476 



and used as fodder for animals are shown on the same scale. On 

 either side of the entrance to the Scotch department, in the south gal- 

 lery, will be found two living specimens of an interesting grass, the 

 tussack-grass {Daclylis caspitosa), a native of the Falkland Islands, 

 which have been grown in the Western Hebrides, and have produced 

 flowers and seeds ; so that it may be hoped this valuable grass may 

 be shortly naturalized among us. Most of our native British plants 

 which are used in medicine are also to be found in this collection. 

 In the glass cases looking north, are a series of blocks of wood, in 

 their rough and in their polished condition, with also dried specimens 

 of the branches, leaves, and flowers of the plants that have yielded 

 them. Those who are anxious to gain a general view of the useful 

 products of the vegetable kingdom in great Britain, we refer with un- 

 hesitating satisfaction to this collection of Scotch vegetable products." 

 In conclusion, I would beg to call the attention of British botanists to 

 the debt of gratitude which, as Britons, we owe to the enterprizing 

 gentlemen who have taken such great pains to set in order before the 

 eyes of the world the great and varied agricultural resources of our 

 own country. I particularly admire and commend the spirit of natio- 

 nality which has led these gentlemen into such an outlay of time, 

 trouble, and expense in such a truly praiseworthy cause. — Edward 

 Newman. 



Aconitum Napellus. 



Is this plant collected in any part of the kingdom for medicinal 

 purposes ? — J. R. 



In reply to "J. R."'s query respecting Aconitum Napellus, Linn. 

 I think it is not collected in any part of the kingdom for medicinal 

 purposes. In fact, it is not the oflficinal plant of the London College, 

 they having adopted the A. paniculatum as their officinal species. 

 Can all the recorded localities for the A. Napellus be referred to this 

 or any other species ? — T. B. Flower. 



The root of this plant has been collected for medicinal purposes by 

 Reuben C. Payne, chemist and druggist, Bridgwater, Somersetshire, 

 from the extensive locality in the neighbourhood of Wiveliscombe and 

 Milverton, in the western part of the county. He informs me that the 

 essence he obtains from it is much superior to any he has ever pro- 

 cured in London or anywhere else. — Thomas Clark. 



