18 DR. 7. Е. T. AITCHISON ON THE BOTANY OF 
Atraphazis, Ruta, Stellaria, Convolvulus erinaceus, C. fruticosus, and Nitraria, with 
various species of Cousinia, Centaurea, and Ephedra. Where there was any indication of 
moisture, as in the vicinity of cultivation, there was abundance of Ammothamnus Leh- 
manni, Sophora pachycarpa, with Zygophyllum Ғабадо and Cleome coluteoides, having 
curiously inflated purplish-coloured fruit; and in certain localities where the clay soil was 
largely charged with saline matter and cut up into low irregular mounds (one could 
scarcely call them hills), a curious plant, Mi iltianthus portulacoides, was found, with, for 
its size, enormous, spongy, much-decayed root-stocks, and a profusion of copper-coloured 
flowers. This was the only herb that grew on this peculiar formation. In proceeding 
north from Khusan, at Toman-agha and still further north, a very marked species of 
Rhubarb, Rheum tataricum, occurred in the plains. The showy part of this plant was 
usually three enormous. root-leaves, each measuring when full-grown about four feet 
across, and spread out flat on the ground. The flowering stem averages from two to three 
feet in height, and terminates in a loose panicle of flowers, which in due season develops 
large ruby-coloured, or sometimes yellow, winged fruit. From the novel and striking 
appearance presented by the leaves and fruit of this Rhubarb, it might prove a valuable 
acquisition to the stores of the landscape-gardener. I am glad therefore that I was able 
to obtain a large quantity of the seed, part of which has already germinated successfully 
at Kew. 
On the left bank of the Hari-rud, near Ghorian, a large expanse of saline country 
exists, where flourished almost every species of Chenopodiaceze which I had collected 
elsewhere. Неге were Atriplex, Eurotia, Halostachys, Sueda, Haloxylon, Salsola fatida, 
S. arbuscula, S. auricula, S. Kali, Anabasis, &c., together with Statice perfoliata, which 
grows very much in the way of a Rubus, having large trailing branches, Statice suffru- = 
ticosa in tufts covered with saline matter, and Frankenia in great abundance. 
At Zindijan, one of the few Afghan villages which I visited, there was а considerable 
amount of cultivation, which, however, was much hindered by a continuous deposit 
of sand blown across the river from the low hills on its right bank. То such an 
extent does the sand accumulate that portions of the village are almost buried, and 
great drifts have formed on the weather-side of all the walls. Where there was 
much sand spread over the level ground, the turf consisted solely of Plantago maritima. 
In August, when I last visited Zindijan, the field crops had been harvested, and all 
irrigation had ceased, so that water was only to be obtained from the river some 
distance off, or from reservoirs enclosed and roofed over. "Throughout the whole of my 
wanderings I neither saw nor heard of a single well lined with masonry, such as one 
. meets with in India. Тһе roofed reservoirs keep the water cool in summer, and prevent 
its freezing in winter; but, although the water deposits all the soil and foreign matter 
: usually held in suspension by river-water, it subsequently becomes highly charged with 
various organic impurities, rendering it for drinking-purposes extremely injurious to the 
general health of the community. | 
