March r, 1890.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
603 
The Greeks thought it counteracted the effeots of 
wine. The amethyst is an emblem of humility 
and sobriety. It is dedicated to February and 
Venus. In the zodiac it represents Sagittarius, in 
metallurgy oopper, in Christian art it is given to 
St. Matthew, and in the Eoman Catholic Church 
it is set in the pastoral ring of bishops, whence 
it is oalle 1 the prelate's gem. Cat's-eye is con- 
sidered by the Cingalese as a charm against witch- 
craft, and to be the abode of some genii. Coral 
is a talisman against enchantments, thunder, witch, 
oraft, and other perils of flood and field. It was 
consecrated to Jupiter and Phcebus. Bed coral 
worn about the person is considered a cure for 
indigestion. _ Crystal induces visions, promotes 
sleep, and insures good dreams. It is dedicated 
to the mcon, and in metallurgy stands for silver. 
Diamond produces somnambulism and promotes 
spiritual ecstasy. The diamond is an emblem of 
innocence, and is dedicated to April and the sun, 
In the zodiac it stands for Virgo, in metallurgy 
for gold, in Christian art invulnerable faith. 
Emerald promotes friendship and constancy of 
mind. If a serpent fixes its eyes on an emerald 
it becomes blind. It is an emblem of success in 
love and is dedicated to May ; in the zodiao it 
stands for Cancer, in metallurgy for iron, and in 
Christian art is given to St. John. It is dedicated to 
Mars. Garnet preserves health and joy. It ia an 
emblem of constancy and is dedicated to January. 
This was the carbuncle of the ancients. Jacinth 
is also dedicated to January. Loadstone produces 
somnambulism, is dedicated to Mercury, and in 
metallurgy stands for quicksilver. Moonstone has 
the virtue of making trees fruitful and of curing 
epilepsy. It contains in it an image of the moon, 
representing its increase and decrease every 
month. Onyx contains in it an imprisoned devil, 
which waked at sunset and causes terror to the 
wearer, disturbing sleep with ugly dreams. Cupid 
with the sharp point of his arrow, cut the nails 
of Venus during Bleep, and the parings, falling 
into the Indus, sank to the bottom and turned 
into onyxes. In the zodiac it stands for Aquarius; 
some say it is the emblem of August and con- 
jugal love ; in Christian art it symbolises sincerity. 
Opal is fatal to love and sows discord between 
the giver and receiver. Given as an engagement 
token it is sure to bring ill luck. The opal is an 
emblem of hope, and is dedicated to the month 
of Ootober. The Burmese believe the ruby ripens 
like fruit. They say that a ruby in its orude state 
is oolourless, and, as it matures, changes first to 
yellow, then to green, then to blue, and lastly to 
a brilliant red, its highest state of perfection and 
ripeness. In the zodiao it stands for Aries. Some 
give it to December and make it the emblem of 
brilliant success. Sapphire produces somnambulism 
and impels the wearer to all good works. In the 
zodiao it signifies Leo, and in Christian art is 
dedioated to St. Andrew, emblematio of his heavenly 
faith and good hope. Some give this gem to April. 
Topaz is favourable to hemorrhages, imparts 
strength, and promotes digestion. It is an emblem 
of fidelity and is dedicated to November. In the 
zodiao it stands for Taurus, and in Christian art 
iB given to St. James the Less. Turquoise given 
by loving hands, oarries with it happiness and 
good fortune. Its colour always pales when the 
well being of the giver is in peril. It is an 
emblem of prosperity and is dedioated to 
December. In the zodiac it stands for Saturn, 
and in metallurgy for lead. A bonquet, composed 
of diamonds, loadstones and sapphires combined, 
renders a person almost invincible and wholly 
irresistible. All precious stones are said to be 
purified by n bath in honey.— Detroit Free Press. 
ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 
Cloves. — The clove originally came from the Moluccas 
Islands, nnd its cultivation two centuries ago was 
confined to a few little islands in this archipelago. 
Banana*. — This plant is probably a native of the 
West Indies, although "banana" was said as early as 
• he 16th century to be a native name for it in Guinea. 
Authorities appear to differ regarding the matter. 
Chicory. — Chicory grows wild throughout Europe, 
The plant was known to the ancients, but no definite 
location can be determined as to where it was first 
known or used. 
Cocoa. — Cocoa tree, says one author, is perhapi of 
Egyptian origin ; but De Candolle says, " I incline 
to the id.ei of an origin in the Indian Archipelago. 
The extension dates from not more than 3,000 or 
4,000 yea-* auo, but the transport by sea to the 
coasts of Africa and America took plaoe in perhaps 
a more remote epoch." This author gives many 
reasons for holding this view of the origin of the 
oocoa and seems to have the weight of opinion on 
his side. [The coconut is, of course, meant,— Ed. T. A."] 
Potato. — Potatoes are native to South America, 
and were found growing wild by the earliest dia* 
coveries in that hemisphere. They were introduced 
into North America (Virginia) in the latter half of 
the 16th century, and into Europe by Spaniards, 
1580-85, and afterwards by the English of Raleigh's 
time. Sweet potatoes probably originated in South 
America also. 
Pineapple.— Authorities generally concede that the 
pineapple is of American origin. 
Almond. — " In Western Asia and some parts of Greece 
the almond may be regarded as indigenous from pre» 
historic time," says the author of an excellent work on 
the origin of plants. 
Apple. — Probably a native of Asia Minor, and its 
prehistoric area extended from the Caspian Sea nearly 
to Europe. — American Grocer. 
THE WEATHER. 
Writing to the London Times on " Modern Weather 
Wisdom," Sir R. P. Gallwey, of Thirsk, says :— 
During the past year of grace 1889, I have kept 
a most careful record of the weather from day to 
day — I might almost say from hour to hour, save, 
of course, at night, when, I presume, the " clerk 
of the weather" himself takes a rest. Everyday 
during the past year on which a forecast has been 
published I have had it pasted in a book, and 
every evening I have set down opposite each pro- 
pheoy the actual weather of the current day, and this 
I have done in some twenty localities of our islands 
north, Bouth, east and west. 
Here is my summary. Out of the 312 weekdays 
I have a record of, I find the " clerk of the 
weather " is correct on 208 days and incorreot 
on 104 days— that is, he has guessed, I beg his 
pardon, I mean prophesied, correotly twice in 
every three attempts, or at the rate of only 66 
per cent 1 I must, however, state that to make 
the summary easy for comparison I have thrown 
into the side of the soale that holds the "correots" 
seem very doubtfnl forecasts, very doubtful in- 
deed, so much so that an honest " olerk " would 
hesitate to claim them ; still I wished at the out- 
Bet of my task to give the gentleman who arranges 
the weather every advantage— an act of generosity I 
feel I have more than fulfilled. 
Now for some experiments of my own in the 
way of weather prophecy- I oopied out the weather 
forecasts each on a card to itself. I then put them all 
into a bag, shook the contents well, and eaoh day 
the following month drew a card out haphazard 
and compared it with the state of the weather. I 
assure you, Sir, it was a neok-and-neck raoe to 
within the last fow days of the month when the 
" olerk of the weather " won by a short length ) 
