492 



stamens, owing to the development of the glands, and the plant is 

 probably allied to Megacarpaea. From Dr. Thomas Anderson : — 

 Roots of the Hemidesmus indicus (Indian sarsaparilla) ; stems and 

 flower of sugar-cane ; fruit of the nicker-tree {Guilandina Boiiduc), 

 preserved in fluid; bottle of colouring matter from Rotlleria tinctoria; 

 roots of Morinda citrifolia (or sooranjee), which yields a peculiar co- 

 louring matter, called " morindine." From Mr. Reid, Millbank : — 

 Three fruits of Tacsonia mollissima. From Professor Traill : — Fruit 

 of the li-chi [Dimocarpus Lichi). From G. S. Blackie, Esq. : — Spe- 

 cimens of the German tinder obtained from Polyporus igniarius ; piece 

 of a ship's plank bored by Teredo navalis ; seeds of Entada scandens; 

 fine specimen of fossil dicotyledonous wood. From Mr. John M'Phail : — 

 Hazel-nuts taken from a large peat-moss drain in the Island of Lewis, 

 nine feet below the surface. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. 'On the Uses of Stillingia sebifera, or Tallow-tree of China,' 

 being the substance of a communication made to the Agricultural and 

 Horticultural Society of India; by D. J. Macgowan, M.D.; commu- 

 nicated by Dr. Coldstream. The botanical characters of this euphor- 

 biaceous plant are too well known to require description ; but hitherto 

 no accurate account has been published of its varied uses ; and, 

 although it has become a common tree in some parts of India and 

 America, its value is appreciated only in China, where alone its pro- 

 ducts are properly elaborated. Dr. Macgowan remarks: — " The Stil- 

 lingia sebifera is prized for the fatty matter which it yields; its leaves 

 are employed as a black dye ; its wood, being hard and durable, is 

 used for printing blocks and various other articles ; and, finally, the 

 refuse of the nut is employed as fuel and manure. It is chiefly culti- 

 vated in the provinces of Kiangsi, Kongnain, and Chehkiang. In 

 some districts near Hangchan the inhabitants defray all their taxes 

 with its produce. It grows alike on low alluvial plains and on granite- 

 Inlls, on the rich mould at the margin of canals, and on the sandy sea- 

 beach. The sandy estuary of Hangchan yields little else. Some of 

 the trees at this place are known to be several hundred years old, and, 

 though prostrated, still send forth branches and bear fruit. In mid- 

 winter, when the seed-vessels are ripe, they are cut off" with their 

 twigs, by a sharp crescentic knife, attached to the extremity of a long 

 pole, which is held in the hand, and pushed upwards against the 

 twigs, removing at the same time such as are fruitless. The capsules 

 are gently pounded in a mortar, to loosen the seeds from their shells, 

 from which they are separated by sifting. To facilitate the separa- 



