122 Address. [FeH. 



new series of papers relating to Indian Products lias been instituted. 

 It is edited by Dr. G. Watt, and Vol. I contains notes on Manilla Hemp ; 

 Adhatoda vasica ; Coix grain or Job's tears ; Fodder Grasses, and on 

 several descriptions of Indian Fibres. In No. 2 of Vol. II, an account 

 is given of JPodophyllum emodi, or the Himalayan Podophyllum, which 

 Dr, Watt found growing in Kulu. Analyses by Drs. Dymoclc and 

 Hooper have shown that it is capable of yielding 12 per cent, of resin, 

 or podophyllin, whereas the North American plant P. peltatum, from 

 which this drug is usually obtained, only yields 4 per cent. The indi- 

 genous drug has been fou.ud to possess all the medicinal properties 

 of the exotic one and it seems likely therefore that a profitable trade 

 might be carried on in this product if it is obtainable in sufficiently 

 lai'ge quantities. 



Volumes I and II of the long-expected " Dictionary of the Eco- 

 nomic Products of India," prepared by Dr. G. Watt in the Revenue 

 and Agricultural Department of the Government of India, have been 

 completed during the year. The arrangement of the Dictionary is 

 alphabetical and based upon the scientific names of the various pro- 

 ducts, and in the margin a number for each product or object has been 

 given. The object of these numbers, which commence afresh with 

 each letter of the alphabet, is to serve for reference to type collections 

 in various "Museums and also as a convenient clue for correspondence. 

 The Index will contain the European, vernacular and scientific names 

 with references to the type niimbers. The work when completed will 

 contain a vast amount of valuable information, brought together in 

 a convenient form, regarding Indian vegetable and other products and 

 cannot fail to be of very great use to commercial and scientific enquirers. 

 The Kew Bulletin, as usual, contains papers relating to vegetable 

 products, either indigenous to this country or suitable for cultivation 

 here ; among them — notes on Coca ; a memorandum by Mr. Cameron on 

 the fruits of Mysore; on the Persian dye plant Zalil (Delpliinmm zalil), 

 collected by Dr. Aitchison in Afghanistan ; a reprint of an article on 

 Patchouli by Mr. L. Wray, of the Government Museum, Pei-ak, which 

 was published in the Journal of the Agri-Horticultural Society in Cal- 

 cutta ; on Flowers of GalUgonum as an article of food in N.-W. India ; 

 Ramie or Rhea ; Food-grains of India {Deiidrocalaimis strictus). 



In the Report of the Government Botanical Gardens at Saharanpur 

 and Mussoorie, Mr. GoUan, the Superintendent, has given some inter- 

 esting information regarding the successful acclimatisation of several 

 exotic food and fodder plants — among them, the American " Dew- 

 berry ;" Persian Date-palms ; Malacca apple, {Eugenia 'malaccensis) ; 

 Otaheite apple {Spondias dulcis) and Vines, of which the Black Hamburgh 



