BOTANICAL NEWS, 391 
fined to New Zealand; 62 percent, are common to both tlie northern and 
southern hemispheres ; and 38 per cent, are confined to the latter.— II. A 
letter -vvas read from Dr. J. C. Brown, Colonial Botanist, Cape of Good Hope, 
intimating that he had sent for the gardens at Edinburgh and Glasgow speci- 
mens of WelivitscJiia mirahiUs, — As some doubts hare been expressed relative 
to the occurrence of Sison Amomum in Scotland, Professor Balfour exiiibitcd 
specimens collected hj himself in the neighbourhood of Coldstream, not far 
from the Hirsel. He also stated that (Enantlie fisiulosa^ not recorded as a 
Scotch plant by Babington, occurs abundanilj in Wigtonshire, Kircudbright- 
shire, and Dumfriesshire.— Dr. Balfour exhibited specimens of an Aster, ap- 
parently Aster saligniis (salicifoUus)^ found growing in quantity on aii island 
in the Taj, near Dalguise, far from any gardens, and apparently naturalized. 
He remarked that sereral species of Aster were spread orer Britain. — A cor- 
respondent noticed at Bonchurch, near Ventnor, Isle of "Wight, a Fuclisia 
nearly 22 feet high, and having a trunk 7 inches in diameter. — Mr. M']S"ab 
laid before the Society specimens of J^aj)7ianns caudaius, grown in the open air. 
The seeds were received from Mr. William Bell, superintendent of the Botanic 
Gardens, Saharimpore, in April, 1865, under the name of " Radish, 3 feet long." 
They were dibbled into a piece of ground, and a two-light frame placed over 
them. They very soon commenced to grow, so that the glazed frame had to be 
removed. Seven weeks after being sown, they flowered profusely, and nume- 
rous seed-vessels of a purplish- green colour were produced. These went on 
elongating till many of them had reached the length of 2 feet 9 inches, each 
plant bearing from 18 to 20 of long tapering snake-shaped seed-vessels. In tlie 
young state the seed-pods may be used like the ordinary cultivated ground 
radish, as they possess a peculiar pungent taste. They will also be found 
useful for making up mixed pickles, etc. About eight years ago seeds were re- 
ceived from Madras under tlic name of "Eat-tail radish, Raj}Mnus caudahcs,** 
with seed-pods 8 inches long. This variety produces seeds freely, and is 
annually grown in the garden ; it possesses the same pungent taste asthelong- 
fimited plant. The large radish is very hardy, as both flowers and fruit were 
found on it in the open air as late as 9th November, 1865. Independent of 
the various cuKnary purposes to which this radish may be turned, it is of itself 
a great vegetable curiosity. 
iwn 
upright, the fruit will, when matured, be found hanging all round — sometimes 
perfectly straight, at other times assuming contorted forms. This contortion is 
most perceptible at the period when the seeds are swelhng. At no state of 
their growth does eitlierof the varieties show the slightest tendency to produce 
the radish underground. It will be curious to observe the nature of tlie off- 
spring when the plant is fertilized with the ordinary garden radish : in all 
likelihood the hybrids will produce edible radishes, both above and under 
ground. [The first notice of this remarkable plant appeared in this Jounvnl, 
iii. 2G^, in August last.— Ed.] — Mr. Buchan exhibited a specimen of wood 
found in peat in Orkney. The specimen was taken from a tree 5 feet in 
diameter, and was transmitted by Mr, Baikie. 
Natfral HiSTOEr Societt of Dublin. — The opening meeting for the 
