Botanical Society of Edinburgh. 63 



travelling ; when introduced into the mouth, they were said to dissolve 

 slowly, preventing thirst, and proving very refreshing. Though it 

 was forty years since they had been brought from China, they still 

 retained a very perceptible flavour of tea. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. "On the fficonomic Uses of Chicory {Cichorium Intybus, L.)," 

 by Mr. James Fulton. The author, after giving a general account 

 of the history of the Chicory plant, and alluding to the antiquity 

 of its cultivation, proceeded to point out the wide range of ceconomic 

 uses to which it might be made applicable, and urged the importance 

 of extending its cultivation. Its extensive use as an ingredient in 

 coffee is well known. As a forage plant, it forms some of the best 

 meadows in the south of France and Lombardy, succeeding in all 

 seasons; while its use as a salad is likewise extensive. Since 1835, 

 large quantities of the root have been imported from the continent ; 

 it is now cixltivated in several parts of England. It had occurred to 

 Mr. Fulton that the bitter of the chicory root might be employed as 

 a substitute for hops, and he had accordingly used it with success, and 

 found that the root not only communicates a pleasant bitter, but that 

 it is likewise in some measure a substitute for the malt by possessing a 

 large amount of saccharine matter. 



2. " Analysis of the Sabal umbraculifera, as grown in the Botanic 

 Garden," by Mr. Allan B. Dick. The following is Mr. Dick's 

 analysis : — 



Organic matter. Inorganic. 



Lamina 91-90 8-10 



Petiole 95-00 5-00 



Silica 37-00 



Sulphuric Acid 11-15 



Lime 15-90 



Potash 8-65 



Soda 2-50 



Chloride of Sodium 8-45 



Phosphoric Acid 1-70 



Oxide of Iron 1 -30 



„ Manganese 1*40 



Magnesia 4*75 



Carbonic Acid 0*99 



Charcoal 5*95 



99-74 



3. "On Plants foimd in the neighbourhood of Ripon, Yorkshire, 

 in March 1852," by Mr. James B. Davies. 



4. "Report on the state of Vegetation in the Edinburgh Botanic 

 Garden, from 10th March till 8th April 1852, as compared with the 

 years 1850 and 1851," by Mr. M'Nab. 



5. " Notice of Plants found in flower at Bowhill, Selkirkshire, on 

 23rd March," by Dr. Balfour. 



