Collections and Recollections. 231 
this place we cultivate a great ileal of this vegetable, and I find one plant will 
cover 'about fifty square yards of ground. The exact number of fruit gathered 
from a plant during a season, I am not prepared to state, but the produce, wiien 
compared with other vegetables, is very far below them. An early crop of Pota- 
toes, and then a late crop of Cauliflowers, Cabbages, or Broccoli, upon the same 
extent of ground, will be found to yield a far greater produce than the former 
vegetable, and in some instances superior in point of nourishment. Vegetable 
Marrow, to be made at all palatable, requires ratiser more accommodating sauce 
than many of the poor can afford to furnish it with, whereas most of them can 
supply a little salt and pepper for Potatoes and Cabbages. 
Pctworth Gardevs, Nov. 6, 1831. G. Harrison. 
Vegetablb Mould. — In reply to G. A. L., page 225, I beg to inform him that 
what I term Vegetable Mould, is that produced by well-rotted cabbage leaves, and 
vegetables of a similar character. What I mean by decayed leaves is a soil pro- 
duced from the leaves of oak, &c. The former soil is one of the richest, and the 
latter is a very light one; both are very essential in a suitable compost for Pelar- 
goniums. 
G. Harrison. 
Error.— I find in the aiticle I sent yo« on the treatment of Pelargoniums, page 
102, an error in the description of the compost. It should have been stated — to 
equal parts of vegetable mould and decayed leaves, add one-third of peat soil, and 
one-sixth of white sand. I will thank you to give this insertion at an early oppor- 
tunity. 
G. Harrison. 
Heaht's-ease. — Gentlemen, plants of the Heart's-ease, (^J'iola tricolor,) which 
are sold in the London Markets are often better than those grown in private 
gardens, and I have often known it complained of, that when removed, ihoy soon 
degenerate. I should bo obliged, (and I doubt not also, many of your readers) if 
Jtny of your Correspondents acquainted witii the culture of that favourite flower, 
would send the best method of managing it-, and also the way of managing the 
Dark Red China Rose. I remain, your obedient Servant, 
T. S 
II.— COLLECTIOxVS AND RECOLLECTIONS 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
Vegetable Serpent. — Some Italian Journals mention that a new organised 
being has been discovered in the interior of Africa, which seems to form an inter- 
mediate link between vegetable and auintal life. This singular being has the 
shape of a spotted Serpent; it drags itself along on the ground, and instead of a 
head has a flower shaped like a bell, which contains a viscous liquor. The flies 
and other insects, attracted by the smell of this juice, enter into the flower, when 
they are caught by the adhesive matter; the flower then closes, and remains 
shut until the prisoners arc bruised and transformed into chijlc. The indio-estibie 
portion, such as the head and Viings, are thrown out by two lower spiral openin"-s. 
