xvi Proceedings of the Botanical Society 



Dr Cleghorn had seen Rheum emod/', Wall., and R. Moon 

 crqftianum, Meisn., wlien crossing the Western Himalaya, The 

 hillmen were in the habit of using the leaf stalks as an agreeably- 

 acid and cooHng salad. They shaded their eyes with the round 

 leaves when threatened with snow blindness. The roots of both 

 species are larger and less spongy when found on the northern 

 aspect and in a dry climate. 



Rheum nohile, Hook., is certainly a noble plant with its pyramidal 

 stem 3 feet in height. It is quite different in habit from its con- 

 geners, and is apparently confined to Sikkim. The exposed situa- 

 tion it occupies in the Botanic Garden seems to suit the plant well. 

 The flowering of this plant in Edinburgh so long after its discovery 

 in Sikkim by Sir Joseph Hooker, and its introduction to this 

 country, is extremely interesting, 



II. New Forestry Inquiries established hy the Conservator of 

 Forests in Oiidh. By Sir Egbert Christison, Bart. 



Captain Wood of the Oudh Forest Conservancy has determined 

 to undertake an inquiry into the objects contemplated in my first 

 paper on the " Exact Measurement of Trees," and for that purpose 

 has sent copies of the directions for exact measurement to the whole 

 districts under his charge, desiring his subordinate officers to 

 make preparations for an inquiry in each. 



With that view Captain Wood has issued instructions to set 

 apart in each forest district a plot of a quarter of an acre, which is 

 to be duly trenched all round for drainage and separation, and in 

 which the trees are to be cut down or planted, so that each tree 

 fixed on for observation shall be 15 feet distant from every other. 

 Directions are also given for numbering the trees and tabulating the 

 results, and the requisite instruments are supplied by the Conserv- 

 ancy Establishment, Lastly, instructions are added for noting all 

 peculiarities of soil, climate, elevation, exposure, and treatment. 



It seems to me right that, through the " Transactions " of the 

 Society, intimation of the proceedings in the Oudh Conservancy 

 should be made known to our numerous forest owners at home, in the 

 hope that the example thus first shown at a distance may be speedily 

 followed in our neighbourhood, I cannot doubt that ere long 

 important results would thus be obtained for the advancement of 

 tree culture. 



