196 



Correspondence, 



SARSAPARILLA. 



Dear Sib,— With reference to Mr. Geo. Weerakoon's letter in the July- 

 number of the "Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural 

 Society," I might mention that the author of "Palms and Pearls of Ceylon' 

 has unfortunately perpetrated a number of errors regarding our Ceylon Flora 

 in his otherwise very entertaining and instructive book. 



As pointed out in my letter which appeared in the April number of the 

 Magazine, true sarsaparilla is neither found wild nor cultivated in Ceylon. 

 Mr. Walters, like many others, is confusing the officinal Sarsaparilla (Smilax offici- 

 nalis) with Indian Sarsaparilla (Sinhalese Iramusu) Hemidesmus Indicus. The 

 only local congeners of the true Sarsaparilla (Smilax) genus are the plants known 

 to the Sinhalese by the name of Kabaressa. also used medicinally. 



Bonkohomba referred to by Mr. Geo. Weerakoon is Munronia pumila a 

 well-known Sinhalese drug which has the same properties as the officinal Chiretta 

 (Ophelia Chirata). 



Yours faithfully, 



n 4. ^ , n , r, , , .„ T °- DRIEBERG. 



Government Stock Garden, Colombo, 31st July, 1906. 



THE SWAMP GUM. 



Sir,— Will you kindly inform me what is the scientific name of the 

 "Swamp Gum"; and if it does, as its name seems to imply, grow in swampy- 

 land. Also, if there are any other trees, useful for fuel, which will grow in 

 swamps at an elevation of 3,500 feet. 



Yours faithfully, 



Cj 



Peermaad , 29th July. 



[Eucalyptus viminalis, Gunnii, and pauciflora are all known as Swamp Gum 

 in Australia. These and other species of Eucalyptus would probably grow in 

 swamps at the elevation mentioned.— Ed.] 



Current Literature. 



" Le Cocotier.— Culture, Industrie et Commerce dans les principaux pays de 

 production,' by E. Prudhomme, Director of Agriculture, Madagascar. Published 

 by Augustin Challamel, Paris ; pp. 491, with photos and diagrams. In this fairly- 

 exhaustive work on the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), its cultivation and products, 

 Mons. Prudhomme has given an account of the coconut planting industry in all 

 the countries where it is carried on, with special attention to his own colony 

 of Madagascar, Ceylon, Cochin, Malaya, and the Netherland Indies. In the early- 

 chapters he deals with the varieties of coconut in different countries, and very 

 useful are the plates, showing 20 varieties of nuts in section, and the drawings 

 of sections of other nuts. These show at a glance the relative shapes and sizes 

 of different varieties and the proportion in each of husk and kernel. The 

 propagation of the plant is fully dealt with, and here also the aid of photography 

 is sought to show the results of seed planting in different ways. Excellent results 

 have been obtained in Madagascar on private plantations by placing the seed nuts 



