have no extra glass next the window. They are 

 also provided with a narrow folding slip at top, 

 (which, when shut, rests on the cross astragal of 

 the window) for air, as I had them constructed to 

 hold flowering plants. For this purpose, they 

 answer admirably, provided you have accom- 

 modation for a garden-frame, in which to bring 

 forward the plants, so as to keep the cases always 

 gay. But without this accommodation, I would 

 recommend having the cases made tight, and 

 filled, principally with ferns, etc. I may mention, 

 however, that in a close case, all the spring bulbs 

 flower admirably (of course renewed annually), 

 such as Snowdrops, Crocuses, Jonquils, Hyacinths, 

 etc., and at that season some of these cases here 

 are very gay. Tea and China roses, also do 

 pretty well for a short time. These cases are 

 made with a wooden box at bottom, lined with 

 zinc; resting on and projecting, from three inches 

 to six inches beyond the window sill. The frame- 

 work of the case should also be zinc, as it can be 

 made so much lighter looking. Regarding the 

 heating of these cases, I would suggest a double 

 bottom; the lower part filled with water, and a 

 small jet of gas placed under it. Of course the 

 wooden bottom would be dispensed with. The 

 merest point of flame would keep the heat at 

 80° or 90° in ordinary weather; and to provide 

 for moisture, a small pipe coming up through the 

 soil, open at top, would give off vapor. It would 

 also serve to fill and mark the height of the water 

 tank below. A friend of mine has a case, so con- 

 structed that it can be filled with water for gold 

 fish; having a pretty zinc trellis over the water, 

 for pots of ferns, etc: Of course air is admitted 

 for the fish, but yet the ferns, lycopods, etc., grow 

 well. — J. Church, just., Glasgow. 



The Flying-Fish. — Not the least remarkable of 

 the piscatorial tribes, is the flying-fish, an aquatic 

 Mercury, met with in great abundance in the 

 tropics. Some naturalists suppose, with a par- 

 donable scepticism, that its alleged flight is a leap 

 extending only from wave to wave. But I have 

 seen it fly at least twenty yards, and, on one 

 occasion, a full-grown flying-fish, nearly as large 

 as a herring, alighted on the deck of our vessel, 

 seven or eight feet from the water. The wing, 

 therefore, must be endued with no slight powers, 

 though some assert that it is very feeble, and 

 regard it as a mere elongation of the fin. It is 

 equally an error to suppose that this little wan- 

 derer is subjected, more than any other in- 

 habitant of the deep, to incessant attacks on its 

 existence, pursued beneath the waves by the 

 dolphin or the shark ; and that when it seeks 

 safety in flight, it becomes the prey of rapacious 

 birds. What may be its troubles below, it is 

 impossible to say. But I have, in various voyages, 

 seen hundreds of flying fish careering in gay 

 squadrons over the deep, and in no case have I 

 ever known them to be assailed by a gull. It is, 

 therefore, fair to conclude that they are not so 

 terribly persecuted as we have been led to 

 imagine. — W. S. Fullom. 



Vine Mildew.— I have watched the progress 

 of this disease on Vines, for these last three 

 years, and my opinion is, that it follows the rising 

 sap. 1 find that when the first sap in the 



branches starts, there is no appearance of mil- 

 dew, — but as soon as sap rises from the root, 

 mildew comes with it, — developing itself first on 

 leaves nearest the steam, and gradually progress- 

 ing, till in a few days it is all over the house. 

 I do not consider that the state of the air has 

 anything to do Avith it. I have had it all round 

 me; and one gentleman in particular, within 100 

 yards of me, lost the whole of his crop one season 

 by it. By following my advice, this year he has 

 had sound Grapes. About five years ago, I 

 found my Vines in a very dirty condition ; with 

 wood not larger than a tobacco pipe, and the 

 bark hanging in strings. The first thing I did, 

 was to get a few cart loads of loam, the parings 

 and cleaning out of some ditches, some well 

 rotted dung, and some lime rubbish. I mixed all 

 well together. I then had the old mould cleared 

 away from the roots, and the new material put 

 in its place; being very careful not to break a 

 fibre that could be helped, I had the roots laid as 

 bare as I could. The result has been, that after 

 the first season I have had abundance of good 

 Grapes, quite free from mildew. By adding new 

 soil to the roots, the Vines made fresh roots " at 

 home ;" and sent up plenty of sweet sap, which 

 defied all attacks of the mildew. When the 

 latter occurs, however, it can be stopped by 

 throwing sulphurous vapor into the house. I 

 have now a young Vine that I planted two 

 years ago, which has made a shoot this season 

 upwards of 20 feet in length. — W. S., Hillingdon. 



The Hedge-hog. — In Our Journal, vol. ii., 

 p. 15tj, are some remarks about the non -carni- 

 vorous propensities of the hedgehog. To these I 

 must demur. A few years since, I had full ex- 

 perience of their carnivorous propensities, and I 

 recorded the circumstances at length in the 

 " Zoologist, vol. iv., p. 1204; also in a note on 

 page 113 of the "Letters of Rusticus." If you 

 read the facts therein stated, you will be led to 

 change your opinion, as I was unwillingly com- 

 pelled to change mine, by those "stubborn 

 things," — facts ! I know you will give ready 

 insertion to these observations, — the more parti- 

 cularly, as they may be the means of saving the 

 lives of many " pets." No hedgehog ought to 

 be kept in the same yard or garden, with fowls, 

 &c. Your readers may have the same faith in 

 Hoggy's harmlessness that I once had. This 

 caution will enlighten them. He is a sad fellow, 

 and must be well looked after. Otherwise, fare- 

 well to all "pets!" — F. Pemberton Bartlett, 

 Fordingbridge. 



How to " Strike? Cuttings of Flowers, fyc. — 

 Whatever may have been said, or written, or 

 done as to the best mode of striking, it is quite 

 certain that bottom heat is a great agent, and 

 given artificially it promotes rapid development 

 of roots. Some of our readers may say, — how 

 can this be, when I strike cuttings in a common 

 border? Why, the striking of cuttings out 

 of doors is the first proof we shall appeal to. 

 Why do Ave shade cuttings in the common 

 border? To keep off the heat of the sun, which 

 Avould make the atmosphere of a higher tempe- 

 rature than the soil. If we desire to strike 

 cuttings in the common border, shade is indis- 



