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Located in the midst of a smoky town and district, iiiefH' noted for its manufacturing industry, I am desirous if obtaining the aid of my friends, who are more favourably ^cumstanced, in elucidating a somewhat neglected portion jl Nature’s wonderful and infinitely varied productions, in Jfhich, as in all the works of God, however small, the Infinite skill and wisdom of an allwise Creator are so strikingly manifested.
1,1 allude to those curious excrescences, popularly' known i Galls. These are caused by the puncture of small insects, and are found of various forms on the Oak, the Rose, the Willow, the Meadow Sweet, the Speedwell, and many other trees and plants, sometimes presenting a very dissimilar appearance on the same plant, according to the insect by iiose enchanting wand they are, as if by magic, brought ( Mi.
^ It is matter of surprise that these “ little fairy palaces,”
R they have been aptly called, so exceedingly varied and autiful—some round as an apple, tinted like it, red and How; others like unripe currants ; some resembling a honeycomb ; some again miniature artichokes ; some velvet 'cushions; some coral beads ; and others tufts of moss— it .is matter of surprise I say that these should have attracted apparently so little attention. They are, liow- jcver, now claiming a greater share of notice. Two or more I Continental observers have published works specially' relating to them, one on the Galls of Switzerland, by M. liremi, and another by Dr. Hammerschmidt, who has made the subject one of much research, giving drawings of 250 different kinds, and the insects producing them.
A good deal has also been done during the last few years towards elucidating the American Galls. Baron Osten Sacken, the Russian Consul General, has been a
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