28 



to the ancient Egyptians. Large quantities of onions are still TABLE 

 consumed hy the people in Western Asia, as well as in cold CASE 

 countries. C 



Note bulbs of Allium sp., known in India as Giant Salep 

 and PuNjABEE piAz, see No. 5. 



In the small Table Case in front of the adjoining window, 'pa;dtx^ 

 observe Tchtrisu, the roots of Asphodelus ramosus, L., from ri a ct? 

 Erzeroum, In 1855, it was proposed to collect this root in Tus- j. 

 cany, for tlie purpose of first distilling the spirit, and then using 

 the fibrous residue for paper-making. The roots, which in their 

 natural state contain a quantity of gum, are used, when pow- 

 dered, by book-binders in Turkey as a substitute for gam or 

 glue. 



In the lower part of this Case note Oil Vessels made of the 

 powdered roots of Eremurus aucherianus, Boiss. Of this 

 singular manufacture Dr. Aitchison says, *'The long fleshy 

 roots, and some say, the leaves also of this species are collected 

 and dried in an oven, then ground into powder which is 

 converted into a thick jelly by boiling in water. This is 

 employed in the manufacture of various vessels, called Dahha, 

 for holding oil and clarified butter. There is a great trade in 

 this material at Riu Khanf in Khorasan." 



Room No. 2. 



This is the passage leading from the entrance door. The 

 Natural Order L'lliacecB is continued from Room No. 1, in Wall 

 Cases commencing on the left side, close to the doorway. 



Observe on upper shelf whole and sliced bulb of Squill CASE 

 Urginea maritimaj Bak. (Scilla maritima, Z.), a perennial 14. 

 plant found abundantly in the Mediterranean district, aUo in 

 Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Corsica, Canary Islands, Cape of 

 Good Hope, &c. The bulbs vary in size from that of a man's 

 fist to a child's head. The smaller size is usually seen in 

 commerce ; the bulbs, however, mostly come to this country 

 dried and sliced. They have no smell, but a disagreeable bitter 

 taste. Squill is used in medicine as an expectorant in small 

 doses, and as an emetic and purgative in large doses. 



No. 41. Immature Flower Spikes of Ornithogalum 

 pyrenaicum, L. Collected by poor people in the neighbour- 

 hood of Bath, and sold in the markets under the name of 

 French Asparagus. 



