58 
in 1886, and probably from the same locality. I agree with Dr. Aitchison 
a powerful a of asafetida. The plant is figured in the Botanical 
Magazine, t., 5168, and in Bentley and Trimen’s Medicinal Plants, 
t. 126." (p. 40.) 
“Stipa sibirica, Lamk.—This, which is known as the poisonous 
grass of Kashmir, is very abundant in some of the NN M 
on the outskirts of the forests at an elevation of 8000 to 9000 feet. 
rip. urs also in — — of the Himalaya; and on the Black moun- 
it of much sickness amongst the baggage 
Tobia aaen bei "andere of 1888, The direct cause of its injurious 
effects on anim as not yet been conclusively shown. Some attri- 
bute it to a narcotic principle inherent in the plant, whilst others affirm 
that it acts mechanically as an irritant, and is not in any way chemically 
poisonous. r. Aitchison, who has given much attention to the 
subject, and has witnessed many cases of ponies having been poisoned 
by eating this grass, believes that the symptoms are produced by some 
kind of narcotic poison. A common remedy in Kashmir for. this com- 
plaint, Dr. Aitchison tells Lun. is to hold the animal's head in the smoke 
of a fire, in order t a discharge frow the nostrils, after which 
dan erous symptoms poems and the animal recovers conscious- 
ness, on to this treatment, vinegar and sour apples are Me 
times given. The cattle of the co country do not of their own accord ea 
this grass during the spring and méitnst puta ioo Data 
Aitchison says, they do eat it. If this be so, it 7 — agape st 
the idea of the plant possessing only mechanicall roperties 
for during the autumn months the rough awns of cD ap rials: are fully 
dey eloped. np 43 
CCCCXLIX.—TEA CULTIVATION IN THE 
CAUCASUS. 
Experiments with tea plants in the Russian province of Transcaucasi 
have been carried on for some time. In the Russian Nouvelles t 
by the Board of Trade foureat Ae p. 174), it was stated that “the 
ea plant flourished on the western littoral of Transcaucasia, notably at 
dimensions and arrive at full maturit ,producing excellent seeds. The 
climate of Western vem compares favourably with that of the south- 
east of China. This analogy consists not only in the equality of the 
mean annual temperature of the two regions, but also in the quantity of 
rain which falls there and in the period (spring) when the rains are 
most abundant, a condition essential to the growth of the tea plant.” It 
is added that a so-called Caucasian tea had been exhibited at the Nijni- 
Novgorod fair. ‘‘ This was nothing else but Vaccinium Arctostaphylos, 
a kind of tea from Koporié, which only served to discredit the future 
I— in Caueasia." 
y the tea plantations in the Caucasus have been —— and 
* the quality of the tea produced is said to be 
s rri d Crown Estates has appointed a Coramiseion 
which will include “the Inspector of the Imperial Domains in the 
