104 
PHARMACEUTICAL  NOTES  OF  TRAVEL. 
similar  course  in  London,  begins  at  8  o'clock,  A.  M.  The  at- 
tendance was  large,  perhaps  exceeding  100.  The  whole  class 
numbers  about  200,  but  many  were  absent  owing  to  the  Course 
being  near  its  close.  Prof.  Balfour,  who  is  widely  known  as  a 
botanist,  is  a  rapid  speaker,  with  scarcely  enough  volume  of 
voice  for  so  large  an  apartment,  but  the  subject  was  illustrated 
with  a  wonderful  profusion  of  diagrams,  and  specimens  of  living 
plants.  Monocotyledons,  Smilacese,  Orchidace?e,  &c,  were  des- 
cribed, and  considerable  attention  given  to  the  subject  of  the  pa- 
thology of  plants.  The  excrescences  from  insect  stings,  ergot, 
dry  rot,  potato  rot,  &c,  were  treated  of,  also,  the  remedies 
to  be  applied  to  prevent  the  progress  of  these  diseases.  Some 
parts  of  the  lecture  were  rather  unsatisfactory,  from  the  disorder 
and  want  of  attention  of  a  few  of  the  class,  who  were  at  more 
pains  to  gratify  an  unseasonable  playfulness  than  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  of  acquiring  knowledge.  The  Museum 
connected  with  this  fine  Botanical  school  furnished  us  an  object 
of  study  during  the  breakfast  hour  of  the  Professor.  It  con- 
tained specimens  of  several  departments  of  natural  history,  and 
was  occupied  by  two  or  three  young  gentlemen  engaged  in  original 
microscopic  investigations. 
A  party  of  fifteen  students  was  organizing,  to  accompany  the 
Professor,  at  the  close  of  the  Course,  on  a  botanical  excursion 
to  Switzerland.  The  arrangements  made  were  admirable  for 
economy,  much  of  the  travelling  being  on  foot,  and  the  lug- 
gage and  personal  accoutrements  being  confined  to  such  as  were 
absolutely  necessary,  each  student,  of  course,  carrying  a  suit- 
able tin  case  or  portable  press,  for  preserving  specimens  of  the 
Alpine  plants,  collected  by  the  way. 
It  was  with  reluctance  that  I  denied  myself  the  proffered 
pleasure  of  joining  this  delightful  party  at  Berne,  to  walk 
with  them  over  some  of  the  most  beautiful  scenery  in  the  world, 
in  quest  of  trophies  which  would  have  had  an  additional  charm 
from  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were  obtained. 
An  hour  spent  in  the  Edinburgh  Botanical  Garden,  will  long 
be  remembered  as  full  of  interest.  It  is  one  of  the  most  beau- 
tiful spots  in  this  beautiful  country,  and  to  the  natural  advan- 
tages of  the  location  are  added  embellishments  of  perfect  taste 
and  liberality.    A  splendid  palm-house,  recently  erected  at  an 
