established themselves, remove the pots, and earth up occasionally, as long as the space between them will admit of it. The produce of new kinds of potatoes raised in this manner is generally prodigious for twelve years afterwards. The best manure is yellow moss and rotten horse-dung."

Now, Sir, I beg to observe, that I have tried the above method of raising new kinds of potatoes, and found it to. answer my most sanguine expectations. In the year 1807, I selected a seed-ball of an early variety, which I obtained from the late Mr. James Dickson of Covent Garden, well known to the botanical world, and, after washing the seed clean from the pulpy matter which surrounded it, I kept it in a dry place till the time directed for sowing. I planted seventeen plants, and threw away the remainder: each plant produced a distinct variety, of as various quality. There were amongst them round, oblong, and kidneys; good, bad, and indifferent; black, white, and red; all full grown the first season, and of ample produce: some were as early as the parent plant; while others, again, were very late. We have, it is true, a great variety of capital kinds of this useful vegetable; but if gentlemen's gardeners, who have it in their power more than any other class of men in the kingdom, were to set about earnestly raising new kinds, it is very probable that far superior kinds to any of those now in use might be obtained at a trifling expense, as a single-light box, with a few linings, would answer the purpose, after it had performed its office of raising cucumber plants for the larger frames: and such a course of experiments by different individuals, if successful, would not only tend to benefit the country at large, but it would also afford a solid satisfaction to the minds of those who would give themselves such a trifling degree of trouble, if they were successful in obtaining a distinct variety, that would, from its valuable properties, obtain celebrity.

Should you deem the above account worthy of the notice of your readers, I may perhaps, at a future time, when leisure permits, send you one or two more recipes that might be of service not only to young but to old gardeners.

I began to fear we had lost the effusions of our amusing old friend Agronome, but I am glad to see he has made his appearance again. Many hearty laughs have we had at his gibes, and long may he continue to furnish them for the amusement of your readers, together with his pithy useful information: but I must conclude, or, as our worthy friend observes, I shall become tiresome. I am, Sir, &c.

Neath, Glamorganshire, Dec. 5. 1829.

SOLA NUM TUBERO SUM.

ART. XXIV. Description and Use of Bartlett's Cultivator.

Sir,

By W. D.

I SEND you enclosed the plan of an implement of agriculture invented, and most successfully worked, by Mr. G. Bartlett, a most respectable and exceedingly ingenious tenant of Sir Richard Vyvyan, Bart. It will, I am fully.confident, when known through the medium of your Magazine, be generally approved of. On lands of a strong adhesive nature, where, in consequence of wetness, the roller and harrow cannot reduce it suitably for the reception of the seed, Bartlett's cultivator will be found to be eminently advantageous. This cultivator can be so modified in principle as to serve every purpose in the preparing of wet land for tillage. The implement has a roller of thirteen sharp plates, placed at intervals of about 4 in.; consequently no lumps of earth over which the cultivator passes can exceed in magnitude the distance of one plate from the other. By the addition of plates, it can so operate upon the surface as to supersede the necessity of the harrow or roller; either of which, in wet seasons, on many lands, is of more injury than service. Mr. G. Bartlett has found it save about one half of the labour, which alone is sufficient to recommend its adoption on all farms of difficult culture in wet seasons.

Trelowarren, near Helstone, in Cornwall,

May 20. 1829.

W. D.

BARTLETT's cultivator consists of a roller (fig. 87.) composed of thirteen thin iron plates, each fastened to a circular block of wood of 4 in. in thickness, and bound round with iron. Both plates (a) and blocks (b) are movable on an iron axle, and the size

88

of both (fig. 88.) may be increased or diminished at pleasure. Mr. Bartlett has adopted a', diameter of 9 in. for the blocks, and 15 in. for the plates, as may be observed by the dimensions in fig. 87.

Fig. 89. is the under side of the frame in which the roller

is fixed; a a, the position of the axle gudgeons; b, movable staple for attaching the draft trees; c, iron scrapers fastened

89

to the bar d, the use of which scrapers is to clean the roller, and they are of such a length as almost to touch the blocks. Each scraper is protected by a piece of wood (e), to prevent it from being forced back by the earth on the roller. These pieces of wood are fastened to the bar f, as the scrapers are to the bar d. The general appearance of the roller when at work will be easily understood. (fig. 90.)

