31 
into two series, which may be designated as crude drugs and pre- 
pared drugs. The crude drugs are arranged morphologically 
beginning with the roots and rootstocks and followed by stems, 
barks, leaves, inflorescences, flowers, fruits, seeds, and the whole 
plant. 
The east wing is given over to the woods and wood products. 
Blocks numbered 21, 22, 23 and 24 contain specimens of woods 
from many parts of the world, while block 30 contains various 
wood products and carbons. Blocks 25 to 35 are made of cases 
of special design, devised to exhibit the North American trees by 
means of examples of the wood, accompanied by drawings, pho- 
tographs, fruits and various other illustrative specimens 
J. K. on 
INTERESTING PLANTS IN FLOWER IN THE 
CONSERVATORIES. 
Among the bananas in house no. 4 is one which attracts uni- 
versal attention on account of its stately tall stems and beautifu 
leaves, both more or less tinged with dull red.+ This is the red 
banana, called Ram-Kela in India, Musa sapientum rubra. The 
ae referred to is now in full fruit for the first time. In 
this e house is also a large plant of the coral Pitcairnia, 
P, -oraltina ar Cian with ‘its coral red drooping racemes 
just making their appearance. This will be a fine sight in the 
course of a week or two. Its leaves are five to six feet high, 
erect, and with a beautiful pees under surface. In great con- 
trast to this, and situated on the opposite side of the same house, 
is a large plant of Dombya Wallichii, from Madagascar, with its 
large pendulous ball-like inflorescences of red flowers. Even in 
the necessarily restricted quarters of a conservatory it is an odd 
and attractive plant, with its large striking leaves and inflores- 
cence, so what must it be in its native country -where it can 
develop to its best ! 
In the immediate vicinity is another cas plant, this time 
from the standpoint of economics. This is the chocolate tree, 
