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Rubi to the London Botanical Society, collected last year, and which 

 have now been distributed among the various members of the Society, 

 I would take the liberty of suggesting to those who are becoming ac- 

 quainted with the various forms, to notice especially the times of 

 flowering of the different species met with in their own neighbourhood. 

 The concurrent testimony of numerous observers upon this point will 

 tend much to the elucidation of doubts as regards species or varieties. 

 In my own neighbourhood, where the Rubi are very abundant (the 

 following species growing within 100 yards of my house, viz., R. 

 Idaeus, nitidus, corylifolius, carpinifolius, amplificatus [Lees), sylvati- 

 cus, discolor, fruticosus {E. B.), discolor, /3. thyrsoideus (Bab. Syn.), 

 radula, Koehleri, nemorosus {Hayne), I find that R. plicatus and cory- 

 lifolius {sublustris, Lees), are always the first in flower, generally the 

 last week in May, and this from the observation of some years. R. 

 nemorosus {Hayne), generally appears next; other species follow in 

 succession, some earlier, some later. R. discolor {R. fruticosus, E. B.) 

 generally flowers and fruits last of all, and from this circumstance and 

 the different mode of growth which it exhibits from R. discolor, &. 

 thyrsoideus (Bab. Syn.), T am strongly inclined to believe that the two 

 are distinct as species. The latter is always a much earlier bramble, 

 of a more straggling and less bushy-like appearance ; both are abun- 

 dant in this neighbourhood, and therefore afford good opportunities 

 for observation. The shape, size, and torus of the primordial fruit 

 should also be observed, as well as the scales at the base of the flower- 

 ing shoot, as some of these may probably afford permanent marks of 

 distinction. The fruit of some species differs very materially in size 

 and flavour from that of others; the year 1846 was very productive in 

 fruit, and that of radula, when grown in hedges well exposed to the 

 sun, and a Rubus which I believe to be a form of sylvaticus, were 

 particularly fine and well flavoured. Several jars of the fruit of these 

 two species were preserved by me, and when mixed up with other 

 preserves they gave a most delicious flavour to the whole. It is 

 probably well known to many of your readers, that the fruit of the 

 Rubi, whether preserved or otherwise, is peculiarly useful in com- 

 plaints of gravel, &c. 



In procuring specimens, a stout pair of gloves and scissors are the 

 best implements for the purpose, the latter being far superior to the 

 knife ; and as few vasculums are sufficiently large to hold many spe- 

 cimens, I have always found that a portfolio or couple of Bristol 

 boards, with a few sheets of any kind of paper to divide the separate 

 species, are most convenient. 



