3d. The rot is easily known when it is once fairly begun. It is generally found in the scales near the heart of the bulb; and, to discover it, the point of the bulb should be cut off horizontally with a sharp knife. If the bulb is affected with this disease, a yellowish or brownish stripe will be seen between the scales; and all the part thus discoloured should be cut away, till it is completely eradicated; but when it reaches farther than the half of the bulb, it is past remedy, and the bulb must be thrown away. Great care, however, must be taken, in cutting off the point of the bulb, not to injure the germ which has formed inside it; and when this is likely to be the case, the cuts ought to be made not horizontally, but in a slanting direction towards the point of the bulb; so as not to run any risk of cutting off the extremity of the incipient flower. It frequently happens that these stripes are but very little distinguished from the colour of the healthy part of the bulb; and, therefore, great attention is necessary, that they may not be overlooked. When two, three, or more stripes are seen round the heart of the bulb, it is generally past recovery; but if they are found far from the heart, and consequently near the outer scales, they can all be cut away, with the exception of such as have reached the stool and attacked it. Above all, care must be taken that neither the germ nor the stool of the bulb are injured; but all parts round them can be cut away.

4th. The mould is only found on the outer or inner part of the first four scales, and it is not considered a dangerous disease, but must be removed by taking off those scales that are attacked.

5th. Consumption or wasting is indicated by never-varying yellowish or brownish spots in the scales near the heart. This disease is not exactly a dangerous one, but is rather an indication of a weak flower, which is very frequently the case with several sorts; for example, the Grand Vainqueur, Staaten General, &c. These spots might go through the whole bulb without being injurious, therefore they are not to be compared with the stripes of the disease called the rot.

6th. Shrinking (Verkrüppelung) is indicated by spots similar to those above mentioned, only they are much larger. This disease generally draws the whole bulb in a slanting direction, and a part of it appears as if eaten out. The bulb loses its usual

round form. This is similar to the disease called wasting, but in a greater degree, and is with great difficulty got rid of; therefore, if you wish to have good strong plants, it is better to throw those away that are attacked with this disease.

7th. Excess of offsets (Durchwachs) only takes place in bulbs capable of producing flowers. The offsets come out at the sides, or through the stool or plate, and the parent bulb becomes divided into a number of young ones. When this is the case,

it is left exactly as it is, and is planted like the others; and, although it will not flower, it will produce a great many young

bulbs.

These are the principal characteristics of the diseases to which bulbs are liable. When you wish to increase them, great care must be taken, while they are out of the ground, not to pull off the small white offsets that have sprung out at the sides, and from the stool of the bulb; because this treatment, even if it does not injure the parent bulb, is sure to destroy the young ones, which would not be the case if they were allowed to remain on another year. When the young ones are older, and are become strong, they will have stools of their own, from which roots will proceed; and when in this state, they may without danger be separated from the parent bulb.

When the bulbs have been all carefully examined, they are planted thirty-six hours afterwards at the latest; because, as they have been probably very much cut, a longer delay would cause a reappearance of the mould, which would terminate in destroying them.

In our next Number will be given a year's culture of hyacinths, as practised in Holland; beginning with the season for planting in October.

ART. IX. Observations on forcing Hyacinths.

(Translated from the German, by J. L.)

In order to make hyacinths flower in the beginning of December, they should be planted the beginning of August, and the pots plunged in the open air to such a depth that they may be covered with mould to the depth of 4 in.

They should be taken out again about the middle or end of October, put in warm tan or sand in a hot-house, near the sashes, and kept moist. The best sorts for this purpose are the Single blue January, Single blue Gallas, Single blue Impériale, and the Single white Impériale. The best kind of tulip for the same purpose is the Duc van Tholl.

If these sorts are treated in this manner, and kept moist and warm, they will not fail to flower about the beginning or middle of December. Many other sorts may be brought into flower about the beginning of January.

Those forced hyacinths which are intended to flower in February and March, should be planted in September and October, or even about the middle of November; the pots being plunged in the open air, and covered with mould. A bed should be made the beginning of January, consisting of horse-dung,

4 or 5 feet deep; it should remain in that state about a week, and then as much mould added as will cover the pots when they are sunk in it. The pots should be now all put in, and the sash raised 4 or 5 inches, to admit air both night and day, so that the steam generated by the heat may readily escape. This must not be neglected even during frosty weather; otherwise the hyacinths will be burnt.

During a severe frost it may be thought that admitting the air is quite unnecessary, but it must not be omitted, only hanging cloths over the opening; as if air be not admitted, all the hyacinths will be found burnt up the following morning.

REVIEWS.

