593 THIRSK NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. [OctoheV, 



MANDEAKE. 



In looking for an answer to the question of S. B., in the 

 ' Phytologist ' for October, 1857, I find in a Herbal, written by- 

 William Meyrick, surgeon, a description of the character and 

 properties of this plant, and he concludes by saying, " that most 

 of the idle stories concerning it appear to have originated from 

 its being named in Scripture ; and many persons have supposed, 

 from the account there given of it, that it was a preventive 

 of barrenness, but the plant does not possess any such quali- 

 ties, nor is it clearly known what the plant named in Scripturcy 

 and translated Mandrake, is.'^ 



The question has been often asked why Rachel desired to have 

 the Mandrakes, but I do not know that it has ever been satisfac- 

 torily answered. The following extract from Turuer^s ' Herbal ' 

 may tln^ow a little light upon the subject, and enable some of 

 your contributors who are interested in Scripture plants to make 

 further inquiries : — 



" Serapis and Avicenna write that the seed of Mandrag, taken 

 in drink, clenzeth . • . ; and so writes Dioscorides of the same 

 seed, many years before them; whereby it appeareth that Ra- 

 chel, knowing the nature of the fruit of Mandrag, that she might 

 cleanze . . . therewith, and thereby might be made the fitter to 

 conceive a child herself, as well as Leah her sister, and Silfah her 

 maid did.^^ 



A Reader of the Word. 



THIESK NATUEAL HISTOEY SOCIETY. 

 Botanical Exchange Club. 



The monthly meeting of the Thirsk Natural History Society 

 was held on the evening of Wednesday, the 1st of September. 

 Mr. J. G. Baker communicated the following notices : — 



" The Manchester Barharea. In the Old Series of the ^ Phy- 

 tologist' (vol. V. p. 46), Mr. Borrer writes: ' B. vulgaris, var. 

 intermedia, of Buxton, in the ' Manchester Botanical Guide,' 

 which has been mistaken by some for B. stricta, is nearest B. 

 vulgaris, but presents some remarkable differences.' During a 

 recent visit to Manchester I had an opportunity of talking over 



