S28 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1 675. 



salve, with wax and butter. Its effect was, that it healed too suddenly, so that 

 1 durst not venture to use it in any deep wound: but for superficial scars it has 

 a very sudden operation. At that time I did not know this herb by any name; 

 but now I find it to be Asphodelus Lancastriae verus of Johnston, or the Lan- 

 cashire Asphodil. 



It is verv common to find Molucca beans on the shore of the Lewes or our 

 other western isles. They are found fast to the stalk, which the common people 

 supposed to be sea tangles, and laughed at me, when I said they were land-beans: 

 which made me write to the Earl of Seafort, whilst he lived in the Lewes, 

 that I supposed, these apparent tangles were the haum of the beans, which 

 by long lying in the sea might acquire that likeness. His lordship exa- 

 mined the matter and found it so. And he likewise sent to me a piece of a cab- 

 bage-tree, that was found on that shore. It is observable, that the kernel of 

 these nuts are often fresh and sound, and the people make boxes for snufF of the 

 bean husk. Now, considering the situation, of those isles with respect to any 

 place where Molucca-beans grow, let the observers of tides consider what reci- 

 procations must be imagined, to adjust the eastern and western constant currents 

 of the main with the wafting of these beans, on places that lie so far out of the 

 road of any of the direct tides : and if they grow only about the Molucca isles, 

 or in no place on this side the equator, it would seem more probable, that they 

 came by the northern passage, than any other way. And their freshness in the 

 kernel shows rather that they have been kept in the cold conservatory, than in 

 the warm baths of the other progress. 



Observations made at Barbadoes, by Dr. Thomas Towns. Communicated by Mr, 



Lister. N^ 11 7, p. 399. 



At Barbadoes, the general draught of wine is from Madeira ; which, contrary 

 to all other wines, will not endure a cool cellar. Neither French nor Rhenish 

 wines keep nor agree well with our stomachs, if so constantly drank as in Eng- 

 land. Canary wine few here care for. 



This island is very temperate. For the sun, notwithstanding his neighbour- 

 hood, is very gentle here, being fanned with a constant gale from the east. 



I have heard it questioned, whether America have not some plants common 

 with those of Europe, especially the more northern parts of it. To the clearing 

 of this doubt, I observe, that purslane is here all the country over, where I have 

 been, and even troublesome to the planter. In the fields I have often gathered 

 a sallad of it : and it eats as well with oil and vinegar as that of our English 

 gardens. Here is likewise a sonchus, lens palustris ; I found also a melilot, or 



