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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
acid than the same number of healthy ones. (5) That the diseased leaves 
contain about one-eighth more of lime than the same number of healthy 
leaves. (6) The unhealthy leaves contain only six-tenths of the quan- 
tity of potash contained by the same number of normal specimens. The 
most important result of all these investigations is evidently the discovery 
that the diseased leaves have a far greater supply of lime and phos- 
phoric acid than the healthy ones, and are also richer in nitrogenous 
principles. 
Salt as a Remedy for the Vine Fungus. — It has been stated by M. 
Druelle, in a note to the French Academy, that the development of the 
oi'dium or fungus, which is so destructive to the vine-crop, may be pre- 
vented by the following process: about the month of November or 
December a deep hole is dug close to the root of each vine, and about half 
a kilogramme of unrefined sea-salt is placed in it. The result of this 
simple measure is, that the vine is preserved from the ravages of this 
destructive fungus. — (Jomptes Rendus , vol. lvii. No. 14. 
A new Acid found in the Baric of Larch. — In a paper in the “ Philoso- 
phical Transactions,” Dr. JohnStenhouse,F.It.S., describes, at some length, 
the nature, properties, and mode of isolation of this new acid, which 
he proposes to term Larixinic acid. After it has been purified by subli- 
mation, larixinic- acid forms beautifully white crystals, often more than 
an inch in length. It seems to be peculiar to the larch ( Pinus larix), for 
Dr. Stenhouse has been unable to obtain a trace in it of the bark of the spruce 
fir {Abies excelsa ), or in that of the Scotch fir {Pinus sylvestris). Its acid 
properties are exceedingly feeble, if not doubtful, on which account its 
discoverer suggests that it might be termed larixin. 
Formation of Oil in Olives. — M. de Luca’s observations lead us to believe 
that the growth of the fruit in this plant takes place during the whole 
period of vegetation, but that the pulp and heart do not continue to 
increase up to the same period. For example, the latter, which is the 
first part to be developed, is completed about the end of August ; but 
the pulp goes on growing till the fruit is quite mature. The quantity of 
water varies with the period of time ; thus, w T hilst in the early stages of 
growth it is as much as 70 per cent., we find when the fruit is ripe that it 
lias been reduced to about 25 per cent. On the contrary, the fatty matter, 
which is small in quantity at first, becomes extensively developed as 
the fruit approaches maturity. It is worthy of notice that in propor- 
tion as the heart ceases to grow the fatty matter is formed. — Memoir 
read before the French Academy , Sept. 14. 
Vascular System in Plants. — The presence of the vessels included in this 
system is denied by M. Lestiboudois in a late memoir read before the 
Academie des Sciences. He contends that plants do not possess a vascular 
system like that of animals, the office of which is to transport and dis- 
tribute the nutritious juices. The spiral vessels, even, are devoid of this 
quality ; and although they do occasionally constitute capillary tubes, yet 
this property is not a permanent one. The spiral vessels are closed at 
their extremities, and any communication which takes place from one to 
the other is purely accidental. From their length they fill the office of 
channels, but they only diffuse fluids in so far as the permeability of their 
