854 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST 
beneficial effects of the drug- itself becomes very 
much questioned by many, who though they 
may have drank a brown decoction for months, 
have imbibed a very small proportion of the 
extract from the genuine root. 
The family of plants to which the sarsaparilla 
belongs, is distributed in small groups over the 
entire globe. Those species most in repute as 
medicinal, belong to warm climates in Asia and 
America. It may well be supposed that in a 
family of plants consisting of upwards of one 
hundred species, all closely resembling each 
other, much confusion would arise, especially as 
the valuable properties known to be present in 
some, are common, in less extent, to many 
others. Authorities differ widely in regard to 
the comparative value of many species. Dr. 
Berthold Seeman, an experienced practical as 
well as scientific botanist, furnished some par¬ 
ticulars on this subject, at a recent meeting of 
the Linnasan Society of England, which are 
worthy of recording. He stated as the result 
of his investigations, that the greater proportion 
of sarsaparilla, imported under the commercial 
names of Jamaica and Lisbon, or Brazilian and 
Guatemala, or Red Paraguay Sarsaparilla, is the 
produce of one species, which he decides to be 
the Smilax officinalis of Humboldt and Bon- 
pland, with which the S. medica of > Sciii.Ecii- 
tendal and Chamisso, as well as S. papyracea 
of Poiret, are identical. Smilax officinalis 
grows in South America alone, between the 
20th degree of N. Lat., and the 6th degree of 
S. Lat.; and the 110th and 40th degrees of 
"West Longitude, at an elevation of 5,000 feet, 
and on the coast region. The article sold as 
Jamaica Sarsaparilla, is imported from the 
Spanish Main. The following abridged descrip¬ 
tion of the article of commerce from Dr. See- 
man’s remarks from the report of the Society in 
the Gardeners' Chronicle , shows the difference 
in composition and external appearance between 
the several kinds: 
The roots which form the commercial article 
abound more or less in starch, according to the 
age and conditions under which they have 
grown. The stem is quadrangular or multi- 
angular, and with or without prickles; the 
petioles sheathing at the base, and having a 
pair of tendrils; the leaves very variable, broadly 
cordate, almost three lobed, gradually acuminate 
or ovate, oblong or even lancolate, and rounded 
at the apex, but always mucronate, generally 
five nerved, and prickly on the nerves beneath; 
varying in length, from two inches to one foot, 
and in texture from coriaceous to papery. The 
flowers, which grow in little umbels of about 
16 together, are unknown, but the berries are 
round, red, and of the size of a cherry. Bota¬ 
nists competent to judge of the question do not 
object to the union of the several species under 
one, but pharmacologists are less likely to be 
convinced, “except on the strongest evidence,” 
the appearance of the samples being so different. 
The Lisbon Sarsaparilla, which comes in rolls 
about three feet long, having fewer rootlets or 
beards than that termed Jamaica Sa'rsaparilla. 
This difference, however, arises from the root¬ 
lets having been removed by mechanical means, 
before it reaches market. .The samples are 
distinguished by mealy and non-mealy, and 
this depends on the age of the roots, and the 
locality in which they are collected. 
Though the various sorts proceed from the 
same source botanically, the value of the com¬ 
mercial distinctions is important; for so long as 
the various circumstances continue the same, 
namely, the preparation of the roots in various 
ways, and the difference of climate where the 
samples grow, the article itself will preserve its 
distinctive marks. 
We find fourteen species named as being 
used in commerce—two of them only indige¬ 
nous to the south of Europe, S. excelsa and 
S. aspera. A New-Holland species S, Gly- 
cyphylla, called Sweet Tea, is also used in 
decoctions. Nine or ten species are indigenous 
to our Northern States, the one known as 
Pseudo-China, is used in the preparation of 
Root Beer with Sassafras, molasses, and other 
ingredients, and is found in New-Jerscy and 
other States. The popular name of the family 
is Green Briar. As the long trailing stems are 
beset with strong sharp spines, it is a formi¬ 
dable obstacle in penetrating the woods and 
thickets where it abounds. The flowers are 
quite inconspicuous, some of them emitting a 
disagreeable odor. The root or tuberous rhi¬ 
zome is the part general^ employed in decoc¬ 
tions, and has attained a high character as a 
standard medicine. Its efficacy, of course, de¬ 
pends on the quality of the specimen used. 
- -— 
NEW-YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Toe regular monthly meeting of this Society 
was held at their room, 600 Broadway, on 
Monday evening, February 6th. 
According to the published list of objects for 
exhibition, Camellias, Chinese Primroses, and 
Wild Chickory were in order at this meeting. 
