618 Botanical Report, . [July 1, 
It is worthy of observation, that since the Middlesex hay farmers have discontinued the 
practice of making very large stacks, they seldom suffer from heating and firing. The stacks 
now made, rarely ever exceed eight or ten yards in length by 472, or six yards in breadth. 
Little variation has been experienced i in the prices of Lean Stock, at the recent Fairs, where 
Horses, Sheep, and Cattle, have been brought in plenty, and met with some buvers.—In 
Smithfield Market, Beef fetches from 4s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. per stone of 81b.; Mutton, from 
4s. 6d. to 5s.; and Pork, from 4s 6d. to 5s. 4d. 
REPORT OF THE PROGRESS AND DISCOVERIES IN THE SCIENCE 
OF BOTANY, FOR JUNE, 1807.—( To be continued. ) 
HE Jast month has afforded but vials of novelty in this science. The usual periodical 
publications, the Botanical Magazine, Botanist’s Repository, Paradisus Londinensis, and 
English Botany, continue regularly ; but it is with regret that we observe that Exotic Botany, 
from the same pen and pencil as the last- mentioned work, has been dormant for seme months 
past. This is the more to be lamented, as we were promised a continuation of the very inte- 
vesting plants discovered in Northern India, by Dr. Buchanan; we trust, however, that the 
design is not laid aside. 
The Botanical Magazine for June gives us drawings, and, more or less detailed, descriptions 
of the following plants : —Xylophy! la latifolia, lantana annua, gesneria tomentosa, fuchria 
lycioides scillasibirica, narcissus orientalis (var } flava), trillium erectum (war 8 albiflorum), 
colchicum variegatum. Dr. Sims remarks, that the genus xylophilla does not differ from 
phyllanthus, as the lotter is at present constituted 5 indeed Jussieu, while he has continued 
the erroneous designation of the former genus, which Linneus adopted from Browne, ex- 
presses his doubts on the subject. As, however, the genus phyllanthus is probably much 
More extensive even than is at present known, we think the Doctor has done right to ¢onti- 
mue the name of xylophylla to this and the immediately related species, which perhaps the 
peculiarity of its inflorescence is sufficient to justify our considering as a distinct genus, and 
infarescentia crems ramuiorum foliiformium mizht have been added to the generic characters. 
Both genera are said here to be more properly inserted in the class and order monacia mona- 
delphia, immediately after ricinus ; an arrangement possessii g an advantage which ought cere 
tainly never to be Jost sight of, that of bringing plants 0: the same natural family nearer to- 
gether, without encroaching on the rules of the system; forbendes ricinus, jatropha, and cro- 
ton, here mentioned, herculia hippomane and hura, are also of the same natural order, and 
occupy the same place in the Linnzan system. 
Lantana annua, though known to Miller, is supposed to have been never before figured. 
We owe our present possession of this plant to Lord Holland. 
The next four plants in the above list are commented upon by Mr. Bellendenther, late 
Gawler, who seems to Have undertaken to illustrate the Linnean natural orders of ensata © 
eoronari@, the plants of which having, many of them, been long cultivated in the gardens of: 
Europe, and thus become crowded with varieties, and many others introduced of late fromthe 
Cape of Good Hope, and hardly known to botanists but by the very inadequate descriptions 
of Thunberg, in his Orodromus, have been a sort of opprobrium to the science, no two au- 
thors agreeing to what genus the individual species should be referred, or in applying to them 
the same name; a mote acceptable office could therefore hardly have been undertaken. OF 
the first of these orders, so complete an account is no where to be met with as in the Botanical 
Magazine, and, by the same author, in the Annals or Botany. Scilla sibirica is here consi-. 
dered asa variety of S. amena, but of the propriety of this we entertain some doubt: at the 
same time we applaud the caution which this author shews, not unnecessarily, to increase the 
number of species; and whilst we are indulged with descriptions and figures of the most re- 
markable of these varieties, the science ioses nothing if real species should now and then be 
enumerated as such, when we have appropriate names to call them by; but if ever varieties. 
from any cause become permanent, that is, when similar plants.are always, produced from 
seed, without any disposition in the offspring tu revert back to the form of the original parent, 
these become as nece.sary to be recorded, to form a complete history of the genus, as any other 
species. 
In his account of colchicum variegatum, Mr Ker has taken the opportunity of subjoining 
@ synoptical view of the species at present known. These are, 
Montanum, Wild (derendera /ulbocedium, Redonté). 
Arenarium, Kitaib. Pl. rar. Hung. (colch. mentanum verity fi Clus, Hist..) 
Bulbocodium, Gaw!. (dulbocodium yernum, Bot. Mag. ») 
Autumnale, Engl. Bot. 133. 
Polyanthon, Gawl. (co/chicum pannonicum, Clus. Hist.) 
Variegatum, Bot. Mag. 1028. 
Byzantinum, Gawl. (colch, byzantinum, Clus. Hist.) 
OF 
