady, 

 accompanied by a gentleman, who cut a branch, which she held while he cut 

 some more, and then walked away with tlio branch in her hand. In a few 

 minutes she felt uneasy, and shortly afterwards was seized with violent headache, 

 giddiness, and nausea. These symptoms continued for the rest of the day, 

 through the night, and through the following day, when her eyes wero very- 

 heavy, and she found herself unable to walk on account of the giddiness. On 

 the third day tin- headache was better, but pain in the side had como on, am! 

 considerable debility. Six days after the first attack, the headache and sickness 

 began to return, but were removed by a little brandy and water. The pain in 

 the side did not cease till some days later. These foct^ 'indicate the great caul ion 

 that should be used in dealing with this remarkable poison, to the influence of 

 which sonic constitutions arc peculiarly sensitive. 



Novelty in Cattle Breeding. The Archives des Sciences, for September, 



