NOTICES OF BOOKS. 223 



wood; Simaruba officinalis^ the Simarouba, or officinal Bitter- wood- 

 and the Simaruba excelsa, or lofty Bitter-wood. 



On ike Podocarpits or Tacca (Podocarpus Purdiei). — A tree of this 

 has been detected in the neighbourhood of Dunrobin Castle (elevation 

 3000 feet above the sea), 100 feet in height, and 42 inches in diameter 

 at 6 feet from the ground. The wood has been proved to be of indif- 

 ferent quality by Captain Fowke. 



A Paper on the ^^ Causes of the Evils wMch tend to the prostration of 

 Jamaica,'^ will be read by all with interest, and by many, it is to be 

 hoped, with profit. 



On Bitter Cassava; its more extended cultivation strongly urged. 

 On Corn-husk Bonnets, — ^Bonnets made of the corn-husks or corn* 

 trash (the sheathing covering of the great cars) were exhibited at the 

 Paris Exhibition, and are said to be as durable as straw. 



On the Aloe of Commerce^ a true Aloe {Aloe Barbadensis, introduced 

 to Barbadoes from the Cape). 



On Tartaric Add from Tamarinds. 



On Helens saccharatus^ lately so strongly recommended for sugar by 

 a gentleman of Katal^ in preference to the sugar-cane ; but we are here 

 correctly informed that the "sugar-cane need not fear her northern 

 rival." 



Hoops and Ox-bows made from the Rose Apple-tree (Eugenia Jambos, 

 Linn,), 



of 



■This seemed 



to promise well, but the quantity sent (as was unfortunately the case 

 with the fibres generally that were sent by Jamaica to the Paris Exhi- 

 bition) was too small for satisfactory experiment. 



Paper from Plantain Fibre and from Wood. 



The last notice of the year, relating to vegetable products, is not. the 

 least interesting, the application of the Castor-oil plant (Eicinus com- 



a new kind of silkworm* from Assam. The sub- 

 ject, in another collection, attracted much interest among the natural- 

 ists of Paris ; and a silver medal was awarded to the exhibitor on that 



occasion. 



With great pleasure we have received the commencement of the se- 

 cond volume, and shall be glad to notice it at some future period. 



♦ Caterpillar of the Bonibyx Cynthia. 



( 



