190 
Scientific hiteWgcnce. 
In the middle of November, the lower stem began to appear, 
and it continued to grow till the frost set in. I then put a single 
light frame over it, which I kept during the severe winter, with 
occasionally a mat cover. In March 1820 I removed the 
frame; and as soon as the weather became good, the plant 
again began to grow, and, in the latter end of April, it was 
in full flower. I allowed the stem to remain, in hopes that 
the seed might ripen, but it did not. In June several shoots 
came up from the running roots, and I found the principal one 
of the two shoots of last year, which was strong, had become 
unhealthy. This I lifted, and found that the decay of the old 
stem had infected it. The other of the two shoots was well root- 
ed, but will not get strong enough to flower this season. I will 
be careful in future to remove any shoots that are near the stem 
as soon as the flower is over. — I hope you will obtain information 
enough to enable you to give directions for the cultivation of this 
plant, which seems to be a valuable addition to our - 
Letter from Mr W. Rntherfoi'd, Jedburgh, Sept. 1820. 
—In several gardens in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, the 
Tritoma media (or Aletris sarmentosa) is now cultivated as a 
border flower. It is found to be perfectly hardy, not requiring 
any glass cover or other shelter during winter. Like many 
other natives of the Cape of Good Hope, it flowers here very 
late in the autumn, or towards our midwinter. It generally hap- 
pens, indeed, that some flowers appear in November, and some 
in February ; frequently, however, the later flowers receive a 
check from severe frasts, and are not unfolded till April or 
May. The principal thing to be attended to in the cultivation 
of the plant, is the removing of superfluous shoots from the 
root, and allowing only two or three of the strongest to re- 
main. Treated in this way, the plant never fails to shew its 
flowers. It should also be transplanted every tliird or fourth 
year ; and if old hot-bed manure be placed pretty deep below 
the roots, and the roots themselves be surrounded by fresh light 
loam, the strength of the flowers and brilliancy of colour will be 
greatly promoted. 
IV. GENERAL SCIENCE. 
26. Methods of Kindling Fire on the Sandwich Islands.'-^ 
There are various methods of producing fire. In the Caroline 
