KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 55 

a favorite drink for his hens. He soon found 
that the laying of his hens was increased to a 
considerable extent. Being convinced of the 
importance (to him) of the new discovery, he has 
during the present season kept his hens con- 
stantly supplied with lime water, placed in 
troughs within convenient access, and the result 
is an increase in eggs of nearly four-fold as com- 
pared with previous experience.—W. 
[We have long adopted this idea, and find the 
result highly satisfactory. ] 

Singular Epitaph—We are told by the Editor 
ofthe Worcester Herald, that the subjoined is a 
verbatim copy of an epitaph, which appears in the 
parish church-yard of Persey, in Dorsetshire. 
‘Here lies the body of Lady C. Looney, great 
niece of Burke, commonly called ‘the Sublime.’ 
She was hard, passionate, and deeply religious. 
Also, she painted in water-colors, and sent 
several pictures to the exhibition. She was first 
cousin to the Lady Jones, and of such is the 
kingdom of Heaven.”—ANGELINA. 


Tenacity of Woody Fibre.—It is afamiliar fact 
that the stems of trees, and of flowering plants in 
general, possess a tenacity not found in the leaves 
and flowers. This tenacity is mainly due to the 
presence of woody tissue, which consists of spindle- 
shaped tubes lying closely together and overlap- 
ping each other at the ends. It is present also in 
the veins of leaves, and especially in the inner 
bark of plants. Itis regarded by some as a form 
of cellular tissue, but may at all times be distin- 
guished by its much greater tenacity. This 
quality indeed renders it of considerable impor- 
tance to man; for it is this tissue, separated from 
the softer tissue of the stem by maceration, which 
forms the fibre of lmen, hemp, and many other 
substances which are manufactured into textile 
fabrics. The comparative tenacity of different 
organic fibres, says the Scottish Florist, as as- 
certained by Labillardiere, is as follows. Weights 
being suspended to threads of the same diameter, 
silk supported a weight of 34; New Zealand flax 
(Phormium tenax), 23.8; Hemp( Cannabis sativa), 
164 ; Flax (Linwm usitatissimum), 112; Pita flax 
(Agave Americana), 7.—J. W. T. 
To Keep away the Moth—1I notice an article 
on this subject, by “ Arabella” ( Vol. JIZZ, p.3i0). 
Let me tell you of another efficacious remedy for 
getting rid of these plagues—viz., by sewing a 
small portion of the bitter apple (Colycynth, I 
believe) in muslin bags, and placing the latter 
among the various articles which it is wished should 
be protected from the moth.—Muscreu.a. 

Rapacity of the Sparrow-hawk.—I remark in 
our Journat( Vol. ITT, p. 122) a bold adventure of 
a sparrow-hawk, whilst pursuing a blackbird. Two 
very similar occurrences came under my own ob- 
servation a few years ago; but I forget the precise 
date. In the first instance, I happened to be in 
my dormitory, and one of the windows was open. 
Suddenly a poor sparrow came flying in as fast as 
possible, closely followed by a sparrow-hawk, which 
flew straight through the room into a sitting-room 
adjoining. The latter somehow contrived to get 
entangled in the curtains. He was made prisoner ; 


but afterwards released, with a warning that if 
he repeated his adventure after another unfortunate 
sparrow, it might not fare quite so well with him. 
The next visitor was also in pursuit of a sparrow. 
Both flew in at the front door, down a long pas- 
sage, and into the kitchen ; where Mr. Hawk went 
with such violence against the window, that he 
smashed it—the glass being scattered some dis- 
tance. The squares of glass, however, being 
rather small, and iron bars coming rather close 
against them outside, he did not succeed in making 
a hole large enough to pass his body through. 
This was of little consequence; for the violence 
of the blow was such, that his neck was broken. 
He died in a minute or two after he was picked 
up. These occurrences took place near Lau- 
sanne, in Switzerland. In both instances, the 
intended victims were lucky enough to escape.— 
Bompyx Arias, Tottenham. 

The Crystal Palace, Sydenham.—As_ the 
“Company ” seem to be on their mettle, and re- 
solved to astonish the whole world with their 
Palace of Beauty, 1 would suggest to them that 
if a terrestrial globe on a monster scale were 
constructed in the grounds, it would tell well with 
the public. It might be done thus:—Tor the 
general plan, take a map of the world, with the 
two hemispheres. At the base of an excavation, 
let two mounds be raised, giving a correct delinea- 
tion of both. Let the several continents and 
islands be marked out upon them, with their 
shores as near to nature as may be—the seas being 
represented by fine grass, or glass with a pre- 
pared surface. Rocks, &c., might be laid down, 
and lakes and rivers be represented by glass 
formed of undulating and‘twisted pieces; these, 
by suitable machinery, might be kept in constant 
motion. This would give life and effect to the 
whole. Mountains, snow-capped hills, forests of 
trees, &c., could easily be introduced ; and large 
towns marked, giving a leading building (as St. 
Paul’s) for London. Being in an excavation, a 
terrace or terraces might be formed on the sur- 
rounding sides, and lectures given explanatory of 
each subject. It would be practicable too, by 
means of machinery, to raise ‘“lines’’ or frames 
to denote the equatorial and equinoctial lines, the 
degrees, &c. To give increased effect, telescopes 
might be arranged all round; the use of which 
would considerably enhance the pictorial impor- 
tance of the globe. I merely throw this out as a 
hint by the way. Money seems “no object.” I 
do not, however, imagine the cost of what I pro- 
pose would be very considerable. The motto over 
the globe might be— 
‘* Here may you roam at large, from pole to pole— 
Trace Nature’s vast expanse, survey the whole. 
O’er lands remote an easy passage find, 
Secure from danger—and divert the mind.’? 
I cannot help thinking, that if a small charge only 
were made for entrance, the success of such an 
undertaking could hardly be doubtful_—J. B., 
New Load, Shepherds’ Bush. 
[If the ‘“‘Company”’ be wise, they will turn 
their attention to many similar devices to instruct 
as well as amuse the public. The site they 
have chosen is a delightful one. Nature and art 
may there be pleasingly associated; and the 
human mind inducted to a train of thought, 



