HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR. 
815 
II.— COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
Movement of Shell Fish. — The fresh water muscles, which are common in 
rivers and canals, are not, as might be supposed, immovably confined to the spot 
where they may chance to be produced. The organ with which they effect the 
movements is of a fleshy substance, about two-thirds of the length of the shell 
and thrust out through the opening near its middle. This foot, as we may term 
it, is about half an inch broad in the large shells, and sharp at the point. In 
order to move themselves from place to place, they thrust this organ under the 
shell, applying it with a quick motion to the bottom of the place where they lie, 
by which means they can, not only change their place, but turn themselves up- 
side down. — Notes of a Natwalist. 
Fall of the leaf. — It is not enough to account for the fall of the leaf to 
say, it falls because it is weakened and dead, for the mere death of a leaf is not 
sufficient to cause its fall, as when branches are struck by lightening, killed by a 
bleak wind, or die by any similar cause, the dead leaves adhere tenaciously to 
the dead branch. To produce the natural fall of the leaf, the branch must con. 
tinue to live, while its leaves die, and are thrown oft' by the action of its sap ves- 
sels. The change of temperature, from hot to cold, seems to be one of the 
principal circumstances connected with the death and fall of the leaf. Hence it 
is, that European trees, growing in the southern hemisphere, cast their leaves at 
the approach of winter there, which is about the same time of the year that they 
put them forth in their own climate. The native trees of the tropics are all ever- 
greens, and like our hollies, and pines, have no general fall of the leaf, yet there 
is always a partial fall proceeding, and at the same time a renewal of the lossj — 
Times Telescope, Notes of a Naturalist. ;--/tv 
III.— MONTHLY HORTICULTURAL CALENDAR. 
FOR NOVEMBER. 
This month is remarkable for foggy damp weather, greenhouse plants &e. mnst receive no 
water except when the soil becomes quite dry and then some should be allowed to fall upon the 
leaves or they will be very liable to damp oif, give as much air as possible every day, and keep 
the place perfectly dry. Make use of every fine day to gather any remaining late pears or 
apples hanging on the trees. Lay a quantity of litter or half rotten horse dung about the roots 
of the trees planted last month. Collect soils for different purposes, and begin to make every 
preparation for winter. As the ground becomes vacant let it be trenched in ridges to stand 
more exposed to the action of the weather. Some hardy trees as cherries, plums, &c. may 
now be pruned, but peaches, nectarines, apricots, and the like are better deferred till towards 
the spring. 
FRUIT DEPARTMENT. 
Peach and Nectarine Trees on the walls where most of the leaves are falling, may be slightly 
brushed upwards with a small birch or link wisk to clear the brandies off them, afterwards 
draw most of the nails as recommended page 240, for their general treatment see pages 18, 192 
480, .5:34, 67:3, and 721. 
