CXXXVi PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A SUBSTITUTE FOR COFFEE. 



We have received the following communication, and also a. 

 package of seeds to which it refers : — 



Corrientes (Argentine Republic), S. America, 



June 25, 1894. 



Dear Sir, 



In the belief that it may be of use to the science of Horticul- 

 ture, I take the liberty to send you the seeds of the Cassia neglecta, 

 which we call in this province by the name of " Taperiva." 



This plant is very remarkable from an economical point of view. 

 The seeds, when roasted, supply a good coffee, and raw are a good 

 substitute for rice, while its leaves, and also its roots, have much value 

 for medicinal purposes. Infusions prepared from this plant are used 

 to cure tuberculosis, coughing, colic, indigestion, fistula, &c. 



You can see by the notice hereto appended the role which the cul- 

 tivation of this plant is likely to play in the industrial world. In my 

 opinion, it will be more profitable to England than growing Coffea 

 arabica (Linn.) — (i.) because it is grown more easily, (ii.) because each 

 seed is capable of producing 1,000 others in due course. If England 

 takes up the production of this plant (the "Taperiva"), she will have 

 the credit of introducing a new coffee, a new article of trade, in the 

 commerce of the world. 



The present sample consignment of seeds will prove how true my 

 assertions are, and how useful this product may be rendered by the 

 industry of the Englishman. The notice subjoined is extracted from 

 my " Flora Correntina," published on March 1, 1890, in an illustrated 

 weekly magazine of Buenos Ayres, to which paper I am a contributor,, 

 thanks to its editors, Messrs. Gacke & Castro. 



I hope you may be induced to publish the notice I send you ; and 

 if so, I shall have much pleasure in sending you others, some on 

 botanical, some on ornithological subjects, in case the flora of this- 

 country is not well known to you. 



I remain, yours faithfully, 



Nicolas Rojas Acosta. 



Taperiva, or Coffea Bonplandea. 

 (Cassia ncglccta.) 



An annual plant, inter-tropical, South American ; found in the- 

 province of Corrientes in the wild state. Supplies a beverage similar 



