616 EXTRACTS — NATURAL HISTORY. 
be done when the trees are young, and then only can the roots be cut without 
injury. 7. When the tap root descends into a bad subsoil, it brings on diseases 
in the tree. 
The general conclusion is, that when the largest and best timber trees are an 
object, the seeds should be sown where the plants are to remain, and, conse- 
quently, the tap root is never injured; but that in fruit trees, it should always 
be shortened, to cause them to spread out horizontal roots near the surface, 
among the nutritive soil. — Prussian Gardening Society. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
The Galli'nula chloropus, or Common Water Hen, is a percher and 
excellent for food. One of these birds was kept in an aviary with some phea- 
sants, and although the tip of the wing was dipt, at evening it scrambled ujjinto 
some currant bushes to roost ; and they have been shot on the top branch of a tall 
elder (Alnus glutinosa,) as also on low shrubs by the water side ; they have also 
been known to roost in Scotch pines, (Pinus sylvestris;) it has also been found 
that, when properly cooked, it is as fine eating as a woodcock (Scolopax rusti- 
cola;) water hens, in some places, are kept in a state of half domestication where 
they are quiet and undisturbed. — Mag. Nat. Hist. 
Poultry Hatched by the Common Buzzard in Captivity. — At a 
farmer's house at Whittington, near Litchfield, a female common buzzard 
(Falco Biiteo, L.) domesticated and kept in the garden, was every year set with 
some eggs of the common poultry, which she sat upon with great assiduity, and 
hatched at the usual time. When the chickens were hatched, the fury of this 
stepmother surpassed that of the common hen, but as the chickens grew up, it 
gradually abated. — There is also in the gardens of the Chequers Inn, at Ux- 
bridge, another buzzard, wh^ch has reared a brood of chickens annually for the 
last eight years. The first showed her inclination to sit, by collecting and bend- 
all the loose sticks she could obtain ; her owner observing her actions, supplied 
her with materials ; she completed her nest, and sat on two hen's eggs, which 
she hatched, and aftewards reared the young; since then she hatched and 
brought up a brood every year. In the last summer (1831) in order to save her 
the fatigue of sitting, some young chickens, just hatched, were put to her; but 
in this case she did not forget her natural appetite, but destroyed the whole 
In the same summer, however, she proved a careful mother to nine others. 
When flesh was given her, she was very assiduous in tearing and offering her 
food to her nurslings; and appeared very uneasy if, after taking small portions 
from her, they turned away to pick up grain. — Mag. Nat. Hist. 
On the Epiphytes of the Orchis Tribe. — Orchideous Epiphytes grow 
naturally upon trees in the recesses of tropical forests : they establish themselves 
in the forks of branches, and vegetate amidst masses of decayed vegetable and 
animal matter ; in consequence of their position, there cannot possibly be any 
accumulation of moisture about their roots. They also grow equally well on 
rocks and stones in similar situations. Shade seems essential to them, as does 
also high temperature and excessive humidity. The hottest countries, if dry. 
