PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



55 



sen ted to the Herbarium. IV. Notice of Additions to the Botany of Shetland, 

 since the publication of Edmonstoii's ' Flora.' By Mr. John Sadler. V. On 

 the Propagation of the Ipecacuan Plant {Cephaelis I-pecacuanlia). By Mr. 

 M'Nab. The roots, or rather rhizomes, of the Cephaelis &\'e moniliform. A few 

 of these were taken from one of the plants in the Botanic Garden during the 

 month of August, 1869, and after being cut into small transverse sections, they 

 were inserted in a horizontal position over the surface of a pot prepared with 

 drainage and white sand. This pot was placed under a hand-glass in a warm 

 propagating bed and kept moist. A few weeks after, the cuttings showed buds 

 on the upper side, roots being also sent out from the under surface. The 

 plants are now beginning to grow, each being furnished with two leaves, the 

 largest measuring three-quartei's of an uich over. In order to meet the demand, 

 which, in all likelihood, will be made on nurserymen for plants of the Cephaelis, 

 it is well to know how it can be propagated independently of cuttings, and at 

 the same time without injury to the parent plant. VI. Notes on the ' Dog- 

 wood ' of Powder Manufacturers. By Mr. M'Nab. In a letter, Mr. George 

 E. Frere, Eoydon Hall, Diss, remarks, " Are you aware that the wood which 

 is called ' Dogwood ' at the gunpowder works, and used in the manufacture of 

 tlie finer kinds of powder for small arms and fowling-pieces, is not Cornus 

 sanguined, hut Ehamnus Frangula, and that tlie main supply of it is imported 

 into this country from Belgium and Prussia ? The notice by Mr. Frere on the 

 use of the Rhamnus Franr/ula, or Alder Buckthorn, as it is called, in the manu- 

 facture of tiie finer kinds of gunpowder, is not new, having been already 

 noticed by several old authors. It is, however, a most important subject, and 

 one worthy of the attention both of nurserymen and arboriculturists. It is 

 not improbable that many other genera of shrubby plants are capable of pro- 

 ducing a fine quality of charcoal as well as the common Alder, the Alder 

 Buckthorn, and Dogwood, all now in use. Experiments could be made on the 

 following British woods (if they have not already been tried) : — The Sea 

 Buckthorn, common Maple, white Hawthorn, Rowan-tree, Bladder-nut, 

 Spindle-tree, Barberi-y, Guelder Rose, Wayfaring-tree ; also the Hazel, Birch, 

 Hornbeam, Black Sloe, Furze, Broom, or even the Ivy, which, in many dis- 

 tricts, is injuring our forest trees to a great extent, likewise several exotic 

 shrubs and trees, now largely cultivated in this covrnti-y. Experiments could 

 also be made with dried roots of many of our foi'est trees. After felling, such 

 roots are generally left in the ground to rot, and are often very troublesome. 

 If any, or all, could be turned to account for producing a useful charcoal, it 

 would hold out an inducement to remove them from the ground, which could 

 then be used for planting, or for agricultural purposes. The liigh price which 

 the wood and branches of the Rhamnus Frangula bring in the British market — 

 £10 to £14 a ton— is certainly an inducement for landholders to turn their 

 attention to the cultivation of the Alder Buckthorn, Dogwood, or any other 

 trees and shrubs found best calculated for producing the finer kinds of char- 

 coal. Tlie dry Bucktiiorn branches are sent from the Continent in the form 

 of compressed faggots, and peeled previous to being charred. Since the above 

 was written, I have received, through the kindness of Mr. P. S. Robertson, a 



