88 



If a kind exists which really contains no poison, it is quite time 

 such a fact should be more fully confirmed, as it would probably be 

 much more largely cultivated ; but if on the other hand we are 

 cultivating a spurious sweet Cassava which at any time may prove to 

 be of a poisonous character, changing, as Mr. St. Hill says it does, 

 from sweet to bitter, from innocuous to poisonous, it is also quite 

 true that this dangerous fact should be fully known, and the cultivator 

 warned of the changeable character of his produce. 



It is well known that in many West Indian Islands there exists 

 kinds of sweet Cassava which are taken to be perfectly harmless, and 

 said to be free from poison. Is this really the case, and can it be 

 proved that it never degenerates or changes into one of a poisonous 

 character in the manner Mr. St. Hill asserts our sweet variety changes 

 from sAveet to bitter ? 



151.-NEW MINIATURE SUNFLOWER. 



Helianthus sp. 

 Under the above name we have had plants which have supplied 

 us during April and May with a perfect blaze of yellow blossoms in 

 our flower garden beds. The seed was procured from Messrs. Veitch 

 & Sons, the long established and well known firm of the King's Road 

 Chelsea, London. The plant is much to be preferred in every respect 

 to the ordinary sunflower, Helianthus annuus, and is one especially 

 suited for a tropical flower garden during the dry season of the year. 



152.-CIRCULAR NOTES. 



These are issued from time to time as found necessary, and are republished 

 here to maintain a permanent record of the subjects treated upon. The 

 date of issue is given to each. 



Circular Note No. 22. 



A Cane Pest. 



In carrying on the cultivation of an experimental plot of canes at 

 the Royal Botanic Gardens, cuttings or " tops" of several new varieties 

 were planted. These were attacked very shortly afterwards and large 

 burrows eaten into them, by the "white" or "wood ant," belonging 

 to the Termitidce, Following the attack ujion the cuttings, the insects 

 fell upon the base of well-grown canes, eight to ten feet long, and cut 

 into them at the surface of the ground in such a manner as to cause 



