Introducers of Exotic Flowers, ete, 135 
economic history of the oyster comes to be more thoroughly 
known than it is at present. The French people also grow 
mussels, on what is now known as the artificial plan. About 
four miles from Rochelle there may be seen a wonderful 
mussel farm that has been profitably cultivated for hundreds 
of years. The mussels are sold largely for food, and afford 
a good living to the people who cultivate them. The 
British fishermen might obtain a hint from the mussel farm 
of Aiguillon and grow their.own bait, which is. scarce and 
dear. The mussels are grown on frames of basket-work, 
called douchots, and are lafger and of finer flavour than the 
natural mussel. There is nothing that is very new to say 
about the fresh-water fisheries of France. Huningue, still 
continues to fulfill its mission, by sending out to the barren 
rivers of France sufficient fish eggs for the re-stocking of 
many of them ; and, it is satisfactory to know, with good 
results, many of the French rivers, which, a year or two ago, 
were totally destitute of fish, being now wonderfully stocked. 
A large number of district piscicultural reports have been 
contributed to the manuscript department of the Arcachon 
Exposition, and all of them were of the most favourable 
character, giving full details of the work done, and the 
different kinds of fish that had been manipulated for pisci- 
cultural purposes, some of which were common enough, as 
carp, perch, &c. Ina Catholic country like France, where 
there is an urgent demand for fish as fast-day food, it nfay 
be necessary tg cultivate the very commonest fishes; but 
in England, where the people are more fastidious about 
their fish diet, it would not be profitable to cultivate any 
other fish than that venison of the waters—the salmon. 
INTRODUCERS OF EXOTIC FLOWERS, 
Proce tis, tC 
HERE has been a class of men whose patriotic affec- 
, tion, or whose general benevolence, have been usually 
defrauded of the gratitude their country owes them: these 
have been the introducers of new flowers, new plants, and 
new roots into Europe; the greater part which we now 
enjoy was drawn from the luxuriant climates of Asia, and 
the profusion which now covers our land originated in the 
