220 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 
Dr. Gibson, direetor of the Botanical Garden at Bombay, was here 
a few days ago, on his way back to India. 
Professor Parlatore's portrait had been drawn and engraved: the 
likeness is striking, the engraving itself excellent as a work of art, 
and the price of the picture about three francs. 
The Camphor-tree of Borneo. 
The following information has most obligingly been communicated 
to us by ‘An Admirer of Science,’ in a letter dated Hackney, April 4, 
1853. “In an article extracted from your ‘Journal of Botany’ for 
December last, on the Camphor-tree of Borneo and Sumatra, it is stated 
that the first mention of that particular kind of camphor known to you 
is by the traveller Camoens, who died in 1579. I have been lately 
reading an edition of the travels of Marco Polo, by Hugh Murray, 
F.R.S.E. (second edition, Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1844), and find 
there (p. 287), where the traveller is giving an account of the kingdoms 
of Sumatra, under the head of Kingdom of Fansur, the article in ques- 
tion is spoken of in the following terms :—‘ Here grows the best Can- 
fara fansuri, which is much more valued than any other; indeed, it 
sells for its weight in gold. Now, as it appears that Marco Polo 
was not released from Genoesi prison till the year 1299, * where the 
travels were penned,’ it follows that mention was made of the Sumatran 
Camphor 272 years previous to the time mentioned in your article.” 
Thus we have, in the case of the Borneo and Sumatran Camphor, à 
plant known to travellers five centuries and a half before it is known 
to science ! | 
Water in Potatoes, ete. ; 
Wonder, and often doubt, have been expressed as to the amount of 
water exhibited in the Museum of Economic Botany of the Royal 
Gardens, in illustration of the analysis of the common potato. We 
copy the following article, which lately appeared in a scientific journal :— 
Potatoes contain 75 per cent., by weight, and turnips no less than 90 
per cent. of water. A beefsteak, strongly pressed between blotting- 
paper, yields nearly four-fifths of its weight in water. Of the human 
