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peculiar nodose spines of the former ; its cells yield very little jelly and 

 an abundance of starch, — both are used in this country for dressing 

 silk fabrics. They are imported from Ceylon and Singapore. In China 

 they are very extensively used as food ; and it has been asserted 

 that the edible bird's nest is principally composed of these fuci. This, 

 however probable, requires confirmation. 



A curious nut has lately made its appearance in our markets under 

 the name of " the little coker nut." It is the fruit of a South American 

 palm, called Jiibcea spectabilis ; the edible part consists of a thin albu- 

 minous layer adherent to the endocarp — the flavour resembles that of 

 the cocoa nut. 



My next specimen is one of a vegetable fat, now largely imported 

 from Singapore under the name of Vegetable Tallow, — a term calculated 

 to mislead, because another vegetable fat is entitled by priority to this 

 name. The substance before me has been known for centuries in India 

 as oil of cokum, or kokum oil, and differs very materially from the fat 

 of Croton sebiferum, wliich has been called vegetable tallow, and con- 

 tains a peculiar principle known as crotonic acid, which is absent in cokum 

 oil. It is used for admixture with animal tallow, and is obtained by 

 boiling the fruit of Garcinia purpurea, — a plant of the natural order 

 Cludacea, and of the same genus as the delicious Mangosteen. 



From India we have lately received a considerable quantity of Salep 

 in small consiguraeuts, and there is a growing demand for this article, 

 not, however, I think, with a view of restoring the saloop establish- 

 ments which used to occupy the comers of the London streets, but for 

 the purpose of adulterating another diet di-ink. It is not from India 

 alone that we may now look for a supply of salep : the specimen I have 

 here was sent to me from Germany by my friend Dr. Martius, professor 

 of Pharmacognosie in the University of Erlangen. It is collected in 

 the neighbourhood of Wertheim, and consists of the tubers of Orchis 

 morio and Orchis mascula. The varieties of salep procured in India 

 are from different orchidaceous plants, which are largely sold in the 

 bazaars under the names of Saleb misree, and Salep, or Saleb hindre. 

 The supposed aphrodisiac properties of these roots, and the beverage 

 made from them, has rendered them of considerable importance in the 

 enervating climates of the East. I have until lately been much at a 

 loss to accoujit for the growing demand for salep in this country, but 

 having traced a quantity to a chocolate manufacturer, I have now no 

 doubt that it is used in the manufacture of that article, for which it is 

 well adapted. 



This brings me to another product which is eagerly sought for by 