Though we have no doubt that such a machine as the above may occasionally be found useful, yet we are averse from. recommending agricultural implements or machines which are at all complicated. Wherever the soil and climate are favour

able to aration, almost every description of culture may be effected by the plough and harrow alone, and at most with the addition of the roller, horse-hoe, and probably a sowingmachine of some sort. The first agriculturists in the world, those of East Lothian, have nothing more. Wet adhesive lands, whilst wet, can seldom be worked to advantage with any implement; and, indeed, it must be owing chiefly to some local circumstances, that in these times such lands can at all pay for being kept under the plough. Were trade in corn free, or this country thoroughly intersected with rail-roads, such lands would be kept under grass or wood. Every invention and attempt at improvement ought, however, to be recorded for the benefit of future inventors. - Cond.

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ART. XXV. An Account of some Plants of Indian Corn raised at Hampstead, and of some remarkable Circumstances connected therewith. By X. Y.

Sir,

THE following short account of some Indian corn raised at Hampstead may perhaps be interesting to your readers, particularly as it proves that the seed will produce vigorous plants after it has been kept several years; a fact, which has often been denied or doubted:

Sept. 28. 1820, an ear of Indian corn was gathered at Dijon, in France; it was small, being only 5 in. long, and it contained 300. grains. April 20. 1826, some of these seeds were sown in a garden-pot which was kept in a sitting-room of an equal temperature. At the end of a fortnight, the plants came up, and were occasionally put out of the window when the weather was fine. On the 19th of June, they were transplanted into a warm border in the garden, sheltered from the north and east winds. The ground was previously well manured with dung. The plants, after their removal, soon began to grow very luxuriantly, and produced several fine ears of corn, much larger than the ear we brought from France. The largest ears were 8 in. long, weighed nearly a. pound, and contained from 500 to 600 grains.

In 1827, I planted the seeds in garden-pots, as before; some from the last year's crop, and some from the French soed. They both came up about the same time, but the plants from the new seed were rather the stronger. The ears were as fine, and ripened as well as they had done in 1826.

In 1828, I planted some seeds of the produce of the preceding year in the open ground, and found that they throve

better than those first sown in garden-pots and transplanted. Last year (viz. 1829) the ears were large, and full of embryo seeds; but, owing to the wet weather at the time the male flowers were in bloom, there were very few perfect seeds, and none of the ears ripened. Owing, probably, to the ground being so much manured, the plants in 1827 were particularly vigorous; and, after the male flowers were out of bloom and the pollen dried up, several side shoots appeared, which, I have since learned, should have been taken off, as they weaken the plant, and seldom ripen. However, I suffered them to remain on; and I was much interested in watching the curious provision of nature to secure the fructification of the seed of this second brood. When the ears of corn began to enlarge, a branch of male flowers, about 4 in. long, grew out of the end of each ear, as the crown or top grows out of a pineapple. In due time these ears ripened, but they were small and ill-formed.

Still later in the season, a third brood appeared; and here nature had another wonderful contrivance to provide for the safety of the seed. As the weather began to be cold and ungenial, the male flower grew from the bottom of the ear, within the glume or envelope, like two children lying side by side in a cot. Most of these ears proved abortive; a few perfect seeds, however, were formed, though it was too late in the year for them to ripen.

I should wish to know whether similar changes in the blossoms of Indian corn have ever before been noticed. Such an extraordinary adaptation of means to an end seems to partake of the nature of instinct in animals. By what foreknowledge could the male flower be aware that it was born too late in the season, and thus provide for itself a warm covering, secure from wind and rain? A solution to this question might form the subject of a very interesting physiological essay. I shall anxiously look for an answer to these queries from some of your scientific correspondents. I remain, Sir, yours, &c.

Hampstead, Jan. 12. 1830.

X. Y.

Ir thus appears that the seed of Indian corn will retain its vegetative powers, in temperate climates, for six years, with no other care than that of keeping it dry. We can vouch for all the facts in the above communication, from our personal knowledge of the excellent, amiable, and philosophic-minded authoress of the paper, and cultivator of the corn. We hope due attention will be paid to her queries by our physiological readers. Cond.