Report of the Edinburgh Botanical Society. 257 



Shereef, transl., p. 18.). It was introduced into Bengal in 1594, by the 

 Portuguese, during the reign of Akbar, and is called by the natives either 

 ananas or kutt-suffur " artocarpus for a journey," as its fruit ripens even when 

 carried about. Pine-apples succeed as far north as 30° in the open air ; but 

 are plentiful in the garden of the Taj-muhul at Agra. They are so abundant 

 in Ceylon, and near Rangoon in Burma, as to appear wild in both places, 

 and are considered most delicious in flavour in the latter situation. They 

 are mentioned by Captain Turner, in his Journey to Teshoo-loomboo, as 

 extremely abundant in the jungly tracts in the entrance to the hills. It is 

 evident, therefore, how well suited the climate and soil of many parts of India 

 are to the cultivation of the pine-apple. This is important, not only on 

 account of its fruit, from which a very agreeable beverage is in some countries 

 prepared, but also on account of the fibre which abounds in the leaves, and 

 which has attracted a good deal of attention in this country ; as with it cloth 

 has been manufactured as fine as some muslins. (See our Vol. XIII. p. 461.) 

 The natives of India appear to be well acquainted with the fibre of the pine- 

 apple leaf, as some of very good quality, and light-coloured, has lately been 

 sent from Bombay to the Royal Asiatic Society. Some years since, Mr. 

 Cracroft, also, sent from Dacca, to the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, specimens 

 of pine-apple fibre prepared in the Barycote district." (p. 376.) 



We again strongly recommend this work, not only to botanists and horti- 

 culturists, but to readers generally, as full of instructive matter, agreeably 

 placed before them, on subjects in which all are interested. 



Art. II. Second Annual Report and Proceedings of the Botanical 

 Society. Session 1837-8. 8vo, pp. 90. Edinburgh, 1838. 



The first Annual Report of this Society was noticed in Vol. XIII. p. 507., 

 and was chiefly to be considered as indicating its commencement and plan. 

 The Second Report, now before us, exhibits the working of the Society, and 

 the kind of good which it is likely to effect. Independently altogether of the 

 advancement of botanical science, the good feeling and friendship called forth, 

 or fostered, by the personal intercourse or written correspondence of so many 

 minds occupied with the same pursuits, are alone sufficient to entitle the Society 

 to public approbation. It will, however, do much more than this, as will 

 appear by some of the extracts which we shall give from its last year's Pro- 

 ceedings. 



The number of members of the Society is steadily increasing, and of these 

 several are eminent foreigners. The total number of members up to October, 

 1838, is 199. The first paper of general interest is entitled 



Extracts from a Report of the Progress and State of Rotany in Britain, from 

 February, 1837, to March, 1838. By Professor Graham. — In introducing 

 the subject, it is stated that the data on which the report is founded are the 

 botanical papers in the British periodicals, including those translated from 

 foreign languages, as well as original papers of British authors. The first 

 subject is, 



Vegetable Organisation. — The subject of vegetable metamorphosis is said 

 to have been anticipated "by the tolerably clear ideas of Linnaeus;" and 

 afterwards accurately investigated by Wolff, previously to its being brought 

 into notice by Goethe. Wolff's writings, however, were forgotten ; while 

 Goethe's, after a time, procured the attention of botanists. The microscopic 

 structure of the fibre of cotton, flax, and hemp, has led to the conclusion, 

 that all the cloths wrapped round the mummies of ancient Egypt are of flax, 

 and, consequently, that cotton was unknown to the Egyptians. 



Botanical Classification. — Sir E. F. Bromhead's paper, noticed in our Vol. 

 XII. p. 458., is dismissed with the following remark, which we give as charac- 

 teristic of the professor's manner of treating subjects of this kind : — " His 



Vol. XV.— No. 110. t 



