I860.] REVIEWS. 185 



terecl to children in dyspeptic cases, especially when attended 

 with laxity of bowels. The leaves are reported as useful for 

 tanning and for perfuming various substances, such as dentrifices, 

 hair-powder, etc. Pereira remarks that the rhizomes might be 

 substituted for more expensive spices or aromatics. The flavour 

 is improved by drying. In Constantinople they are made into a 

 confection. As a tonic in intermittent fevers, etc., the rhizome 

 has been successful where bark has failed. 



Rheede states " that on the Malabar coast a bath made of the 

 infusion of the root is considered an efficacious remedy for epi- 

 lepsy in children." 



Several members of a presumed British genus, Amaranthus, 

 are employed in India as esculents ; and among them Amaran- 

 thus frumentaceus appears to be very useful. 



" This plant is extensively cultivated in the Coimbatore district, chiefly 

 for the flour of its seeds, which are an article of diet among the natives. 

 Besides the above, there are several other species of Amaranth used as 

 vegetables by the natives; such as the A. pohjgonoides (Roxb.), con- 

 sidered very wholesome, especially for convalescents ; the A. oleraceus 

 (Linn.), of which the several varieties are cultivated for diet, especially the 

 var.. gigantens, which is about four to eight feet high, and with a thick 

 succulent stem, which is eaten as a substitute for Aspm'agns. A. lancco- 

 latus (Eoxb.) and A. viridis (Linn.) whose leaves are used as emollient 

 poultices, are fully described, with several otliers. — Roxburgh, Ainslie, etc." 



Cynodon dactylon, Pers., is another rare naturalized British 

 species, found only on the extreme south-west coasts of England. 

 This grass abounds on the shores of the Mediterranean, as about 

 Alexandria, where it is as common as Poa annua is about the 

 waste ground of our cities and villages. It is nearly ubiquitous 

 in warm or semi-tropical localities. Our author states that it 

 is one of the commonest of Indian grasses, growing everywhere in 

 great abundance. It forms the greater part of the food of cattle 

 in that country. Respecting this grass Sir Wm. Jones observes 

 (As. Res. iv. 342) that it is the sweetest and most nutritious 

 pasture for cattle. Its usefulness, added to its beauty, induced 

 the Hindoos to celebrate it in their writings. The natives, too, 

 eat the young leaves, and make a cooling drink from the roots. 

 Roxb. 



It will be evident, from the few extracts taken from this valua- 

 ble work, that it should be the vade mecum of three classes of 



N. S. VOL. IV. 2 B 



