128 ECONOMICAL BOTANY. [June^ 



Several papers on Cryptogamic Botany have appeared in our 

 pages^ viz. on Lichens, Mosses, Fungi, Filices, Egidseta, etc. ; 

 and it is not very improbable that there may be some of our 

 readers who cannot satisfactorily distinguish a Lichen from a 

 Fungus, or even a Fetm from a Lycopod. It is therefore most 

 respectfully suggested to our scientific and good-natured corre- 

 spondents, that a series of short_, plain, comprehensive articles on 

 the limits and distinctions of Fungi, Lichens, Alga, Hepaticce, 

 etc. would be very acceptable. There is some risk of becoming- 

 liable to the obnoxious charge of invidious partiality in com- 

 mending any individual article which has iieen printed in our 

 pages. Yet we will for once incur this risk, and will undertake 

 this responsibility ; and hereby we particularize a paper on the 

 DiatomacecB as being exactly what is wanted in order to carry 

 into practice the hint which is here merely thrown out. 



It is far from our intention to prescribe to those who are 

 generous enough to give us the cream of their knowledge and 

 the fruits of their experience, what they should write about, and 

 how they should write it. We only give publicity to a generally 

 felt want ; and hope that those who have the means and the in- 

 clination will effectively assist us in redeeming a pledge which 

 was given at the commencement of this our undertaking. 



ECONOMICAL BOTANY. 

 By Geohge Jordan, of Bewdley. 



An account of some of our British plants which were used by 

 our ancestors as esculents and medicaments, and are also occa- 

 sionally used at the present time. 



Then horticulture and the science of medicine were in their in- 

 fancy. But now the character of plants is so completely changed 

 by culture, hybridizing, and excess of nutriment, as to have en- 

 tirely changed their physical characters, and rendered them totally 

 unlike their progenitors, so much has been done for the enjoyment, 

 health, and well-being of the human race. We need not go now 

 into the fields, woods, and waysides to gather our esculents, as our 

 forefathers used to do. Whatever may be said in favour of the 

 " good old times," we have no wish for a retrogression as regards 

 our agricultural, horticultural, and floricultural advantages. 



