416 COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
inches high from the mould, had six flowers. None of them was 
below eight by four; the largest was sixteen by eleven inches. I 
have some of the flowers retaining the colours as bright as they were 
on the day they were cut, although not so large. G. E. I. 
P. S. What is the best Rhubarb for general use ? 
Cause of Coolness by the use of Fans. —To explain the 
apparent contradiction implied in the fact, that the use of a fan pro¬ 
duces a sensation of coolness, even though the air which it agitates 
is not in any degree, altered in temperature, it is necessary to consider 
that the air which surrounds us is generally at a lower temperature 
than that of the body. If the air be calm and still, the particles 
which are in immediate contact with the skin acquire the tempera¬ 
ture of the skin itself, and having a sort of molecular attraction, they 
adhere to the skin in the same manner as particles of air are found 
to adhere to the surface of glass in philosophical experiments. Thus 
sticking to the skin, they form a sort of warm covering for it, and 
speedily acquire its temperature. The fan, however, by the agita¬ 
tion which it produces, continually expels the particles thus in con¬ 
tact with the skin, and brings new particles into that situation. Each 
particle of air, as it strikes the skin, takes heat from it by contact, 
and, being driven off, carries that heat with it, thus producing a con¬ 
stant sensation of refreshing coolness_ Lard. Cab. Ency. 
Oxalis crenata _The roots of the Oxalis Crenata roasted as 
Chesnuts, and the stalks used for tarts like Rhubarb, are both said 
to be superior in flavour; whether the leaves also were tried is not 
known. This is merely a hint to direct the Editor’s attention to 
these trials, related on good authority to the writer. 
Since we received this notice, we have made a tart of the stalks, 
and found it. to be very delicious, far superior to Rhubarb, probably 
coming nearest in flavour to a very fine Apple. We have not yet 
had the opportunity of roasting the roots, but have little doubt of 
their being very good. Conductor. 
T. HARDCASTI.F, PRINTER, CHURCH-STREET, SHEFFIELD, 
