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FOEEIGN NOTICES. 



Eo^elgf) ^otlce^. 



ToRr.Ey.v myristica, Hooker In Bot. Marj. t. 4780 ; alia'^ T. Califorxica, Torrey in Xm York 

 Journal Pharm. — -An excellent figure is here given of tliis fine evergreen coniferous tree, -which 

 has been raised by Messrs. Veitch. It is said by Mr. W. Lobb to grow 30 to 40 feet high, in 

 the elevated regions of Sieri-a Nevada of California.' Its foliage resembles that of Cephalotaxus 

 Fortuni. The seeds are as large as nutmegs, and have the same kind of alburnum (called by 

 botanists ruminated), whence they have gained the name of nutmegs in California. We find 

 the following account of them in the last number of the " Pharinaceutical Journal:" 



"About a year ago (says Prof. Torrey) I received from the late Mr. Suelton, who had just 

 returned from San Francisco, a specimen of what was called the California Xutmeg. I imme- 

 diately considered it a species of Arxott's genus Torreya, belonging to the order Taxinea; of the 

 great natural family of Conifer*. It had been discovered but a year or two before ilr. Shelton 

 left the country, and had already attracted considerable attention, not only from the beauty of 

 the tree, but from the singular character of the fruit and kernel, the latter strongly resembling 

 the common nutmeg. Indeed, it has been frequently stated in letters from California that the 

 Nutmeg is a native of that country. The foliage has the form and deep rich green of the Flor- 

 ida species, or T. taxifolia, as well as of the Yew; but the leaves are much larger, being from 

 one and a half inch to two and a quarter inches long. They spread out on two sides, and are 

 tipped with a sharp rigid point. The fruit, as it may be popularly called, is about the size and 

 form. of a Grecnyage Plum, and in the dried state has a pale olive color, but this may not be its 

 natural tint. The outer covering is a thick, fleshy, nearly closed urceole, or dish, which com- 

 pletely invests the seed, and closely' adheres to it, except near the summit. It is smooth and 

 even, and soft to the touch. The seed is usually oblong, and greatly resembles a large Pecane 

 Nut, but frequently it is more ovate. The shell is smooth, thin, and fragile. On each side, near 

 the summit and just below the non-adhering portion of the dish, is a peiforation, communicating 

 with an interior canal, similar to what I described in T. taj-'folia, and the use of which is still 

 unknown. The kernel is conformed to the shell, and has the external and internal appeaiance 

 of the Nutmeg. When cut transversely the resemblance is perfect. The seed, however, is 

 wholly destitute of the delicate aromatic odor of the oriental spice, for it has the strong tere- 

 bintliiiie character of the Conifera>. Neither is the fleshy covering of any known use. It is 

 more probable that, like the fleshy cup-a-berry of the Yew, it is of a poisonous nature. Still 

 the discovery of this tree is interesting to the botanist and to the horticulturist. But two other 

 species are known besides. One of them {T. nucifera Sieb. and Zuce) is a native of Japan, a^nd 

 the other has only been found hitlierto in Middle Florida, in very confined stations. The latter 

 is erroneously stated by Zuccarixi to have a seed as large as a Walnut, by which he undoubtedly 

 means the Jnglans rcgia. or Madeira-nut, as it is called in the United States. As an ornamental 

 tree, the California Nutmeg deserves to be extensively cultivated. It must be hiirdy, as it 

 grows on the mountains, where the winter is very severe. The enterprising Messrs. Parsoxs & 

 Co., of Flushing, sent out a person to California for the express purpose of collecting the orna- 

 mental and useful plants of that countrj-, and among other varieties he obtained, last year, 

 some ripe and fresh seeds of the California Nutmeg. These germinated freely, and, when I saw 

 the young plants last October, they had a healthy appearance, and had attained a good size. I 

 ately heard, also, that Mr. Lohb, an English collector, wiio has been exploring California 

 eral years past, has sent seeds of this tree to England." — Gardeners' Chronicle. 



