260 Short Communication. 



As the following may be interesting to the public and to many of 

 our readers, we copy it from the Register, where it is also extracted 

 from Ellis's work on the Sandwich Islands. 



'•We should think it an excellent antiscorbutic, and as such, use- 

 ful to ships in long voyages. Captains visiting the Society Islands, 

 frequently procure large quantities of it to make beer with during 

 their voyage, as it will keep good six weeks or two months, after it 

 is baked. On my return in the American ship Russell, Captain 

 Coleman, he procured a quantity that had been baked at Rurutu, 

 near the Society Islands, and brought it round Cape Horn. It lasted 

 five or six weeks, and would probably have kept longer, as the only 

 change we perceived during that time was a slight degree of acidity 

 in the taste. Cattle, sheep and goats are fond of the leaves ; and as 

 they contain more nutriment than any other indigenous vegetable, 

 and may be kept on board ships several weeks, they are certainly 

 the best provender that can be procured in the Islands for stock 

 taken to sea." 



The plate represents a terminal panicle of flowers, which must 

 have a grand appearance when flowering among other stove plants, 

 — (Bot. Reg., April.) 



Art. IX. SJiort Communication. 



RoBiNiA hispida var. A new variety of the rose acacia was lately 

 exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, which was much 

 more beautiful than the old one ; the original plant was imported 

 from Liverpool, under the name of the "new rose acacia:" it is free 

 from that hairiness which covers the stem and branches of the R. 

 hispida ; the flowers are also produced in more dense clusters, and 

 of rather better formation ; in respect to its growth and hardiness, it 

 is similar to the latter ; it should be extensively cultivated ; perhaps 

 few persons are aware that, if the branches of the acacia are cut in 

 after the first bloom, they will flower finely in August. 



Yours, J. K. 



June 22, 1835. 



