178 THE FLORIST AND 
may be admitted to flash with burnished lustre among the flowers of their 
own clime, and brilliant butterflies reared and studied where their forms 
may be gloriously developed, and their demeanor watched, A farther ad- 
vance may bring to public view the abundant variety of American eagles 
sitting solemnly on their perches, or giraff"es straddling round their stalls, 
along with the hosts of other denizens of the zoological collections of the 
world. A commercial people will fix its interests greatly on the sea. Thus 
will the transparent tank be employed in these repositories, to bring to light 
the behavior of all strange things which fix themselves to the shores, or 
wander in the deep, which bore piles, endanger ships, afibrd food, or spread 
a sensitive vegetation over the bottom of the sea. 
In all this, it is evident, there will be much which becomes expanded 
before the scrutinizing eye of science, in a mode not otherwise attainable. 
In a locality combining beauteous scenery, pure air, open space and instruc- 
tive ornament, the youth of our community will imbibe an earnest and wake- 
ful spirit in respect to natural science, and in respect to our position and 
our duties in regard to nature, which will be defensive against idleness, fri- 
volity and selfishness. And from any rank in life among them, there may 
thus be drawn forth into their right place and action, and brought under 
suitable training, the master minds whom Providence entrusts to soci tj for 
the promotion of its highest interests. Such institutions are almost indis- 
pensable adjuncts to the school, the academy and the college ; and the need 
of them must soon be felt, that they may sustain the advance which this 
great country is making. 
I am, sir, yours most respectfully, 
J. CONSTANTINE AdAMSON. 
InPenn. Inquirer. 
THE GRITTINESS OF PEARS. 
The grittiness of pears is the chief circumstance which diminishes their 
value at the dessert. Some are more subject to the afiection than others ; 
but all are occasionally deteriorated by it. The proximate cause is known 
to consist in the deposit of hard matter in certain cells of the flesh, analo- 
gous in all respects to that which gives its bony texture to the stone of 
Plums, Cherries, &c. In all these cases, the tissue is originally soft and 
pulpy, and if it were to remain so the whole of a Plum would be as per- 
fectly eatable as a berry of the Grape. But in stone fruits gritty matter is 
gradually deposited within the pulpy cells of the lining of the flesh, as con- 
