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POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
Montpellier and Palermo, and sowed them simultaneously and under similar 
conditions at Geneva. The general results of a somewhat limited series of 
experiments were that the seeds obtained from the more northern localities • 
germinated on the whole somewhat earlier than those derived from more 
southern latitudes, and were also rather more rapid in arriving at maturity. 
The difference was still more observable in the second generation ; hut 
sufficient variation was shown in the seeds obtained from the same locality 
to make the results of but small value without a much larger series of ob- 
servations. 
Hmu the Emption of Vesuvius affected the Plants in the neighbourhood . — “The 
American Naturalist ” for September contains an interesting note on this 
subject by A. W. B., who takes his facts from a paper laid before the 
Academy of Sciences of Naples. The writer says that the newest vege- 
tation has suffered from contact with the ashes, though the effect has been 
neither a scorching nor drying up. The action has not been a mechanical 
one ; for a mere closing of the pores of the epidermis could not have caused 
death in so short a time. The closing of the pores and stomata is un- 
doubtedly a secondary cause of death, but only after the lapse of some 
days. No change was observed similar to that produced by the vapour of 
boiling water. The scorching action of a high, dry temperature occurs only 
in the immediate vicinity of the volcano. Neither an acid nor alkaline re- 
action is shown by any change of colour in the flowers or leaves except a 
few instances of a change to blue of rose, orange, or violet coloured organs, 
which might be attributed rather to an alkaline than an acid reaction ; but 
these are few and doubtful. Many phenomena concur in pointing to chloride 
of sodium as the chief agent in the destruction of vegetable tissue. The 
salt was present in sufficient quantity in the falling ashes to be readily dis- 
cernible to the sight, and is also met with as an efflorescence in the ashy 
soil. 
The late Dr. Curtis's Herbarium . — This flne collection of plants is, we learn 
from “ Silliman’s American Journal” for November, to be sold by his family, 
under directions from Dr. Curtis that it shall be kept together if practicable. 
Clearly, in the opinion of the Journal, this collection ought to be retained in 
North Carolina, being authentic for the flora of that State and the exponent 
of his full catalogues and descriptions of the plants of North Carolina, 
published by the State Government. A moderate sum would probably 
secure it, and would be most worthily invested to that end. If the State 
should not acquire it, or if it should be found necessary to divide it, the 
collection of Fungi ought to find a ready sale, as it contains the types of the 
hundreds or even thousands of species which Dr. Curtis has described, or at 
least determined and catalogued. Its loss to science would unquestionably 
be irreparable. 
The Grape Disease Investigated . — This disease, which is of so much impor- 
tance in Europe, has been very carefully investigated by Mr. C. V. Riley, an 
American writer, who has contributed a lengthy paper on the subject to the 
“ American Naturalist ” for September. The paper is of considerable length, 
so much so indeed, that an abstract is utterly impossible. However, we 
may mention that the author has, in the paper mentioned, gone with con- 
siderable ability into the ^whole subject, and has shown very clearly that 
