239 
the pith and medullary rays of the stem into a mu cilaginous mass, 
Good botanical specimens of tragacanth-yielding species, with + siak 
ation on the mode of collecting the gum, are much wanted at Kew 
Zinc in dried Apples,—In a recent Consular ida: furnished to the 
Government of the United States, it is stated t “ for a number of 
years dried apples in rad form of slices, pieces, or rings, have been 
imported into Germany from the United § States, and it has been observed 
that this fruit often costi zinc in such quantities that, according to 
medical authority, the consumption of it may be detrimental to health. 
The German authorities have, in consequence, endeavoured by every 
ssible means to prevent the importation of American dried fruits 
bining with the zinc forming a malate of zinc. The use of zinc plates 
is said to give the dried apples a fine light colour, but as stated in the 
report * it would not seeni to be advisable to employ such means for the 
sake of a comparatively small and purely external advantage." In 
place of zinc plates it is recommended that racks or frames of wood be 
used, or that the apple-slices be dried upon strings or cords. ‘These 
methods are often employed in Germany, and therefore the brownish 
colour of the products obtained through them would. not put them to 
any vantage so far as thei ir importation into — is 
White Willow.—The Huntingdon or White Willow (Salix ir s )» 
so ealled from the silky whiteness of the underside of the leaf, is a n 
of Britain and extends to Europe, North Africa, North-west India id 
is used for ta tanning ps it yields the ee mla he timber is 
valuable for a variety of purposes such as turnery, m coopering, 
and cricket bats. NI eharcoal is diréelion for Toad manufacture of 
gunpow der and for crayons 
The favourite Tosátitlos for the growth of the White Willow * are low 
shelving banks of streams and al ‘iverine tracts subject to occasional 
inundation with water holding rich m silt in we qu and fresh or 
damp meadow land d whose soil inbisture dá is not stagnan t grows also 
in uplands not subject to inundations, and is vcudéasliy planted as an 
ornamental tree in woods. It is extensively planted as a pollard tree, 
bes in this case it is not so valuabie for timber purposes. The dem and 
white willow suitable for bat-making appears to be i Baas: 
while the suply i is falling off. Several inquiries have been made at 
on the subject. Recentl tly a letter was received from Mr. 
‘Dye 2) 
a kie bat nae of Sydne , New South Wales. He states * I have .— 
experienced great difficulty in obtaining the Seed — of Willow  . 
required in my business, viz., Salix alba I hav repeatedly Es 
