63 



Rhus copallina (Sumach). A tree 25 to 30 feet in height widely 

 and generally distributed from northern New England, occurring 

 also in Cuba. The leaves are rich in tanning, and in Maryland, 

 West Virginia, and Tennessee, they are gathered in large quantitiea 

 and are ground for curing leather and for dyeing. The Virginian 

 crop reaches 7,000 to 8,000 tons, and is collected between July 1st and 

 the appearance of frost. 



From the Botanic Station, Lagos, 5 packets of seeds have been re- 

 ceived. Amongst them were : 



Daniellia thurifera ("West African Frankincense, or Ogea gum tree.) 

 The tree affording this gum is a native of Sierra Leone and neighbouring 

 regions. The naturally exuded gum-resin mostly appears in a liquid 

 state of white or pale-straw colour ; in some seasons, it oozes so co- 

 piously from the branches that the ground and shrubs beneath become 

 thickly covered with white spots. This natural exudation would not 

 appear to be gathered. But the tree is much attacked by an insect 

 which perforates the bark in all directions, and through the apertures 

 made by it, the gum-resin issues as a liquid mingled with and coloured 

 by the woody debris, and accumulates in masses, which fall to the 

 earth, harden and are collected for sale. Further quantites are pro- 

 cured by stripping dead or unsound bark from the tree, the more 

 decayed portions being commonly saturated by the exudation. Both 

 kinds, frequently mixed, appear in the market at Freetown, and are 

 largely consumed locally by the native women for anointing. 



Dialium guineense — A tree about twenty feet high, known as the 

 Velvet Tamarind of Sierra Leone. It has pinnate leaves, and flowers of 

 a pale rose-colour. The pod is about the size and form of a filbert, 

 covered with a beautiful black velvet down, while the farinaceous pulp 

 which surrounds the seeds has an agreeable acid taste and is commonly 

 eaten. 



From the Botanic Gardens, Bangalore, 6 packets of seeds have 

 been received, the most important being seeds of — 



Boy mid a febrifuga. — This tree is similar in habit to the Mahogany, 

 is a native of India, and known by the name of Rohuna. The bark 

 is very astringent, and some years ago came into repute as a substitute 

 for quinine. It is a useful tonic in intermittent fevers, but if given 

 beyond the extent of four or five drachms in twenty-four hours it was 

 found to derange the nervous system, occasioning vertigo and subse- 

 quent stupor. It has been successfully employed in India in bad cases 

 of gangrene, and in Great Britain in typhus fever. 



From the Botanic Gardens, Rio Janeiro, have been received 10 

 packets of seeds ; from Botanic Gardens, Cape Town, 29 packets ; 

 from Botanic Gardens, Seebpore, India, 5 packets ; from Botanic 

 Gardens, Sah \ranpur, 20 packets and 12 tubers ; from Mr. J. T. But- 

 ters, Port Elizabeth, 109 bulbs. 



From the Agri -Horticultural Society of Madras, 7 packets of 

 seeds have been received, amongst them Strvchnos Nux- vomica, (Nux- 

 vomica). 



From Mr. J. B. Beach, Florida, the following 227 plants : — 76 Pears, 

 30 Persimmon, 65 Apricot, 26 Cherry, 30 Orange. 



From the Botanic Garden and Cinchona Plantation, Ootaca- 

 mund, 21 quarts of Hill Rice Seed were received. 



