165 
Helland, from which the following particulars are derived. The plant 
thrives well in Aus wie Switzerland, and the greater part of France. 
In Holland it is found chiefly in the provinces of Guelder, Utrecht, 
Overysel, and Zealand, in the first three of which it grows wild, and the 
farmers do their utmost to extirpate it in eonsequence of its being very 
injurious to wheat and rye crops, exhansting the soil and clinging in its 
growth to the haulms, It is often so abundant as to make the cornfields 
clay or soil and loosen the skin. They are then ready for boiling with 
the skin on in water; a handful of salt should be added to a quantity 
contained in an average sized pot. They require boiling for two hours 
or more, and when ready they are peeled and eaten with a little butter. 
In France, children of the lower class eat the raw tubers simply 
removing the skin before doing so. 
Miss North's Gallery.—The collection of botanical pictures painted 
by the late Miss Marianne North in all parts of the world and IUE 
by her with the building containing them to the Royal Gardens in 1882 
was re-opened to the publie on April l, after being closed for the eer 
part of the winter. Some of the pictures had recently exhibited some 
slight indications of deterioration. The advice.of Sir Frederick 
Leighton, the President of the Royal Academy, was therefore sought 
as to the best means to be adopted for their Toss 
Sir Frederick Leighton was so good as to make a careful examination 
of the whole collection. He reported on J. une 8, 1892 
* Speaking broadly, they (the pictures) seem to me to be, with very 
few exceptions, in excellent condition. In a few of the studies certain 
colours have, I am told, aegon to fade. This can only be due to the 
nature of the pigments, for ‘the source of light is not ‘unduly power- 
ful. I noticed in the skies some deterioration of f yellow tints, 
and this deteri ioration I should attribute to the pigments, and to no other 
cause ou see relate: innumerable instances of the same 
deterioration in Tur kie 
Sir Frederick pus n recommended that the picti should 
receive, “to give full value to their tones and also for r protection, 
“ a slight coat of varnish-—mastie for choice, because it is removable.” 
He further recommended that they should be glaze 
ese recommendations having been adopted by the First Com- 
missioner of Her Majesty’s Wor ks and Public Buildings, provision was 
made for the necessary cost in the ai pred of 1893-4, and the work 
i o 
The whole of the pictures was taken down, and it was then foung 
that they were simply painted on paper, with no protection at the back 
but a thin piece of cardboard. The frames were fastened to battens 
which were fixed to the walls of the building. As nearly all these 
walls are external, it was probable that in winter they became 
thoroughly chilled and some condensation of moisture upon them would 
then be inevitable. This would account for the “ sagging” which the 
U 81325. C 
