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COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
The Largest Flower.---Iii 1818, Doctor Arnold discovered in 
the Island of Sumatra, a flower, which he named the RalTlesia Ar- 
noldi, and which an author has called with much justice “ the mag¬ 
nificent Titan of the vegetable kingdom.” The human mind had 
never conceived such a flower, the circumference of the full expanded 
flower is nine feet, its nectarium calculated to hold nine pints,—the 
pistels are as large as cows’ horns, and the entire weight of the blos¬ 
som computed to be fifteen pounds.— Penny Mag. 
Note.--- Is the above fabulous, or has it been seen by any one else, 
or has it been introduced into this country ? 
The Flower Trade in Holland. --About 180 years ago, a 
real tulip mania prevailed in Holland. Bulbs were sold at such ex ¬ 
travagant prices, that 13,000 florins were paid for a single Semper 
Augustus. For a vice-roy, on one occasion, was paid four tons ot 
wheat, eight tons of rye, four fat oxen, and twelve sheep. Until the 
time of the French Revolution, the florists of Haerlem obtained their 
bulbs principally from Lisle, and other Flemish towns, where the 
clergy were engaged in them. Haerlem still continues to be the 
emporium for the most beautiful of these productions. Hyacinths 
first began to rise in estimation in 1730, in that year 1850 florins 
were paid for one passe-non-plus-ultra.-— Mirror, 1832. 
Nature and Art. —It is curious enough that people decorate 
their chimney pieces with imitations of beautiful fruits, while they 
seem to think nothing at all of the originals hanging upon the trees, 
with all the elegant accompaniments of flourishing branches, buds, 
and leaves.— Cobbett's English Gardener. 
Faculties of Brutes. —The dog is the only animal that dreams, 
and he and the elephant the only animals that understand looks, the 
elephant is the only animal that, besides man, feels ennui; the dog 
the only animal that has been taught to speak, Leibnitz bears witness 
to a hound in Saxony, that could speak distinctly thrilly words, if 
we can put confidence in what he writes.— Medical Gazette. 
Sea Air. —The atmosphere in the vicinity of the sea usually 
contains a portion of the muriates over which it has been wafted. 
It is a curious fact, but well ascertained, that the air best adapted to 
vegetables, is pernicious to animal life, and vice versa. Now, upon 
the sea coast, accordingly, animals thrive, and vegetables decline. 
Hurwood's Southern Coast. 
Mu shrug ms.— The large horse mushrooms, except for catsup, 
should be very cautiously eaten. In wet seasons, or if produced on 
very wet ground, it is very deleterious, if used in any great quantity. 
— Mag. Nat. Hist. 
