116 
Sasafras (Atherosperma moschata).—This is a light wood of no 
commercial value, and appears to be only suitable for the commoner 
descriptions of packing cases or for firewood. The brown marks which 
largely pervaded the piece sent for trial are, I think, due to decay, and 
are probably the result of the timber having been felled x: the wrong 
season, or having been left too long on the ground after it had been 
felled. For the reason above named it would never pay to import 
sasafras into this country. 
(Signed) A. RANSOME. 
23rd November 1888. 
TABLE mea the result of the BrEakine TRIALS of the == kinds 
of TASMANIAN TIMBERS mentioned in the above REPOR 
x x Dimensions | Distance| Breaking — 
0. ame. of piece | between ; Brain 
bearers. | Weight. Point. 8 
Inches. | Inches. Lbs. Inches. 
1 | Stringy Bark - -| 30by1 24 ~ 602 
2. | Stringy Gum - - Do. Do. 336 i 
3 | Red Myrtl - - Do Do. 452 1g 
4. | White ,, = - Do Do. 459 12 
5 ne - - Do Do. 483 1i 
6 | Huon Pine - - Do. Do. 203 1 
7 | Blackwood - - Do Do. 518 1 
Soj Laghew bis Gee ie Do. 378 24 
9 | Pencil Cedar - - Do. Do. 476 1} 
10 - - Do Do, 280 1 
XCIV.—LILY FLOWERS AND BULBS USED AS FOOD. 
It is well known that in countries where lilies are indigenous and 
plentiful they are sometimes utilised as food plants. For some year 
e 
trade in China, and in the Consular Report on the trade of Chinkiang 
for the arm 1886, p. 10, it is stated :— 
The export of | lily flowers has increased from 7,033,000 Ibs. to 
7. " 7,622 red . and is the largest export for many years. The crop was 
avery g e, and prices were, during m on the year, remunerative. 
Not more r two-tenths is consumed here; the rest goes so south, here 
a a letter addressed to Kew by Mr. Pelham L. Warren, Consul at 
Taiwan, dated August 16, 1883, the papp e information is given 
respecting the source of lily flowers used in 
“ The lily flowers mentioned in Mr. Vaa Caninia Report, con- 
cerning which you ask for information in your note of the 6th June 
last, are the dried blossoms of Meet ocallis. graminea and 
bulbiferum. They are used by the Chinese for flavouring soups, and 
also eaten as a vegetable. Lily Bowers are also said to be efficacious in 
