574 



shall esteem it a favor if you will kindly fill in the blank spaces in 

 the annexed form as far as you can, and also answer the questions 

 asked thereunder. 



The points I hope to settle, if possible, are as follows : 

 ist. The botanical classification of the plants. 

 2nd. The nature of the poisons. 

 3rd. Their effects. 

 4th. The proper antidotes. 

 5th. The commercial or medical value of these poisons. 



The popular and botanical names of the following plants were 

 given : York road Gastrolobiam graiuliflora, G. calycinuui 

 (Bentham). 



Heart-leaved G. bilobum (R. Brown), G. largijoliiun. 



Narrow-leaved G. longifolwin. 



Berry G. parvifolium (Bentham). 



Rock G. Callistachys (Meissner). 



Bloom G. ovalifolium (Henfrey), Oxylobium rctiisuui (Brown). 



Box G. parviflorum^ 0. oxylobioidcs (Bentham). 



Sand plain, blue, Candyup, prickly, bullock. 



The following information was sought Locality and nature of 

 the soil on which it grows ; month of flowering ; usual height of 

 plant ; when dangerous, if all the year or only at flowering or other 

 season ; to what stock it is hurtful, and in what manner it affects 

 them. The questions asked were " Do you consider that there are 

 two varieties of York road, viz., a large and a small, and if so, which 

 do you consider the more dangerous ? Will you be willing to send 

 me specimens of the plants in flower, and also seeds later on, if 

 requested ? Do you know of any other poisonous plants?" 



Replies were sent in from 30 of those to whom the 

 schedules of enquiries had been forwarded, and a quantity 

 of useful information on the prevalence, mode of growth, and 

 injurious effects of the various kinds of poison was obtained by 

 this means. On these returns the following account of the poison 

 plants has been to a large extent based. The information obtained 

 from them may, in some particulars, require correction, and criticism 

 from those interested will be welcome. It is not always clear whether 

 the facts stated in these returns have been acquired in the writer's own 

 experience, or are of a hearsay character. Facts correctly described 

 by the person who has actually observed them are on a different foot- 

 ing from statements derived from others, who on their part may also 

 have got the information on hearsay. The statements may be 

 correct, but there is always a risk of them becoming modified as 

 they are passed from one to another, if not easily confirmed by 

 each person for himself. It is also difficult to distinguish between 

 statements of what has actually occurred and guesses, inferences, 

 beliefs, or opinions, many, in place of stating the facts themselves, 

 giving what are really the impressions made on their minds by 