Charles More, Florist, Yorkville, exhibited 
several varieties of Camellia Japonica—includ¬ 
ing Double White, Fimbriata, Incarnata, Amab- 
ilis, Imbricata, (Dunlops’,) Carswelliana, and 
Punica;flora. Punicseflora, though an old vari¬ 
ety, is very beautiful, and is peculiar for its 
habit of flowering. The small branch exhibited 
bore many flowers, closely crowded together, 
of a bright red color, with broad white stripes; 
though the flowers are not very double, nor the 
petals regularly arranged, the variety is a very 
pretty one; one branch forms a boquet in itself. 
The other flowers were well formed; the vari¬ 
eties are so well known, that we need not par¬ 
ticularize them. 
Mr. More exhibited some choice roses, in¬ 
cluding Tea, Adams, Saffrano, Fragoletta, Ther- 
ese Isabella, Bengal Louis Phillippe, and For¬ 
tunes’ Double Yellow. Therese Isabella is a 
very double pure white rose, quite desirable in 
its class. The flower of Fortunes’ Yellow was 
not fully expanded, and was deeper in color 
with more cupped petals, than the blooms of 
that celebrated rose we have seen during the 
past season. It is not so great a humbug as 
was at first supposed. 
The Committee on Plants and Flowers awarded 
a premium to Mr. More. 
The Society proceeded to business. Mr. 
Groshon, one of the vice-presidents, occupied 
the chair. After the minutes were read, Mr. 
Mead, Recording Secretary, stated that an im¬ 
portant question was before the Society for 
decision, viz.: whether a Spring exhibition 
should be held, and if so, at what time ? This 
should be settled as soon as possible, in order 
that a premium list could be prepared by the 
committee. 
The Chair was ready to hear any motion on 
this subject. 
D. Boll was not in favor of having another 
exhibition until the premiums already due were 
settled. These exhibitions will not pay, and 
the Society is already in debt. 
A. Reed was in favor of having a spring 
exhibition as early in May as possible, when 
plants in pots could be procured sufficient to 
make a good display, before the Florists com¬ 
mence to sell off their roses and other plants. 
He was in favor of having it in a tent, if one 
could be had. He suggested the third week in 
May. 
D. Boll moved that there should be no 
exhibition by the Society in the Spring, but 
afterwards withdrew his motion. 
Thomas Hogg, Jr., was in favor of the Society 
keeping up its character before the public, but 
opposed to offering money premiums. He 
thought the majority of those who took an 
interest in the success of the Society would be 
satisfied with a Diploma, dr honorable mention 
of their contributions. Much benefit resulted 
to nurserymen and florists from having their 
plants exhibited, more certainly, than the amount 
of the pecuniary award, which would never 
cover the expenses of bringing the plants to 
exhibition. He was in favor of a tent, if such 
could be obtained, as the Boston Societ) r had 
been successful by taking that course, their 
last exhibition being more profitable than sev¬ 
eral previous ones, none of which ever paid the 
expense incurred. He also thought those wh° 
were benefitted should subscribe to meet the 
expenses. 
After much discussion, it w r as finally agreed 
to refer the question of holding a Spring exhi¬ 
bition, with the details as to time and place, to a 
committee of five, consisting of Messrs. P. B. 
Mead, D. Boll, J. C. Parsons, TnoMAS IIogg, 
Jr., and Wilson G. Hunt, to report at an 
adjourned meeting, to be held on Monday, 13th 
February. 
Mr. Mead laid on the table the seeds pre¬ 
sented bjr M. Victor Motschulsky, and moved 
a vote of thanks to that gentleman, and that he 
be elected an honorary and corresponding mem¬ 
ber, which passed unanimously. 
Several new members were proposed and 
elected. The meeting then adjourned to the 
13tli inst. 
ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF FARM HORSES. 
The following is one of the best and most ju¬ 
dicious articles we ever read on the subject of 
breeding horses. It ought to be carefully stu¬ 
died by all who take interest in this noble ani- 
imal.— Eds. 
In following out the line of argument begun 
in my last letter, I shall strengthen my position 
by a passing reference to other domestic ani¬ 
mals. We find in practice that every breed of 
cattle is improved by a cross with the short¬ 
horns, the most perfect of them all; and I be¬ 
lieve there are few varieties of which the breed¬ 
ers do not at the present day more or less re¬ 
sort to this cross. In like manner, with regard 
to sheep, what breed is there which either is not 
or has not been crossed with the Leicester or 
the South-down? Indeed, this is one reason for 
the high prices which rams of these two aristo¬ 
cratic breeds continue to command. In all 
these cases it will be found that it is the supe¬ 
rior race which assimilates the inferior to itself, 
and tends as it were to swallow them up. Many 
varieties of cattle and of sheep once well known 
in this country are now either forgotten or are 
remembered only by name; and yet here the 
