FOREIGN NOTICES. 



Chinese soldier carefully dug up for me, and which are now safely deposited in Mr. Beale's gar- 

 den at Shanghte. These, with a few samples of the largest stems I could find, will be sent to 

 England in the course of a few months ; the latter will prove an interesting addition to our 

 museum? of vegetable productions. The proportion of pith in these stems is very great, partic- 

 ularly near the top of vigorous growing ones, and it is fi-om this pure white substance that the 

 beautiful article erroneously called "Rice-paper" is prepared. 



The Chinese call this plant the Tiinrj-tsaou. What it was, or to what part of the vegetable 

 kingdom it belonged, was long a mystery to botanists, who were oftentimes sadly misled by 

 imaginary Chinese drawings, as some of those which have been published will clearly show, now 

 that our knowledge has increased. Indeed the only drawing I have seen in Europe, which has 

 any claim to be considered authentic, is that brought from China by Mr. Reeves many years ago, 

 and which I have seen in the library of the Horticultural Society of London. 



The Tung-tsaou is largely cultivated in many parts of the island of Formosa, and with rice and 

 camphor forms one of the chu-f articles of export. Mr. Bcwp.ixg, who read a paper upon the 

 Rice-paper Plant, before the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, informs us that the Can- 

 ton and Fokien provinces are the chief consumers, and that the town of Foo-chow alone is sup- 

 posed to take annually not kss than $30,000 worth of this curious production. The cheapness 

 of this paper in the Chinese market, as Mr. Bowrixg justly remarks, is evidence of the abund- 

 ance of the plant in its place of growth, and more especially of the cheapness of labor. "That 

 100 sheets of this material (each about three inches square), certainly one of the most beautiful 

 and delicate substances with which we are acquainted, should be procurable for the small sum of 

 l^d. or Ud., is truly astonishing; and when once the attention of foreigners is directed to it, it 

 will doubtless be in considerable request among workers in artificial flowers in Europe and 

 America, being admirably adapted to their wants."* The larger sheets, such as those used by 

 the Canton flower-painters are sold for about Hd. each. 



If the Tung-tsaou proves hardy in England, ils fine foliage will render it a favorite among orna- 

 mental plants in our gardens. Judging, however, from its appearance when growing on its native 

 island, and from the temperature of Furmosa, I fear we cannot expect it to be more than a green- 

 house plant with us. Plants of it are already in the Royal Garden at Kew, and the point will 

 soon be set at rest by actual experience.— i^. R, in Gardeners' Chronicle. 



Importance of the Onion. — ^The onion is worthy of notice as an extensive article of con- 

 sumption in this country. It is largely cultivated at home, and is imported, to the extent of seven 

 or eight hundred tons a year, from Spain and Portugal. But it rises in importance when we 

 consider that in these latter countries it forms one of the common and universal supports of 

 life. It is interesting, therefore, to know that, in addition to the peculiar flavor which first 

 recommends it, the onion is remarkably nutritious. Acoording to my analyses, the dried onion 

 root contains from twenty-five to thirty per cent of gluten. It ranks in this respect with the 

 nutritious pea and the gram of the east. It is not merely as a relish, therefore, that the way- 

 faring Spaniard eats his onion with his humble crust of bread, as he sits by the refreshing 

 spring; it is because experience has long proved that, like the cheese of the English laborer, it 

 helps to sustain his strength also, and adds, beyond what its bulk would suggest, to the amount 

 of nourishment which his simple meal supplies. — Tlie Chemistry of Life. 



"Water Supply to Houses in Ancient Rome.— The water from the ucqueducts was finally 

 received into huge reservoirs, one for public use in supplying the fountains, and one for private 

 use in supplying the dwellings. When a supply was granted to a private individual, a branch 

 pipe was inserted in the main; from this it was distributed to the leaden cisterns common to 

 every house, and the supply was measured by a bronze tube termed calix, and which was 

 stamped like an imperial measure ; this calix was in the time of Agnetus constructed of lead ; 

 but the fashion was put a stop to when it was discovered that the water officers used to cheat 

 the inhabitants by compressing the pipe.— 5««'Wer. 



* " Proceedings of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.*' 



