in the Kew Herbarium, after being carefully compared 
with the specimens of S. officinalis in the Jardin des Plantes 
by A. de Candolle and Bentham, has recorded on an accom- | 
panying ticket, ‘“‘ Echantillon précieuse que nous avons 
comparé, M. Bentham et moi, avec le type de Humboldt 
et Bonpland dans Vherbier de Paris. II est semblable, 
sauf la tige plus anguleux que les rameaux.” The latter is 
perhaps not a very strong character, but such as it is, it 1s 
not shared by Williams’ plant, of which the branches are 
as angular as the stem; whilst in Ernst’s plant the stems 
are nearly terete throughout. 
It remains to notice the Sarsaparilla cultivated in 
Jamaica. It is referred to in the annual Reports of the 
Director (Mr. Morris) of Public Gardens of the Island for 
1883 and 1884 as being cultivated in a small district of the 
parish of St. Elizabeth, and having produced female flowers 
only. It is there grown like the yam, is increased by off- 
shoots, and the root is collected two and a half years after 
planting. The yield was then valued at about 50/. per 
acre. According to the Pharmacographia, 1747 lbs. 
were imported into England from Jamaica in 1870, and 
1290 lbs. in 1871; but its colour was so pale, and sub- 
stance so amylaceous, that it found little favour. Mr. 
Morris (now Assistant-Director of Kew) informs me that 
there is still a considerable export of the roots, and that 
the cultivation is very profitable. In Mr. Hanbury’s 
specimens the stem is strongly quadrangular, the leaves 
like those of the Caraccas and Cheriqui plant (narrower 
and less cordate than the S. ornata). 
It is a singular fact that, though the importation of Sar- 
saparilla into Europe dates from before the middle of 
the sixteenth century, and that now no fewer than eight 
kinds, from as many parts of tropical America, are brought 
to European markets, not one should be even approxi- 
mately botanically known. It may therefore serve some 
purpose that I should indicate the principal parts of the 
American continent from which the drug is, or was till 
lately, exported, for attention may thereby be drawn by 
_residents to the importance of sending living plants and 
good dried specimens in male and female flower and fruit, 
if possible, of all to Kew, for growth and determination. 
They are, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, New 
