Huntingdonshire, Kent. 67& 



also required to be deposited in the Canterbury Museum. There were two 

 collections supplied for competition, one by Mrs. Grayling of this city, and 

 the other by George Smith. The former, for which the medal was awarded, 

 contained about 220 specimens ; some of them were very choice, and, indeed, 

 never before seen by some botanists ; and the manner in which the rules were 

 complied with reflects the highest credit upon the competing parties. The 

 following are a few of the rarest: — Achillea Ptarmica, -Menyanthes trifoliata, 

 Hottdm'a palustris, Triglochin paliistre, Monotropa Hypopithys, Pyrola ro- 

 tundifolia, .4'rabis hirsuta, Scutellaria minor, Genista anglica, Tfcia sylvatica, 

 Thesium /inophyllum, .<41thae x a officinalis, Lavatera arborea, Astragalus glycy- 

 phyllus. An extra prize was given to Smith. His collection, though not so 

 numerous, contained many very rare sorts. There were about a hundred speci- 

 mens in his collection, and, as Mr. Iliff observed, they were deserving of much 

 approbation for a working man. By an excellent rule, the collections are 

 deposited in the museum, where they may be seen at a trifling charge. Ad- 

 mirers of botany would be well repaid in inspecting them. Great as was the 

 task of obtaining so many species, we hope to see prizes offered in future for 

 this branch, and we doubt not good results will follow. Here we have, not an 

 assortment of plants cultivated in our gardens, but of those growing in a wild 

 state ; which must be particularly interesting to the inhabitants of Kent. 

 They here see what their own native county produces spontaneously. We 

 could not sufficiently admire the rare and beautiful exotics kindly furnished by 

 Mr. Alderman Masters; and, as we think they deserve some notice in our 

 columns, we will endeavour to describe the choicest. Sdbal Blackburmawa, a 

 kind of fan palm, was certainly one of the most distinguished plants in the room. 

 It is rendered interesting to us on account of its being the palm that the pilgrims 

 were accustomed to bring to our cathedral, portions of which are found 

 to this day. Jcacia lophantha, a native of New Holland, introduced in 1803, 

 the foliage of which is particularly handsome. We regret it was not in flower 

 at the show, but it bids fair to be so in a few weeks. Acacia decurrens is 

 another variety of this genus ; and, although it is of a more sombre colour, 

 and not so striking a plant as the other, we could but admire the regularity of 

 its pinnate and delicate foliage. Our attention was also arrested by a new 

 dark variety of Fuchsia; fulgens, and by F. fulgens itself, which are great acqui- 

 sitions to this elegant tribe of plants, on account of their very brilliant colours. 

 It will be allowed by every one that the Mus« paradisiaca, or banana tree of 

 the East Indies, is indeed a curiosity of no common order. The fruit is 

 invaluable to the natives of Jamaica, who can subsist on it for many days 

 without other food. It should be gathered in its present state, and be allowed 

 to ripen after having been cut, when it will assume a brownish yellow colour. 

 Mus« discolor is one of the most beautiful plants of the same tribe ; the leaf 

 on the upper side is of a bright green, whilst the under one is light brown, 

 and, being partially transparent, the mixture forms a colour not to be described. 

 The forbidden fruit, resembling a mango in size and shape, is reported to be 

 the same that tempted Eve : for ourselves, we cannot say that we had much 

 inclination to taste it. Melaleuca Cajeputi is the plant from which the cajeput 

 oil is extracted. It is remarkable for its green colour, turpentine smell, and pep- 

 permint flavour; and is used as a cure for rheumatic affections, and for preserving 

 preparations in natural history. The plant is a native of the East Indies, and 

 was introduced into this country in 1796. Panddnus spiralis deservedly excited 

 admiration. It is a plant between 6 ft. and 7 ft. high ; the leaves of which are 

 armed with rows of prickles on the three ribs, and wind round each other in a 

 spiral manner. The stem also struck us as being extraordinary. It is not of 

 itself sufficiently strong to bear the large mass of leaves ; it therefore pushes 

 forth supporters, which, though small in this country, form arches in its native 

 clime, New South Wales, sufficiently high for persons to walk under. Salvia 

 patens is a new variety, of a dark blue colour, the flowers of which are more 

 than 1 in. broad. It is a native of South America; and, although but recently 



