Flora Medica. — Pomological Magazine, 28 7 



gummosa?. A South American tree, very abundant at Tolu and a great 

 many other places, from incisions in the trunk of which a resin exudes. 

 It is at first of the consistence of oil, but gradually becomes solid like resin. 

 Balsam of Copaiba, as it is then called, is stimulant, diuretic, and ca- 

 thartic, and is chiefly employed in cases connected with the urinary 

 vessels. — Papaver somniferum. A showy garden annual in England, 

 but in Turkey, Persia, India, and other warm climates, extensively cul- 

 tivated for the purpose of obtaining opium, and for the warm bland oil 

 which is expressed from its seeds, and serves as a substitute in these 

 countries, as well as in Europe, for the oil of olives. " The unripe 

 capsules, upon being wounded as they grow, exude plentifully a whitish, 



opaque, milky juice, which by drying becomes opium The plants in the 



East are well watered from the time when the flowers begin to appear till 

 the capsules are half grown, when it is discontinued, and they begin to col- 

 lect the opium. This they effect by making, at sunset, two longitudinal 

 incisions from below upwards, without penetrating the internal cavity, with 

 an instrument that has two. points as fine and sharp as a lancet. The inci- 

 sions are repeated every evening, until each capsule shall have received six 

 or eight wounds, and they are then allowed to ripen their seeds. The juice 

 which exudes is collected in the morning by women and children, who scrape 

 it off the wounds with a small iron scoop, and, being inspissated to a proper 

 consistence by working it with wooden spatulas in an earthen pot in the 

 sun's heat, it is formed into cakes for sale." In Britain opium has been 

 obtained from the poppy, said to be in no degree inferior to the Oriental. In 

 1796 Mr. Ball, and in 1819 Mr. Young, were both rewarded with premiums 

 from the Society of Arts for growing the poppy for its opimn, and for its 

 oil ; and Mr. Young, who is a surgeon in Edinburgh, found that a crop of 

 early potatoes may be grown along with the poppies. 



Flora Medica, &c. In 31 Numbers, price 3s. each. 

 This work is now completed, and forms two very cheap 8vo volumes, 

 illustrated with numerous very well executed plates. The letter-press is 

 passably good, as we are informed by one who should be a competent 

 judge ; and the work may be therefore safely recommended to the medical 

 student. 



The Pomological Magazine. In 8vo Numbers, monthly. 5s. coloured ; 



3s. 6d. plain. 



No XXVIII for February, contains 



109. Lucombe's Seedling Apple. Raised by Messrs. Lucombe of Exeter. 

 A large handsome variety, chiefly valuable as a kitchen apple. Ripens in 

 October, and keeps through the winter. 



110. The White Spanish Reinette Apple, the Fall Pippin of the Ameri- 

 cans, and the Reinette d'Espagne, Camuesar, or national apple of Spain. 

 A very close approach to that rare and highly prized variety, the Newtown 

 Pippin. " In quality it stands in the first class; its firm, rich, high-flavoured 

 flesh, its beauty, and its capability of keeping, being scarcely exceeded. Its 

 principal defect is its gigantic size." Ripe in November, and keeps till 

 February. " A free and abundant bearer, but more adapted for a dwarf 

 than a standard, on account of the large size of the fruit, which is apt to 

 be blown off by high winds." 



111. Kirke's Plum. Brought into notice by Mr. Kirke, who found it 

 by accident in a fruiterer's window. " As hardy and prolific as the Orleans, 

 as handsome as the Damask, and as good as the Green Gage." 



112. The Forelle Pear. A small, very beautiful variety, of German 

 origin, and called the Forelle, Truite, or Trout Pear, in allusion to the 

 specks on, and beautiful colour of, its skin. Ripens in November, and lasts 



