338. 
Asclepias curassavica as an insectifuge.—The use of this plant for: 
the purposes described in the following communication appears to 
be unrecorded :— 
Rostherne, Red Hill, Surrey, 
July 21, 1897. 
Miss Manning would be greatly obliged if the DNE would 
tell her what the enclosed plant is. It grows everywhere, as a 
weed, about the Isthmus of Tehauntepec (Southern. Mexico), and 
is used by the Indians there to keep away vermin, especially 
fleas. Miss Manning's friends in Mexico have tried it, and found 
it most suecessful. They make a rough broom of it, and sweep 
the floors and walls of their huts, and find that they are not 
troubled with fleas for a considerable time afterwards. They 
have tried brushing dogs with it be n their coats are full of 
vermin, and it appears to answer the same parpose with them. 
The Indian name of the plant is “ Chilpati 
Osiers from Madeira.—The decay of osier cultivation in this 
country has been discussed in the Kew Bulletin (1896, pp. 140—143). 
Asinthe case of vegetables (K. B , 1894, Pp. 219- cde 1895, pp. 
207-315) it seems often cheaper to import than to grow. But 
considering how easily osiers may be cultivated on bed unsuitable 
or any other crop, it seems strange that basket makers in the 
East of London should have to go to Madeira for their materials. 
WICKERWORK.—This industry has lately been started in the 
Kast-end of London, and considerable quantities are made in the 
blind and deaf and dumb institutions throughout the United 
Kingdom ; in consequence of this a fairly large and increasing 
export trade is being done in the “osiers,” of which the wickerwork 
is made. 
The r grown in Madeira is Salix ee They are 
chiefly Ko at the north side of the island, as they thrive to 
gl ems on the wet portions of land in eeinity to the 
*ribeiros," or mountain streams, which overflow their banks 
duh the late autumn and winter months. 
F. O. 1897. Annual Series, No. 1871. Report for the Year 1896 
on the Trade of Madeira, p. 4.) 
