BOTANICAL, INDKX. 
s:t 
LA UR US ( LINDE RA) BENZOIN. 
BENZOIN ODOBIFEBUM. (FE VE BRUSH, SPICE WOOD, FTC.) 
L. S. MOTE, WEST MII.TON, OHIO. 
LARGE growing shrub, indiginous to 
preferring rich, moist, shady places. 
a great portion of the United States, 
The llovvers appear early in spring 
r , before the leaves are developed, generally at the base of the leaf buds, are 
(j nite inconspicuous, and of a light lemon color, and succeeded by clusters of 
small oval berries of a light green tint, but on maturity, in the latter part of 
” September, are of a shining crimson color. All parts of this bush have a 
spicy agreeable flavor, being the strongest in the bark and berries. The young twigs 
and leaves were often used by the early pioneers of this country as a substitute for 
Hyson Tea. It medical properties are: a gentle aromatic stimulant, with like tonic- 
properties, and was often used in form of decoction, as an agreeable drink in the 
treatment of low fevers, and has been used too as a vermifuge. A tincture or syrup 
of the ripe berries was held to be invaluable in the curative acids in Diarrhoea, 
(Bloody Flux). Like the red man, it is fast disappearing from the little remaining 
forests of the lands as civilization advances. In these parts, fifty years ago, it formed 
a dense undergrowth in Our woodland, but now but few bushes can he found. It is 
a pity that such-a valuable shrub should be destroyed. 
WANTED. 
In a future number of the Index (probably the October, 1880, number,) Prof. 
Beal proposes to contribute an article on our Native Plums, and he would like to re- 
ceive specimens of perfect fruit and foliage of the same from different parts of the 
country, from those having an opportunity of collecting them. Especially would 
he he pleased to obtain examples of Prunus maritima, (Beach Plum,) and Prunus 
china sa , (Chickasaw Plum,) in both natural and fine cultivated fruit, and also their 
varieties, as now under cultivation. VVe hope our friends, who have heretofore 
contributed to our wants, will make an extra exertion this time to assist in perfect- 
ing our knowledge of this delicious fruit. Any note or information addressed to 
Prof. Beal will be duly appreciated and publicly acknowledged at the proper time. 
Prof. W. J. Beal’s address is : State Agricultural College, Lansing, Michigan. — Ed. 
Bot. Index. 
The French Government and the Phylloxera. — The sums placed at the dis- 
posal of the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce for the purpose of encouraging 
research and experiments as to the best way of dealing with the phylloxera amounted 
in 1ST!* to 500,000 francs, and this will be increased this year by supplementary grants 
to 069,750 francs. Of this amount 200,000 francs are devoted to the treatment of 
diseased vines in the district specified by the superior commission, while 250,000 
francs will be given to doubling the grants voted by the various departmental and 
municipal bodies. Societies and companies formed for the investigation of the 
disease will also be assisted by bonuses to the amount of 300,000 francs. A further 
sum of 100,000 francs will he set aside towards encouraging the propagation 
of American vine stocks and the distribution of new plants and cuttings from 
the Agricultural School at Montpelier. Rewards to the amount of 100,000 
francs will be given for furthering microscopic researches, while 50,000 francs are 
left for dealing with individual cases. 
A New Plan for the Destruction of Slugs was described by Mr. Henzi at a 
recent meeting of the National Agricultural Society of France. This plan, which 
was said to be discovered by a gardener at Ville d’Averay, near St. Cloud, consists 
in coating a thin board about the same size as a sheet of note paper with old tallow 
or grease and depositing it on the ground. The hoard becomes in a comparatively 
short time covered with the slugs, which may then be destroyed by immersion in 
spirits of turpentine or petroleum. 
The City of Paris possess the largest collection of tulips known to exist. It is 
reported to comprise 2,500 varieties. The collection was formed by the industry of 
the late M. Boutox. 
