2810.) 
Yo the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
N reply to a query inthe magazine for Sep- 
tember, whether the sun-flower ** follows 
the course of the sun in the day, and in the 
night-time, (the stalk untwisting) returns’to 
the esst to face the sun next morning,” | beg 
leave to observe that J believe it to be ground- 
less; having a number of very fine flowers 
growing ig an open garden, not in the least 
influenced by any surrounding walls or build- 
ing. They have the finest possible heads of 
mumercus flowers, growing to face all quar- 
ters ; but my principal attention has been paid 
to the main flower, and I find it always re- 
tains, in the situation it first blows in, either 
north, east, south, or west. Some of the stalke 
appear twisted, which I consider to arise from 
the great weight of the head when in full 
seed; though, while making these remarks, 
a friend of mine-asserted, he had observed the 
Hower changed its position; but he is the 
only person I ever heard to believe it, whilst 
I have many observers with myself to the 
contrary. 
Also in observation on chalk becoming 
fiint, by a natural process. Whilst in Bed- 
tordshire, this was the subject of conversa- 
tion ; and it was asserted to me asa fact, that 
on the chalky hills in the neighbourhood of 
Dunstable, chalk actually became flint, 
though to the observers by an unknown pro- 
cess; and that after removing these flints, yet 
the fresh chalk replaced the usual quantity 
ef flints, and that this would be the case ad 
infinitum; by what inherent chemical pro- 
perty inthe chalky aided by the atmosphere, 
Memoirs of AM, Broussonnet. 348 
remains to be solved by a more learned per- 
son than myself. An insertion of the above 
in the Monthly Magazine, will oblige acon- 
stant reader. J. S. 
~~ SSe 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
ON reading a paper in your number for 
May, 1808, on the state of the silk ma- 
nufacture in this kingdom, I could not but 
feel a regret that an object promising such 
national utility, should be so much neglected 
by us. And it appears deserving of particular 
attention at this time, when some of our 
principal manufactures are on the decline, and 
numerous hands out of employment; and 
when our supply from the continent is un- 
certain, and the article increasing in demand, 
I cannot but think that were premiums 
offered, and due encouragement given to the, 
growth of the mulberry, and the culture of 
the worm, it would produce a spirit of ex- 
ertion, which can alone ensure, and which 
seldom fails of ensuring, success. 
That no Jocal impediment arises, is evie 
dent, from the success which has attended 
past exertions, when aided by a spirited go- 
vernment, and that still attends the experi- 
ments of individuals on a smaller scale. 
Could any of your correspondents commu- 
nicate information on the most successful 
method of rearing the worm, winding the 
silk, &c. with the profit attached to it, and 
recommendations on the subject either to 
persons or books, it would be esteemed a 
favour, by an obliged enquirer. Je 
—— 
MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF EMINENT PERSONS, 
wiemorns of the LIFE and WRiTINnGs of 
M. BROUSSONNET. 
ypETER Marie Augustus Brousson- 
} net, professor of botany at the 
. Medical abel of Montpellier, mem- 
her of the French Institute, Fellow 
of the Royal Society of London, and 
formerly associate-anatomist of the Aca- 
dewy of Sciences, was born on the 28th 
of February 17,61; at Montpellier, where 
his father, Francis Broussonret, was pro- 
fessor of medicine. The life of Brous- 
sonnet displays a stvikuig series of proofs 
of the ligh opinion with which he had 
inspired tle different societies to which 
he belonged: for at the age of eighteen 
he wasselected by the univ ersity of Mont- 
pellier as one of its professors; at twenty- 
four he was awnonimously chosen a mem- 
ber of the Academy of Sciences, a cir- 
cumstance unprecedented in the whcle 
period (120 years) that had elapsed singe 
the first establishment of that academy; 
and he was elected a member of the In- 
stitute in his absence; and was eonunued 
in that character though the duties of his 
post at Montpellier rendered this absence 
perpetual. From these considerations it 
is evident that he must have possessed 
two classes of qualities which are net 
always united; those calculated to cure 
mand respect, and to attract esteern, 
Being born in the bosom of a celebra- 
ted scheol, and the sow of a man who 
discharged with honour the duties*of ins 
struction, it miay be said that the ciénces 
surrounded his cradie, and theirs was the ° 
language of his lispings. From. his teu- 
derest years he was animated by an in- 
satinble curiosity after the p GaneKon ns of 
nature, in which the fine cliniate of his 
nativity is so rich; and his father, fearing 
that such a vaiety ot Attractive objects 
might divert hin from thoge long prelim:- 
nary 
osrpwie Siew dees. 
ae mtn 
——~ — 
Saath sn let Tegel tl 
SRE 
ap = mee, 
— a oe 
ro ee a BS TN Sere 