ART. I. Catalogue of Works on Gardening, Agriculture, Botany, Rural Architecture, &c., lately published, with some Account of those considered the more interesting.

THE Elements of Botany for Families and Schools. Published under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education, appointed by the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge. 4th edition, small 8vo, pp. 139, numerous woodcuts. London, 1839.

One of the best little books of the kind which we have seen, embracing structure, physiology, and classification. At the end there is a useful list of plants, in four columns, the first containing the English or popular names of all the plants, the products of which, or any part of which, are in use in the arts, or in general economy; the second, their scientific name; the third, the name of the natural order to which they belong; and the fourth, their Linnæan class and order. Besides the woodcuts, representing leaves, buds, roots, &c., there are pictorial representations of Dicotyledonous and Monocotyledonous plants.

Cactearum Genera nova Speciesque novæ, et omnium in Horto Monvilliano cultarum ex Affinitatibus naturalibus Ordinatio nova Indexque Methodicus. Auctore C. Lemaire. 8vo, pp. 115. Paris, 1839.

This is an attempt at a new arrangement of the Cácteæ, in which the genera are disposed in linear series, by their affinities, and separated into two tribes by their mode of germination. The author developes his plan as follows.

"The Cacteæ separate themselves, at first sight, into two divisions; one consisting of plants with elongate stems, leafy or leafless, jointed or continuous; the other of plants with stems low or nearly wanting, globose, simple or branched: thus, by easy and convenient comparison, they are linearly arranged in the most natural manner." After long and anxious pondering on the best way of separating the series into these divisions by a botanical character at once simple and precise, "the mode of germination flashed across his mind, and his heart leaped for joy." The author proceeds: "Having discovered this guide, I formed all the caulescent Cáctea with true foliaceous cotyledons into my first tribe, which I named Phyllariocotyledoneæ ; and the globose or stemless with true tuberculate cotyledons into my second, which I named Phymatocotyledoneæ. From this character flows the following physiological law: 'Amongst the Cácteæ, the form of the cotyledons indicates the habit, and consequently the mode of vegetation, of the future plant, and affords the best character for separating them into two natural tribes.'

"The germination of Cáctea may be divided into three periods common to

both tribes, although the result is diametrically opposite in each; the stem in the first being long, and upright or creeping; in the second globular, simple, branched or many-headed. The genus Pilocèreus, which forms the passage from the one tribe to the other, is the only exception. During the first period, in both tribes, the seed swells, the episperm separates from the hilum, and the descending stem issuing from the widening fissure turns towards the earth; at the same time, the ascending stem rises, carrying up the torn episperm. During the second period, the tribes begin to differ in appearance. The episperm has fallen off, and the ascending stem has become a primordial merithallium; but, in the Phyllariocotyledòneæ, it bears on its summit two ovate and slightly acute cotyledons, while in the Phymatocotyledoneæ they are distinctly tuberculate. In both the descending stem becomes the root, and buries itself in the soil preparatory to the emission of radicles. This latter operation seems subject to the evolution of the cotyledons; for after a short time, in both tribes, these recede from each other, and some very minute radicles appear round the root, and then, opposite to the cotyledons, are seen the two earliest tubercles bearing the rudiments of bundles of prickles, which, evolving themselves opposite and alternately, form at length the future stem. During the third period, the difference between the tribes is striking. In the Phyllariocotyledoneæ, the foliaceous cotyledons are obliterated; the merithallium is nearly buried in the soil, and becomes the true collar; whilst between the two cotyledons peaks up the caulicula already indicated by the first two fascicles, and afterwards increased by the spiral evolution of new ones. In the Phymatocotyledoneæ, on the other hand, the merithallium arises from new tubercles, bearing bundles of prickles, becomes globular from the continuous evolution of others, and finally increases to a caulicula, more or less globose, and always buried. Thus it is easily perceived that each tribe has a peculiar and opposite mode of germination."

Such is the reasoning by which the author supports his theory. To show how he carries it out in practice would take up too much space in a work devoted more to the garden than the study. We must therefore content ourselves with stating that, of his two tribes, the first, or Phyllariocotyledoneæ, contains six genera; Peiréscia Plum., Opuntia Tourn., Lepísmium Pfeiff., Hariòta Adans., Epiphyllum Herm., and Cèreus C. Bauh.: the second, or Phymatocotyledoneæ, seven; Echinonyctanthus Lem., Echinocactus L. & O., Mammillària Haw., Anhalònium Lem., Melocáctus C. Bauh., Pilocèreus Lem., and Astrophytum Lem., the place of the last uncertain.

Recensio Specierum Generis Pteridis. Auctore Jac. G. Agardh. 8vo, pp. 86. Lund, 1839.

