356 Esculent Phelangium. 



mixed; this must, at all times, in their dry, warm climate, prove defec- 

 tive; added to which, they entirely neuflect frequent mowing; and it is 

 not at all unusual to find a grass plot left for the advantage of cutting the 

 crop of hay, or as fodder for cattle. The gardeners are not all ignorant 

 of the cause of their failure, but attribute it chiefly to the severity of their 

 climate; though this might in some measure be remedied by their atten- 

 tion to the best means of obtaining an object which they all confess so 

 desirable, and by their bestowing on it the labor and attention which 

 are absolutely necessary to its maintainance and preservation." 



This is just the case with the grass plots and lawns in this 

 country; and Mr. Charlwood has suggested the proper means 

 to remedy tliese defects. We would direct the attention of 

 those of our readers who are ambitious of possessing beau- 

 tiful lawns, to a careful attention to these observations. 



The remaining articles are excellent, but we have already 

 extracted beyond our limits. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 



Art. I. Domestic Notices. 



Esculent Phalangium. — Dear Sirs,— :This beautiful plant, of the natural 

 order Asphodelete, which I have the pleasure of presenting you, is found in 

 great abundance in the immediate vicinity of Cincinnati, where I col- 

 lected it, I presume it may be cultivated with great facility, as it grows 

 freely in a substratum of tough clay, and is 07ily found in situations 

 which offer such a soil. Towards the middle of May, its tall blue spikes 

 of delicate flowers form a pleasing contrast with the rich verdure of the 

 meadows, or adorn the steep sides of the hills. 



Governor Lewis brought specimens of this plant from the sources of 

 the Missouri, near the Rocky mountains, where it was called " Qua- 

 mash " by the Indians, and its roots used by them as an article of food. 

 Eaten in an uncooked state, it is of an agreeable mucilaginous and 

 amylaceous flavor, with a slight astringency. 



Mr. Nuttall mentions, in his " N. A. Genera of Plants," that he first 

 discovered its locality near the confluence of Huron River with Lake 

 Erie, in 1810, and suljsequently in great abundance on the lower banks 

 of the Ohio river. According to his observations, its geographical distri- 

 dution is two thousand miles from east ts west, though perhaps not so 

 much as three hundred miles from north to south. 



Desirous of introducing it to the notice of floriculturists, particularly 

 to those who are fond of our native plants, I have taken the liberty of 

 sending you two bulbs, and also add its scientific description. 



Phalangium esculentum, Nuttall Gen. Plants, i, p. 219. 



Q C Phaluns;ium Quamash, Pursh. Fl. Jim. i, p. 226. 



bynom. ^ ^^j^^^ esculmta, Bot. Mag., t. 1596. 



Class, Hexandria: Ord. Monogynia: Natural Ord. Asphodeleae. 



Root, a tunicated bulb: leaves radical linear and carinated: scape 

 simple: flowers pale blue: height about two feet: time of flowering, 

 Mav and June: perennial. Yours, S,^c., John Lewis Russell. Salem, 

 July 29, 1S35. 



Mr. Russell will receive our best thanks for the above interesting let- 

 ter, and the very acceptable bulbs of the Phelangium accompanying it. 

 We shall endeavor to cultivate and increase them. — Conds. 



