XIV 



THE death of one person and the serious illness of 

 some others, has been reported in the news- ^g Rigk of 

 papers as the consequence of eating the leaves Mratart 

 of rhubarb as a substitute for spinach. This brings to 

 mind an observation by the naturalist, John Ray, 

 written more than two hundred years ago. ' It is the 

 interest of all mankind that all persons should be 

 cautioned of adventuring upon unknown herbs and 

 plants to their prejudice.' As a rule, people are pretty 

 chary of experiment in that direction. Children, indeed 

 sometimes are seduced by the glitter of poisonous 

 berries to their cost; but we elders lie under no serious 

 temptation to add to the alrcadyliberal list of well-known 

 esculents. One day during the Great War, when the 

 national food supply was in danger of stinting through 

 the action of German submarines, I was clearing a 

 border from an invasion of Alstromeria aurantiaca, 

 the roots whereof are said to be eaten by the natives of 

 Chile. It seemed wasteful to throw away a barrow-load 

 of these succulent tubers if they were really wholesome, 

 so I wrote to inquire of Mr. H. J. Elwes, who has ex- 

 plored so much of southern South America, whether he 