The object of the work is to rescue the genus Ptèris from the confusion into which it had fallen, in consequence of the number of new species added since the revision of Willdenow. For this purpose Dr. Agardh, not content with the Swedish collections, travelled into England, Scotland, France, and Germany, to scrutinise the rich herbariums to be found in those countries. His original design was to publish a monograph of the genus; but, in the meantime, the appearance of the valuable work of Presl rendered such an undertaking unnecessary, and the doctor contracted his views to a searching examination of the species. Presl had, in the professor's opinion, pushed the use of venation too far in employing it as a generic diagnostic; and, by so doing, had formed genera which the latter has reunited to Ptèris, confining this character to the discrimination of subdivisions of genera only. He divides the genus into four sections, of the value of which the subjoined characters will give an idea.

1. Eupteris. Petioles fascicled, greenish or straw-coloured, rarely purplish ; a transverse section of the fascicle of vessels having the shape of a horseshoe, frequently incurved at the apex. Fronds pinnate; veins parallel, approxi mate, simple or 1-2-forked, rarely anastomosing at the apex or the basal ones forming an arch. Species 1-53.

2. Ornithopteris. Petioles scattered, green or straw-coloured; fascicles of VOL. XVI. No. 118.

Ꭰ

vessels numerous, much separated. Fronds becoming decompound and leathery; veins parallel, approximate, many times forked, prominent on the under surface, and depressed above. Species 54-61.

3. Litobrochia. Petioles fascicled, greenish or straw-coloured; a transverse section of the fascicle of vessels having a wavy horseshoe shape. Fronds more or less divided; veins reticulated. Species 62-89.

4. Histiopteris. Petioles scattered (?) generally shining-coloured; a transverse section of the fascicle of vessels having a wavy horseshoe shape. Fronds decompound, pinnate; pinnules pinnatifid, the lowest on each pinna heteromorphous : basal veins arched; secondary forked, free or anastomosing. Species 90-94.

A second part, comprising the cognate genera, is promised.

Catalogus Plantarum Horti Botanici Hafniensis. Conscripsit O. J. N. Mörch, Hortulanus. Pamp. 8vo, pp. 102. Copenhagen, 1839.

The arrangement is alphabetical, and includes house as well as hardy plants. The total number of species and varieties is about 8000. The garden appears rich in hardy herbaceous plants, including grasses. Of Alliums there are above seventy species, of Achillea above fifty, of Amaránthus nearly fifty, of Agrostis twenty-five, of Aíra sixteen, Acer eighteen, Acàcia about forty sorts, and so on.

A Treatise on Agriculture, adapted to the Soil and Climate of Ireland, comprehending the Nature, Properties, and Improvements of Soils; the Structure, Functions, and Cultivation of Plants; and the Husbandry of the domestic Animals of the Farm. By John Sproule. 8vo, pp. 709, numerous wood-engravings. Dublin, 1839.

"The object of the author has been to present the farmer with a manual to which he might at all times refer with safety, embracing every department of his profession, describing every operation which he has to perform, and, as far as the practical character of the work would admit, showing the connection which should subsist between the theory and practice of the art.

"In the execution of this task, various authorities, oral and written, have been consulted; from which numerous and important additions have been made to the work. Reference has not always been made to these, it being conceived, that no useful purpose would be served thereby, and that the space thus taken up could be much more profitably occupied. The works consulted without acknowledgement being always made, are, the Encyclopædia of Agriculture, the Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, Lawson's Agriculculturist's Manual, Low's Elements of Practical Agriculture, Lindley's Introduction to Botany, and Youatt's valuable Treatises on the Domestic Animals.

"The author has also to express his obligations to Mr. Campbell and Mr. Maxwell; the former, head farmer, and the latter, head master of the Templemoyle Seminary, for several alterations and additions to the manuscript before going to press. (Pref. vii.)

The volume, in bulk and general appearance, has a close resemblance to Low's Agriculture, reviewed in our Vol. XIV.; and, on comparing the contents of both volumes, we find the same headings in each, only differently arranged. It is but justice to Mr. Sproule, however, to state that, though he has imitated, he has not exactly copied, and that his imitation is sufficiently artistical to constitute a distinct book.

First Report upon Experiments upon the Action of Sea and River Water, &c. By R. Mallet, M.R.I.A., &c. Pamp. 8vo, 1 plate. London, 1839.

The action of salt water on iron is much greater than that of fresh water; but all the different phenomena which take place have not been yet satisfactorily accounted for. This report briefly recapitulates all that has been hitherto published on the subject, and points out the track of experiment that ought to be pursued in future investigations.