324 Note on two undescribed species of Melastoma. 



ovarium, coloured, with stellate bristles ; 4-partite or toothed, 

 segments or teeth lanceolate, with stellate points, alternating 

 with stellate bristles. Petals 4, purple. Stamens 8, similar. 

 Style oblique, incurved ; stigma green ; ovarium included in 

 the calyx tube with a ciliate crown ; capsule 4-celled, many 

 seeded. — Found at Seebsagur, July 1844, and June 1843." 



On the Extract of Gunjah or Indian Hemp. By Andrew 

 Robertson, Lecturer on Chemistry, Medical College. 



As, owing to the great bulk of the material, it would have 

 been necessary to use a much larger quantity of spirit, had the 

 usual process of digestion in alcohol been followed, a new 

 method of extracting the resin from the plant was resorted to, 

 with the intention of economising alcohol, and also of ob- 

 taining a product of better quality. The result was found to 

 have fulfilled both of these views so well, that this mode 

 of procedure may be recommended as an excellent one for 

 preparing not only this, but all similar resinous extracts. 



The details of the process are as follows — The Gunjah 

 was freed from the larger stalks, and the small twigs with 

 their leaves, which contain a little resin, as well as the heads, 

 which are loaded with it, were put into a clean, tight, oaken 

 cask, the bunghole of which had 

 been enlarged to admit of their 

 insertion into it. This was then 

 closely stopped up. A tinned 

 copper vessel would have been 

 much better, but the expense of 

 this was too great to be incurred 

 for a temporary purpose. The 

 cask was a fifty gallon one, and 

 contained about a maund and a 

 half of the hemp. 



