■ftj) BOTANICAL FRAGMENTS. 219 IJ4 
spring. Under such circumstances, we see whole crops assume a yellow appearance ; and, unless a 
favourable change takes place, the plant goes off entirety, or yields only weak and imperfect spikes. 
Fruit-trees, in badly-drained ground, where the roots are always in a lower temperature than is con- 
sistent with health, arc often similarly affected. Timely draining and improvement of the soil, where 
needful, is the only remedy; hut it is easier to prevent disease by proper treatment at first than to 
prevent it when once established. This disease is not to be confounded with variegation. It is, 
perhaps, more nearly related to what is called by Meyen (Gelbsucht) jaundice, which is a partial 
affection, confined to particular shoots. The term chlorosis (Bleichsucht) has been objected to. It is 
not, however, inexpressive, and unlikely to lead to any mistake as to the cause of the disease ; it is 
suggestive merely of a pale, sickly hue (Bleiche), in contradistinction to a bright green, which is the 
point intended to be kept in view. — Rev. 31. J. Berkeley in Morton's Cyclopaedia. 
The Stylidium mucronifolium, described at page 184 (vol. ii.) is thought by Dr. Planchon to be 
distinct from the species described under that name by Sonder, and he proposes to call it <S. Hookeri, 
in compliment to Sir YV. Hooker. Our description applies to S. Hookeri. According to Dr. Planchon, 
the true S. mucronifolium differs in its scaly collar, in its leaves being radical instead of produced on a 
short stem, in its scape being all hirsute instead of smooth above, in the lip of the flower being inap- 
pendiculate instead of appcndiculate on both sides, and in the relative length of the capsule. 
Mr. Weddell states that on the inner surface of the base of the Stipules of Cinchona and allied 
genera, he has observed numerous small glands which secrete a gummy fluid. In Cinchonas the 
secretion is transparent and fluid, while in several other genera it is solid and opaque, and seems to 
glue the stipules to the bud which they embrace : this is particularly the casein Pimentelia giomcrata. 
In Rondeletia the secretion is soft, like wax, and of a beautiful green colour. The inhabitants of Peru 
give it the name of Aceite-Maria, or Oil of Mary ; they collect it carefully, and use it as an external 
application in various diseases. The stipular glands have an oval or lanceolate form, and are somewhat 
pointed. The axis of the gland is in the form of an elongated cone ; it is composed of elongated and 
dense cellular tissue. Dr. Balfour has examined these glands in many Cinchonaeese, and detected 
them in fresh specimens of the following species : — Cinchona Calisaya, Burchellia capensis, Cephaelis 
Ipecacuanha, Coffea arabica, Ixora javanica, Mussamda frondosa, Rondeletia speciosa, Pavctta indica, 
Luculia gratissima and Pinccana, Pentas carnea, Gardenia Stanleyana, and other species. In some 
the secretion was found to be beautifully coloured. — Report of Ed. Rot. Soc. 
The Mimosa Bark of commerce is the bark of Acacia dealbata, and pays to ship it to England, not- 
withstanding the distance, from the fact of its containing a greater per eentage of tannin than any 
other bark. It is a handsome tree, from fifteen to thirty feet high, forming luxuriant groves on the 
banks of streams, most abundant in Port Philip, and Twofold Bay, between the parallels of latitude 
thirty-four degrees and thirty-eight degrees. These groves, when in full blossom, send forth a frag- 
rance which may be detected several miles distant, and on approaching them, the}- present one of the 
most picturesque features in Australian forest scenery. — lb. 
A bed of Peat in Cantyre, which occurs in an extensive flat or plain very little raised above the 
existing level of the sea, full of peat mosses, strata of clay, with vegetable stems, &6., described by 
Dr. Balfour, is remarkable on account of its containing an immense accumulation of leaves which are 
comparatively unaltered in their structure. It must be of ancient date, as it is covered by clay and 
gravel, and there is reason to believe that a peat moss now cut away lay over it. This moss, 
where it remains still uncut, is from ten to twelve feet in depth. The forms of the leaves 
aro well marked, and the following appear to occur: — Leaves of Salix Caprea, and vimiualis 
or stipularis; Rumex Acctosclla; stem and leaves of a Moss; stems of grasses and of a rush; 
leaves of a heath-like plant, either Bmpetrum nigrum, or a species of Erica; epidermis of Birch. 
Woody and vascular tissue had been detected; also scalariform vessels indicating the remains of terns. 
The leaves, which have been examined by Dr. Voclckcr, give the following result : — Ash from leaves 
dried at 2\'2° — 32 46. The ash is of a reddish colour, apparently from the presence of oxide of iron, 
and resembles ordinary peat-ashes in many respects. 
Those who are interested in the culture of Hardy Ferns will be glad to learn, that Niphobolus 
1 lingua succeeds on rookwork in the open air in the climate of Devonshire. It may thus be seen in the 
nni scry of Mr. Pince, of Exeter. 
The "Reindeer Moss [Cenomyce ranyiferina), without which these animals cannot thrive, and which 
scenv to form almost their only food, is of a pale greenish yellow, and resembles a dn lichen rather 
than a moss. At first sight it appears a most miserable, uninviting, and wretched fare; but on pluck- 
ing it up, you discover that it is of a succulent spongy nature, and the under part, which is not exposed 
