284 Botany. 



BOTANY. 



A private individual in the government of Astracan, has 

 sent to the Russian minister of the interior the roots and 

 leaves of a plant which grows there in great abundance, to- 

 gether with nieal and bread prepared from these roots. The 

 accompanying memoir states that these roots have been 

 lono- used by the CahBUCS as food ; that the bread made 

 from them is whoksome and well tasted ; that in case of ^^ 

 scarcity, occasioned by a bad crop, it might be employed 

 as a good substitute for common bread, and that the plant 

 is easily propagated by seed. 



-Further examination has shown that this plant is nothing 

 else th'in the lutnmus umhellaius, Linn. ; In English the 

 Jldwerhig rush or ivater gladiole ; in French hutovie a om- 

 lu:ile joncefleuri; in T?LX\.^nc sussatok; in Ostiak ruw; in 

 Russian sussac, sotscbioj korev. It grows in every part of 

 Europe, In Siberia, and in the neighbourhood of Peters- 

 burgh, and particularly in marshes and rivers. The Cal- 

 mucs roast the roots or dry them, and use them in that 

 manner as food. According to the elder Gmelm, they are 

 used also for the same purpose by the Ostiaks and neigh- 

 bouring people. In former times a healing power was 

 ascribed to this plant. 



Meal has been prepared at Petersburgh from the roots, 

 and bread baked of it. We are informed that the meal in 

 kneading has all the properties of common meal, The 

 dough rises very easily when leaven is added to it ; and the 

 bread is very little Inferior in colour, taste, or smell, to 

 wheaten bread ; the only difference is, that it is not so 

 tough, and readily breaks, in consequence of the fine fibres 

 of the roots which remain in it, and it has also a little bit- 

 terness. 



From all these facts it appears that this plant may beccvme 

 a substitute for corn ; and if the bread be as wholesomt as 

 is asserted, this discovery deserves the utmost attention, 

 and particularly in places which do not produce com, and 

 where this, vegetable production can be cultivated. 



The minister of the interior has announced this discovery 

 to the emperor, who was greatly pleased with it, and order- 

 ed a present to be given to the person who transmitted the 

 roots to Petersburgh. 



Mr. Andreivs's IVbrk on Roses. — It is not unworthy of 



remark, that the Kose, though it has ever been celebrated 



as the queen of flowers, has been very little an object 



6 ' of 



