SCIENCE. 181 



This awakening came through a very full and com 

 plete catalogue and list of seeds and plants published 

 by a firm strongly indorsed by the ablest periodical 

 on farming in the country, and which I believe in 

 next to the prayer-book. Of course, this approval 

 was sufficient to entitle to implicit confidence what 

 the seedsmen might say, and I fairly devoured the 

 glowing descriptions of new plants that this work 

 for it contained some one hundred and fifty pages 

 presented. I made quite a large selection of seeds, 

 and among them ordered a double quantity of a 

 strange plant described in the following enthusiastic 

 manner : 



DATURA (TRUMPET-FLOWER), Nat. Ord. Solanacece. An orna 

 mental class of plants, many of which possess attractions of the high 

 est order, and are not nearly so extensively cultivated as they ought 

 to be. In large clumps or borders of shrubbery they produce an ex 

 cellent effect. The roots may be preserved in sand through the win 

 ter in a dry cellar. Half-hardy perennials. 



DATURA WRIGHTII (Meteloides). A splendid variety, with bell- 

 shaped flowers eight inches long, white bordered with lilac, and 

 sweet scented ; continues in bloom from July to November ; beauti 

 ful beyond description ; from Asia. 



Here was a magnificent future a perennial, with 

 flowers eight inches long, &quot; beautiful beyond descrip 

 tion.&quot; To be sure, I was a little troubled about the 

 name. I could not make up my mind positively 



