Gleanings. 427 
found in this enlightened age, who will believe in the production 
of progeny without an union of the sexes, when a school boy 
would be deerued an ignoramus for talking of effect without a 
cause, is to my mind absolutely unaccountable. 
As regards the culture of the larger hermaphrodite varieties, 
(usually termed staminatcs), it is true that the most of them, if 
cultivated as distinct plants, and kept perfectly free from runners, 
will produce tolerable crops, and occasionally very fair crops, 
although at other times they will yield few or none; but the 
excessive labor of this course of culture renders them com- 
paratively valueless when contrasted with the simple culture 
exacted by the pistillate varieties, which may be allowed to run 
together in a mass, and will be found more profitable under this 
mode than under any other. There are however a few exceptions 
among the medium and large hermaphrodites, as the Primate, 
Ebetlein, American Prolific, and one or two others, which will 
produce large crops when cultivated in the same manner as re- 
commended for the pistillates. The Euiopean Wood and Alpine 
varieties, which are hermaphrodites, are also exceptions, being 
quite productive, but their fruit is small. 
Flushing, August, 1848. 
GLEANINGS. 
Gutta Percha. — The present is an age of discovery, and every 
week new inventions and useful combinations are brought in requi- 
sition for the furtherance of the arts, or the comfort and convenience 
of the public. It is but a short time since the first application of 
Gutta Percha to the useful arts was first undertaken, and now it 
is applied to an almost infinite variety of purposes. It is manu- 
factured into thread for piece goods, ribbons, paper, and other 
articles. Hancock's patent is the most comprehensive, who unites 
it with caoutchouc and another substance called jintawan, by which 
an elastic material results, impervious to and insoluble in water.' 
The hardness and elasticity of the compound are varied by vary- 
ing the proportions of the components. Springs for clocks, clasps, 
belts, and strings are made of it; and by giving it a greater hard- 
ness, it may be formed into picture-frames, incredibly tough canes, 
door handles, buttons, combs, and flutes, embossed alphabets and 
maps for the blind, receiving and retaining a clear sharp irapr^- 
sion. It has been proposed to ^PP^y i^ ^s a stopping for decayed 
teeth, being perfectly harmless. It can be united with coloring 
