By Anthony Carlisle, Esq. 185* 



dense texture, of a deeper colour, and more compacted 

 about the stems and roots, than in the summer variety * 

 These and similar evidences may probably indicate the 

 hardiness of other esculent or ornamental plants, and may 

 lead to the introduction of many new, useful, or ornamental 

 vegetables, where they are at present unknown. In the 

 spring of 1815, the first tender leaves and the immature male 

 catkins of the generality of our Walnut trees were destroyed 

 by the frosts ; the subsequent crop was very small, and of 

 indifferent quality. I consider those consequences to have 

 arisen from the destruction of the first shoot of leaves ; but 

 there was also in the same season an unusual number of 

 abortive or empty nuts, and this was apprehended to be 

 wholly owing to the want of masculine impregnation, as I 

 have produced the same effect upon Filbert and Hazel nut 

 bushes, by taking away the male catkins, before the stigmas 

 were evolved. The well known fact of clusters of empty nuts, 

 often depends upon the destruction of their neighbouring 

 catkins, and I have seen it extensively produced by a dor- 

 mouse. A series of experiments, which I began some years 

 ago, upon the different freezing capacities of viscid fluids, 

 induces me to conclude, that many, if not all the vegetable 

 powers of resisting congelation, depend on the same or simi- 

 lar physical causes. I was led to this enquiry by noticing 

 the difficulty of freezing treacle, paste, dissolved starch, and 

 some oils, as those from the nut and almond, and the most 



* The attenuated and delicate foliage of forced hardy plants and housed shrubs 

 are known to be more readily injured by frost, than if they had remained exposed ; 

 and the physical differences, in the texture of such leave?, sufficiently explain the 

 cause of that acquired tenderness. 



