184 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
to be separated from the bad (abortive) ones, it is found on closer exa- 
mination to be just the contrary. In 1854 about 25 lbs. of nuts sold 
in Hanover for eighteenpence ; 25 Ibs. yield about 5 lbs. of oil, 1 1b. 
selling for about sevenpence. The oil is of a pale yellow colour, and 
has an extremely agreeable taste. It is often adulterated with Walnut- 
oil; the latter is even sold as Beech-oil, and that may account for the 
difference of opinion entertained respecting the quality of the Beech-oil. 
The townspeople use it chiefly as salad oil, but the peasantry employ 
‘it generally as a substitute for butter, etc., and only when there has 
been a good harvest of nuts, for burning in their lamps. The husks 
(epicarpia) are, after the oil has been expressed, made into cakes about 
nine inches square and one and a half inch thick; these are used for 
combustibles, and not given, as some people imagine, as food to cattle.* 
The Ferns of WALES; dy EDWARD YOUNG. 
We are glad to be able to announce the speedy appearance of a work 
illustrated by well-dried specimens of thirty-five species of Ferns of the 
Principality of Wales. “It is presumed,” the author says, “ that there 
are forty-one species in the United Kingdom, so that with the excep- 
tion of six, which are found in few localities, this work will present a 
valuable collection of nearly all the Ferns, many of them rare, which 
are found in the British Isles. The descriptions, in letterpress, will 
be simple and lucid; and instructions will be given for the cultivation 
of each Fern, to which will be added a list of the Welsh localities. 
Fine specimens in good fructification will be given, and great care will 
be taken in drying and setting them up. 
... The size of the work will be sufficient to contain specimens of the 
largest species. It will be elegantly got up and carefully bound, the 
_ title-page being illustrated with a photographie view of one of the water- 
. falls in the Vale of Neath. 
xiu Persons wishing to become subseribers can apply to the author, 
. Mr. Edward Young, Neath, Glamorganshire.” 
* Both the oil and the cakes alluded to are exhibited in the Museum at Kew.— 
Eprror. 
