! 
EDIBLE LILIACEiE OF SIBERIA. 
important substance, as it enters into the composition of all our cultivated plants, and its presence 
in the soil is essential to a healthy condition of vegetable life. 
The most important natural phosphates have already been described, and I will mention, there- 
fore, only that phosphoric acid, as shown by the researches of Professors Fownes, Bischoft', Sullivan, 
and others, appears to be much more universally distributed than was formerly believed. Many 
granite, trap, basaltic, and other igneous rocks contain traces of phosphoric acid. Professor Fownes 
detected its presence in the clay of Dartmoor, in traehyt from Germany, and in basalt from Derby- 
shire ; and phosphoric acid has further been discovered by him and other chemists in lim e and 
iron-stones, and a great variety of other rocks and minerals. 
11. Chlorine. — The last substance which we have to mention, as entering into the composition of 
soils, is a highly noxious, suffocating, yellowish gaseous element, of a peculiarly disagreeable smell, 
resembling that of bleaching liquor. In soils, chlorine is only found in combination with bases. 
Its most important combination, Chloride of Sodium, or common salt, has been already noticed. 
EDIBLE LILIACEJE OF SIBERIA.* 
7/lIIE disease with which the potato has of late years been attacked has excited inquiry among 
A botanists and agriculturists as to the plants which are most suited to replace, at least, in some 
measure, this precious vegetable. Unfortunately, none of the species proposed by cultivators combine 
all the excellent qualities of the potato — easy culture, ready and fecund propagation, abundance of 
nutritive matter, agreeable flavour, and easy digestion. The Yam, the sweet potato, the Manihot, 
require tropical temperatures ; and their culture, which alone might be placed on a level with that 
of the potato, is completely excluded from northern latitudes. The Tropa>olum tuberosum has too 
strong a taste ; the artichoke, the merit of which in other respects is incontestible, and the oxalis, are 
too watery ; the Apios requires a great deal of ground for its culture, and soon becomes hard and 
unpalatable ; the Psoralea esculenta does uot realize the hopes that were at one time entertained of 
it ; the Camassia esculenta has, perhaps, a stronger claim to notice than the two last of these vege- 
tables, if, at the same time, it is readily propagated. Of all the plants cited, the Camassia is the only 
one which may be compared with the Liliacea? of Siberia, which have for a very long time served as 
food to the inhabitants, and which, therefore, merit greater attention among horticulturists. The 
large-flowered variety of the Erythronium Dens canis is generally grown in the middle of Eastern 
Siberia, and is there prized as a most excellent article of food. Formerly, indeed, it was the custom 
to send an annual supply to the Court of St. Petersburg. Its propagation from seed is very easy 
and sure, and the plants always produce plenty, but they require three years before the bulbs attain 
their full size. Its local name is Kandyk. The lilies receive the name of Sarana ; and it is especially 
the Lilium tenuifolium, and the Lilium kamschatica (Sarana kamschatica, F.) which are the esteemed 
Edible species. Lilium spectabile is equally employed as a nourishing article of food. These three 
plants are propagated with great facility. Lilium tenuifolium is propagated almost exclusively by 
seed, the two others also by the scales ; and it appears that every one of the scales of the bull), which 
are long and pointed in Lilium spectabile, thick, short, and roundish in the Sarana of Kamschatka, 
forms a new plant. This mode of propagation is even essential for the Sarana of Kamschatka, as it 
rarely bears seed. There is also at Kamschatka a lily which comes near Lilium canadense, but which 
I name Lilium avenaeeum, after the name which it bears in the country, and from the form of the 
sralcs of the bulb resembling large seeds of corn. This species is not yet introduced to gardens. In 
its native country it is eaten like the ordinary Sarana. which is. however, preferred to it. In no pari 
of Siberia arc these useful plants cultivated; everywhere it is the bulb of the wild plants which is 
gathered, and it is gathered in abundance. Lilium tenuifolium and L. spectabile are tirst met with 
in the eastern part of the government of Tomsk, and extend around Baikal ; and in all Siberia, in 
the same direction (l)aouria), as far as the eastern ocean. The Sarana of Kamschatka is found alone; 
the shores of the eastern ocean, and also at Kamschatka, as well as on the islands 1\ ing on the eastern 
side of America. It is only with very careful culture that any satisfactory results are obtained in 
improving it. In the smith of Russia the heaths and waste lands are covered in the spring with 
tulip-flowers. Among these tulips there is one known well enough on the hanks of the Don, in 
Russia, and which, perhaps, does not differ essentially from Tulipa suaveolens, and which is eagi rly 
sought for and eaten by tile inhabitants, who readily distinguish it from other species which tluy 
r never touch. — Dr. Fischer. 
I 
• From The Fl<>r- c 
