EKPOKT OF THE BOTANIST. 65 



of labor iu this country than in Europe and Asia. Probably it might 

 be made profitable by farmers as one of a number of crops, and by small 

 cultivators who could command labor at moderate prices. 



PEEUYIAN BAEK. 



' IvText to opium in importance as a medieinal vegetable is the cin- 

 chona tree, which produces Peruvian bark, from which is prepared qui- 

 nine. This tree is a native of the tropical portions of South America, 

 growing in the mountainous regions of Braail, Pern, Venezuela, &c. It 

 has been successfully introduced into the East Indies, Java, and also 

 in Jamaica. We have not in this country the climatic conditions for 

 growing this tree, unless possibly some portions of Florida or Southern 

 California should prove suitable. 



Licorice — GlycyrrMza gJahra. 



This is an herbaceous perennial plant of the order Ler/ujiiinoscv, which 

 grows to the height of 3 to 5 feet, furnished with many large, alternate, 

 pinnate leaves, and with violet or purple flowers like those of a pea. 

 It is a native of the south of Europe, Syria, Southern Eussia, Persia, 

 and Barbary, and is cultivated not only in those countries, but in 

 France, Spain, Germany, Sicily, and England. Some attempts have 

 been made at its cultivation in this country, but without much satisfac- 

 tion. The part of commercial importance is the root and an extract 

 made from it. The plant requires a deep soil, alluvial or sandy loams 

 being the best, in which the roots spread and extend to the depth of 2 

 or 3 feet. The process of digging them from the ground is a laborious 

 operation. They require three years' growth before they acquire the 

 proper size for commercial use. They are very largely used in medici- 

 nal preparations, in confectionery, and in breweries. Immense quan- 

 titiest are annually introduced into this country. Nearly 40,000,000 

 pounds of the root and over 1,000,000 pounds of the extract were im- 

 ported iu 188-4. The long time required for the maturity of the plant 

 will be a hindrance to its cultivation in this country. Still there are 

 probably locations where it might be advantageously introduced. 



Ehubarb — Rheum officinale. 



Several species of Rheum seem to be employed in the production 

 of the various kinds of the rhubarb of commerce, as Rheum compactnm^ 

 R. pabnatum, R. undttlaium, &c. They are indigenous, to severnl coun- 

 tries of Asia, principally Russia and Turkey, and are very similar in ap- 

 pearance to the common garden rhubarb, l3ut of larger size. The root 

 is the part which is medicinally employed. Of the crude roots there 

 were imported into our country in 1884 about 124,000 pounds. The 

 plant has been successfully cultivated iu England, and some attempts 

 have been made in the same direction in this country. Undoubtedly 

 many parts of our territory are well suited to the cultivation of the 

 plant, which requires as much as four years to reach maturity. They 

 require a rich, deep soil and thorough cultivation. The plants may be 

 started for the first year from seed in nursery rows, and ^l>eu. trans- 

 planted to permanent beds. 



Yanllla Beans— Vanilla planifoUa. 



Although this substance is little employed in medicine, it is largely 

 used for flavoring chocolate, confectionery, ice cream, &c. The plant 

 is a native of Eastern Mexico, perhaps also of the West Indies, from 

 6 Ar -'85 



