196 OYSTER CULTURE. 
light of the forest, these verdureless plants elevate their 
brown and yellow stems, covered with scales instead of 
leaves, but having perfect flowers. 
The Monotropa,—Indian pipe or Pine-sap,—more 
fungus-like still, holds a rightful place among the Pyro- 
lace, or Heaths, and with its clusters of white or tawny 
stems, each crowned with a large distinct flower, grows 
from the decayed roots and leaves of the oak and pine. 
It has also been found that sundry leaf-bearing genera, 
situated at no great remove from the Orobanchx are more 
or less parasitic upon the roots of other plants; and it is 
probably from this cause that the Castilleja, or painted 
cup, the Gerardias, and Pedicularis are so difficult, or so 
nearly impossible to cultivate. We have often transplant- 
ed them from their native wilds to the garden, and have 
as often met with disappointment. An English species of 
Comandra, similar to our Thesium umbellatum, whose 
fascicles of flowers remind one of diminutive bunches of 
white lilacs, is also said to form parasitic attachments 
upon the roots of trees. 
OYSTER CULTURE. 
BY F. W. FELLOWES, 
Bryonp dispute or question, the French government 
has taken the lead of all the world in the scientific propa- 
gation and skilful culture of the oyster. For the past six 
years, the great discovery by the distinguished French 
savan, Professor Coste, of the mode of reproduction of 
this mollusk, has been converted to practical use ; and in 
suitable localities on the western coast of France, im- 
_ perial farms, or parcs, as they are called, have already 
