29th.—I heard lately that several of those greenhouse plants which are natives of swamps, if planted in a pond, the bottom of which never freezes, would grow as well as if in their own country: I have therefore asked permission to try this experiment, and my aunt let me have a plant of the long-leaved amaryllis, and one of the Ethiopian calla. We broke the pots they were in, that the roots might not be disturbed, and then put them into small open baskets, with a fresh compost round them. My uncle had places made in the bottom of the pond, which is about two feet deep, and the baskets were plunged into them, and the soil at the bottom drawn close round.
The gardener thinks the salt dross has been effectual in destroying the wire-worm in my carnation beds; so last week he added a small quantity of sharp sand, and then the beds were dug, and raked nicely for planting. Yesterday and this morning I have been busy planting out my layers, and as I stirred the ground with my scoop trowel, I could perceive no traces of my old enemies.
A few weeks ago I raked off half the layer of peat earth, with which I had covered my ixia, gladiolus, and oxalis beds, to preserve them from the frosts; I have now raked off the other half, and the beds being carefully forked up, I hope in May to have some nice flowers there.
This is a most busy time in the garden, forking and dressing the borders, mending the edgeings, earthing up peas and beans—continually watching and defending the blossoms of the wall fruit, pruning trees, preparing hot-beds, and sowing cauliflower, lettuce, onion, broccoli, radishes, &c. &c., and in our garden, planting out flowers and removing offsets; dressing and protecting the beds of spring flowers that are going to blossom, and sowing sundry annuals. In short, everything is alive, and everybody anxious not to lose a moment while the weather is so favourable.
30th.—I have been reading all the accounts I could find of ants; and am surprised to find how many curious circumstances there are in the history of some of the species of this country, and of France.
Frederick knew where there was an ant-hill, and took me there, when they began to revive on a sunny day, a few weeks since. We observed numbers coming out of the ground, as if roused by the warmth, and assembling in crowds on the top of their nest; they were in continual motion, walking over it and even over one another, and yet without quitting the spot. This lasted for a few days, and then they began to repair the upper stories of their dwelling, which had been spoiled by rain and snow. We frequently watch them, and they appear to be incessantly engaged at this work till it is quite dark.
They certainly give us an example of perseverance; but their foresight in laying up a store of grain for winter is now considered to be an unfounded idea; for they are nearly torpid during the winter, and do not require provisions. May it not be said, however, that they shew forethought and contrivance in regard to their friends the aphides, which I mentioned sometime ago in my journal?
The yellow ant, for instance, which seldom leaves its home, and likes to have its comforts within reach, usually collects in its nest a large herd of a kind of aphis, that derives its nutriment from the roots of grass. These are conveyed by subterranean galleries into the nest, so that, without going out, it has a constant supply of food. The ants bestow as much care on these little milch-cows as on their own offspring, and pay particular attention to their eggs, moistening them with their tongue, carrying them tenderly in their mouth, and placing them in the sun to be hatched. When Frederick opened one of the ant-hills, we observed a parcel of these little black eggs very near the surface; and the ants were so distressed at our visit, that they immediately began to carry the eggs to the inside of the nest. By hatching these eggs early, they provide future food for their own families; and I am sure that is shewing forethought. This aphis yields a great quantity of that sweet fluid of which the ants are so fond; it flows from two hair-like tubes, placed one on each side, and the ants, who watch for the moment when it is ready, suck it down immediately. It is said, that the ants can make the aphides yield this fluid at any time by patting them with their antennæ; and when they have milked one of their little cows, they go to another.
As to all the varieties of the tropical ants, the inhabitants of South America know but too much of them already; but I must tell you of a use to which, in another country, their nests have been applied, and which you could scarcely have guessed. In the southern part of Africa, they raise solid nests of clay, in shape like a baker’s oven. The Caffres, when first permitted to settle at Gnadenthal, one of the Moravina settlements, converted these tumuli into ovens. Having expelled the inhabitants by smoke, they scooped them out hollow, leaving a crust of a few inches in thickness; and then used them for baking their loaves. The clay of which these nests are formed is so well prepared by those industrious animals, that it is used for floors of rooms by the Hottentots, and even by the Dutch farmers.
END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.