No. 149.] • 155 



Cossack Asparagus. This plant is known to our Botanists as 

 naturally abounding where the waters are not too deep; it is 

 preferred by the Cossacks to all other vegetables. Dr. Clarke 

 speaks of its excellence from personal experience, when among 

 those people on the banks of the Don. It is prepared like the 

 asparagus, being cut when the shoots are pushing, and the tender 

 blanched parts boiled in water with a little salt, or cut up and 

 stewed with yolk of egg, nutmeg, salt and butter. It may be 

 mentioned here that the French cuisine is indebted to the Cos- 

 sacks for various culinary plants, among which are Tarragon and 

 a delicious species of Rhubarb. 



Musa Cavendishii, A very splendid specimen of this species 

 of Palm is now in the botanic garden of Edinburgli, under the 

 direction of Mr. Mc Nab — the fruit is considered by horticultu- 

 rists as a successful rival of the pine apple ; the culture, it ap- 

 pears, is much easier, the produce greater, and tlie flavor of the 

 fruit nearly equal to that of the pine. As an addition to the 

 •orange, &c., of our southern States, this palm appears particu- 

 larly suited. 



Grasses. Among the samples introduced into England lately, 

 for commercial speculation, is a variety of grass from Cliina, 

 possessing all the fibrous qualities of tlax, but in a much higher 

 degree than any hitherto known and surpassing in strength, fine- 

 ness, and length of staple. The linen made with it resembles 

 French cambric, but lias a more silky appearance. This grass 

 can be suj^plied in any quantity. 



Panama Grass. I would suggest the enquiry whether this ar- 

 ticle could not be profitably worked up by our palm leaf hat fac- 

 tories in the eastern States. 



Cocoa-nut Sugar. The Ceylouese have recently introduced the 

 plan of tapping the cocoa trees, and drawing olf the sap, the 

 sugar from which, it is stated, is equal to that from the cane. 

 The flow of sap, we are told, is most abundant. 



Cane refuse. The refuse of tlie sugar cane, which after ex- 

 pression has generally been used in heating the boilers, is more 

 particularly recommended as a manure for the growing canes. 

 This plan is said to be attended with profitable results. 



