KALMIA ANGUSTIFOLIA. DWARF LAUREL. 183 



resumed his professorship at Abo, and died in 1779, in the 64th 

 year of his age. 



Though the genus is dedicated to Kalm, it was known before 

 his day, through Banister, the early Virginian botanist, who made 

 the celebrated Ray acquainted with it ; and the species now 

 known as Kabnia aiigustifolia was figured by Plukenet in the 

 early part of the eighteenth century, who acknowledges his in- 

 debtedness to Banister. The plants in a living state were first 

 sent to England by Bartram to Collinson in 1730, a little before 

 Kalm's time. 



In beauty there are few more striking plants than the "narrow- 

 leaved Kalmiar Its sister species, Kalniia latifolia, from its 

 stronger growth, makes in the landscape a greater display of its 

 charms ; but it will not bear so well as this one the critical tests 

 we may apply to beauty. A poisonous character is attributed 

 to it, which is said to act fatally, especially on sheep and lambs, 

 Mr. D. J. Brown, the author of the "Trees of America," says: 

 "The flowers of Kaluiia angustifolia are known to produce un- 

 wholesome honey ;" but he does not give any facts to bear out 

 the assertion. The nearest approach to positive experience at 

 hand is in a work on sheep by Dr. H. S. Randall, an author well 

 known in connection with that subject. He says: "The narrow- 

 leafed, low laurel, Kalniia aiigiistifolia, ... is eaten by 

 sheep, particularly when they are unaccustomed to them, or 

 when they are hungry from travelling, and find these bushes 

 growing by the roadsides." But in another place he observes : 

 "Other plants besides laurel are suspected of poisoning sheep; 

 but very litde accurate informadon has yet been obtained regard- 

 ing them." It is very likely the reputadon is the remains of 

 some early notion which has been repeated by succeeding au- 

 thors without any personal investigadon. John Clayton, in 

 sending to Gronovius in the early part of the last century, 

 remarked, that "an opinion is prevalent that this species is 

 gready injurious to sheep." It was but an opinion then, and is 

 but little more now. Rafinesque, however, says posidvely that 



