Looking Glass for Birds. 221 
valuable test of the probable success of two samples when planted, 
without being itself the reason of the greater or less amount of 
failure. With the increase of the starch, the albumen and the saline 
matter of the potato may in some degree diminish, and a certain 
minimum proportion of &o^/i o/^Ae^e is necessary to its fruitful- 
ness when used for seed. 
The value of the saline matter is beautifully illustrated by the 
observation of Mr. Fleming, that the potatoes top-dressed wnth 
sulphate and nitrate of soda in 1841, and used for seed in 1S42, 
" presented a remarkable contrast to the same variety of potato, 
planted alongside of them, but which had not been so top-dressed 
in the previous season. These last came away weak, and of a 
yellowish color, and under the same treatment in every respect 
did not produce so good a crop by fifteen bolls (3| tons) an acre." 
This observation, made in 1842, was confirmed by the appearance 
of the crops of 1843, upon Mr. Fleming's experimental fields. In 
later years, however, even his doctored seed has not escaped the 
destructive ravages of the disease of 1845 and 46. 
It has been said, in some parts of Scotland, that the disease was 
prevented by the use of saline mixtures in 1845, but the same 
mixtures failed of their effect in the hands of the same parties in 
1846. In Norway, common salt is supposed to have saved the 
potato from disease. At the present moment sulphate of magnesia 
is lauded as a specific against the disease, because of some sup- 
posed good effects produced by it near Whitby in 1846. I fear, 
however, that should the disease be equally virulent and extensi've 
in 1847, that this salt will lose its character like all the others. — 
Jour, of Com. 
Looking Glass for Birds. — A correspondent of the Gardener's 
Chronicle says, "The following plan is perfectly efficacious for 
scaring birds from fruit and other produce. One of my servants 
having by chance broken a looking glass, it occurred to me that 
the broken pieces' suspended by a string so as to turn freely in 
every direction, would give the appearance of something moving 
about, which would alarm the birds. I accordingly tried the plan, 
and find that no bird, not even the most fool-hardy of them, dares 
come near. They had attacked my peas; on suspending a few 
bits of the looking glass amongst them, the marauders left the 
place. The tomtits attacked my seckel pears, to w^hich they seem 
very partial. A bit of looking glass suspended in front of the 
tree put a stop to the mischief. My grapes were then much 
damaged before they were ripe, by thrushes and starlings; a piece 
of looking glass drove these away, and not a grape was touched 
afterwards. I have before tried many plans, but never found any 
so effectual as the above." 
