160 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 734 



and Professor Kraus, of Munich. The relative 

 lack of information in the United States as to 

 work done by European barley-growers was in 

 strong contrast to the accurate data possessed by 

 them in regard to work in this country. Mr. B. 

 S. Beaven, of Warminster, not only knew defi- 

 nitely the quality and yield of all our American 

 barleys, but he also had samples of every variety 

 from every section of this country. This spirit 

 of progressiveness is deserving of our attention. 

 Mr. Beaven spoke highly of our California brew- 

 ing barley, but he had a less favorable opinion 

 of our other grades, especially of some now grown 

 in the northwest. 



The use of Timbe Barks hy the Mexicans in the 

 preparation of Alcoholic Drinks: W. E. Saf- 



FOED. 



Timbe, or timbre, is a name applied to certain 

 barks and roots offered for sale in the markets of 

 San Luis PotosI and several other Mexican cities 

 for use in the manufacture of pulque. They have 

 a bitter astringent taste and evidently abound in 

 tannic acid. On the Pacific coast of tropical 

 Mexico the same name is applied to certain barks 

 used in tanning leather. The identity of the 

 principal timbes has not hitherto been established 

 and the part they play in the manufacture of 

 pulque has not been understood. Among the most 

 important plants from which they are obtained 

 are Acacia filicioides, the principal source of the 

 San Luis PotosI supply, and a sumach, Rhus 

 pachyrrachis. Other barks used for a similar 

 purpose are those of Calliandra grandiflora and 

 Galliandra Houstoni, the latter of which is also 

 used extensively by the Mexicans as a cure for 

 intermittent fever, under the name of pambotano. 

 At first the sap of the agave from which pulque is 

 made is sweet and clear. It is sold about the 

 streets in this condition under the name of agua- 

 miel (honey- water). It soon begins to ferment 

 spontaneously and becomes milky and finally 

 stringy, acquiring a putrid smell, if unchecked, 

 from the fermentation caused by the lactic-acid 

 bacteria contained in it. The timbe bark, after 

 having been toasted and pounded, is added to the 

 sap about four hours after the fermentation has 

 begun. It has the efi'ect of precipitating the 

 greater portion of mucilaginous substances held 

 in solution, undoubtedly owing to the action of 

 the tannic acid in the bark upon the proteids, 

 which, if let alone, would cause the liquid to 

 putrify or turn sour. Its action, then, may be 

 compared to that of hops in the manufacture of 

 beer, which probably do not destroy the lactic 



bacteria, but cause the precipitation of albuminous 

 material. In addition to this the timbe imparts 

 a pleasant bitter taste to the drink. 



W. E. Saffobd, 

 Corresponding Secretary 



THE TOBBET BOTANICAL CLUB 



The meeting of November 25, 1908, was called 

 to order at the museum building of the New 

 York Botanical Garden at 3:40 p.m., with Dr. M. 

 A. Howe in the chair. Fourteen persona were 

 present. The minutes of the meeting of November 

 10 were read and approved. 



The resignation of Dr. Valery Havard, dated 

 November 8, 1908, was read. A motion was made 

 and carried that the resignation of Dr. Havard 

 be accepted and that his name be transferred to 

 the list of corresponding members. 



There was no announced scientific program for 

 this meeting, but the following communications 

 were made: 



Dr. Britton showed fruits of the rare and local 

 tree, Prioria copaifera Griseb., which he collected, 

 in company with Mr. William Harris, at Bach- 

 elor's Hall, Jamaica, near where it was originally 

 discovered sixty years ago by Nathaniel Wilson, 

 who sent it to Grisebach. Prioria is one of the 

 largest trees of Jamaica, sometimes attaining a 

 height of ninety feet, and is a member of the 

 senna family. So far as is known, this tree is 

 found only on two estates in Jamaica, and grows 

 at an elevation of from five to six hundred feet. 

 This species is characterized by having a one- 

 seeded legume, which is indehiscent. The genus 

 Prioria is reported to be represented also in the 

 Republic of Panama. 



Dr. Murrill displayed photographs and colored 

 drawings of several of the larger local fungi. He 

 also explained reproduction of colored drawings 

 by the four-color process. This process seems to 

 be the most satisfactory for representing fungi 

 in colors. 



Mr. Nash exhibited a living plant of Dendro- 

 hium Ooslogyne, a rare orchid from Burma, which 

 has just flowered in the conservatories of the New 

 York Botanical Garden. Specimens of Ccelogyne 

 and of other species of Dendrobium were also 

 shown to illustrate the characters of these two 

 genera. While the flowers of Dendrobium Ccelo- 

 gyne resemble those of a Dendrobium, the habit 

 is that of a Ccelogyne. 



Pebct Wilson, 



