COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
313 
pitchers he found their bottoms beautifully punctured, as if by the 
mouths of insects. Dr. Graham states, that the water contained in 
some of those which he examined at the Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, 
was at the first slightly acid, and that as the water evaporated the 
acidity increased, until the whole had passed off. Dr. Turner an¬ 
alyzed the water from an unopened pitcher, and found it to contain 
minute crystals of superoxalate of potash; and he says, that during 
the time of boiling, it emitted an odour like baked apples, from its 
containing a trace of vegetable matter. This is most of what is at 
present known of the uses of the appendages of Nepenthes. If some 
of our readers have made observations on any of the plants designa¬ 
ted “ Pitcher Plants,” we hope they will report them to us, as they 
may probably tend to elucidate a subject at present involved in 
mystery. 
Joseph Paxton. 
ARTICLE XII. 
COLLECTIONS AND RECOLLECTIONS. 
Ready Mode of Reducing Leaves to Manure. —I am very 
successlul in reducing my leaves to manure. I collect an immense 
quantity during the winter, and carry them all to the yard where 
the cows are milked, and have their sheds. Their droppings reduce 
them quickly; but in order to make excellent manure of them with¬ 
in the season, I cause a light layer of earth to be scattered over them 
from time to time as they rise. In February, I turn the whole over, 
and I am sure to have the entire yard covered three feet deep with 
choice and valuable vegetable mould, fit for use at any time after 
June, particularly if the season be tolerably wet. J. M. T. 
Improved Dahlia-Stand.— I was pleased with the forms which 
you have given of Dahlia-Stands, figured at pages 573 and 729 of 
your first Volume, and have tried Mr. Murphy’s, page 573, and also 
had one of the others made. For the information of your readers, I 
give the results of my experiments. I have found both faulty. Mr. 
Murphy’s stand is too small at the top. The branches of the Dahlia 
are but brittle, and if exposed to any wind, soon get broken against 
the top ring. I had many spoiled by them last year. Mr. Saul’s 
will be liable to break. The manufacturer here confirms what your 
correspondent says in your March number for this year, and says 
he can make the other for a less sum. I do not know how Mr. Saul 
