554 



the last fifteen years. The collection contains : — Named specimen 

 plants, 206 ; duplicate specimens, 40 ; species without names, 83 j 

 —total, 329. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. 'On the Economic Uses of Chicory {Cichorium Iniybus, h.) '^ 

 by Mr. James Fulton. The author, after giving a general account of 

 the history of the chicory-plant, and alluding to the antiquity of its 

 cultivation, proceeded to point out the wide range of economic uses 

 to which it might be made applicable, and urged the importance of 

 extending its cultivation. Its extensive use as an ingredient in cof- 

 fee over the whole of Continental Europe is well known. As a forage 

 plant it is known to form some of the best meadows in the South of 

 France and Lombardy, succeeding in all seasons ; while its use as a 

 salad is likewise extensive. Since 1835 large quantities of the root 

 have been imported to Britain from the Continent. It is now culti- 

 vated in several parts of England for the purpose of supplementing 

 coffee ; and, as the plant is capable of bearing all the varieties of cli- 

 mate in Europe, being successfully cultivated from Italy to St. Peters- 

 burgh, Mr. Fulton could see no reasonable objection to the extension 

 of its cultivation throughout Britain, in order to supply our own mar- 

 kets. He stated that the popular idea of chicory giving an unpleasant 

 flavour to coffee is erroneous, and entered into a detail of facts, to 

 show that an admixture of chicory was a great improvement to the 

 flavour of coffee, adducing the experience of extensive dealers to 

 prove the accuracy of this statement. He also considered the mix- 

 ture an improvement in a physiological poiut of view. It had oc- 

 curred to Mr. Fulton that the bitter of the chicory-root might be 

 employed as a substitute for hops ; and he had accordingly got ma- 

 nufactured a small brewing, which had been successful, showing that 

 the root not only communicates a pleasant bitter, but that it like- 

 wise in some measure substitutes the malt by a large amount of sac- 

 charine matter. Mr. Fulton had found the cultivation of chicory to 

 be very easy, and had already published his views on this part of the 

 subject, in the 'Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society.' 

 His crops had given a much larger money return than either potatoes 

 or turnips on the same soil. It appeared to him that it was in remote 

 districts of the country where the culture of chicory could be exten- 

 tensively pursued with the greatest advantage, the article being so 

 light and convenient of transit, and free from the casualties, in all its 

 processes of growth and preparation, which other crops are liable to, 

 and where the risk and cost of transportation reduce so much the net 



