40 ERYTHEA. 



growing shrub, in this locality never more than two to four feet itt' 

 height. Both of these shrubs are known to the Mexicans under the 

 name 'Corono de Cristo.'" These two desert plants represent mono- 

 typic genera of the Simarubacese; Seeds of Holacantha, collected 

 by Norman C. Wilson somewhere in northern Arizona, are now 

 germinating in our conservatory, after being kept in the herbarium 

 for four years. — Joseph Burtt Davy. 



The Sleepy Grass of Neav Mexico. — A correspondent has 

 recently written to me for information concerning a native grass of 

 New Mexico which is said by the cattlemen to cause drowsiness to 

 the horses which eat it. It is suggested^ that it may be a species of 

 Stipa. Any information concerning it will be welcome. — Joseph 

 Burtt Davy. 



Vegetable Soaps. — The roots of Yucca filamentosa, imported 

 from Mexico, are said, by the manufacturers thereof, to be used in 

 the preparation of the " purely vegetable " " Yucca-root Soap." A 

 factory for the manufacture of this article exists in San Francisco^ 

 and is doing a large business ; but we have not been able to learn, 

 what proportion of the saponaceous principle of the root is used. It 

 would seem probable that Chlorogahim pomeridianum, popularly 

 known as " Indian Soap-root," which abounds on the hills around 

 San Francisco Bay» and which is used for laundry-work by econom- 

 ical Mexican and Irish families, might take the place of the imported 

 article. In some parts of California, especially towards the souths 

 the root of Chenopodium Californicum is used for washing purposes. 

 A superficial inspection of this latter substance would give the im- 

 pression that it contained far less saponaceous matter than the Chlo- 

 rogalum, and this may be the case ; but Chenopodium Californicum 

 often grows in places^where the Chlorogalum is not met with. — J. 

 Burtt Davy. 



