AMERICAN  PHARMACEUTICAL  ASSOCIATION.  485 
Stearns,  read  such  parts  as  he  thought  interesting.  It  was,  on 
motion,  accepted. 
D.  J.  Browne,  Esq.,  of  the  Agricultural  Department  of  the 
Patent  Office,  was  present  by  invitation,  and  being  introduced 
to  the  Association,  made  some  interesting  statements  relative  to 
the  introduction  of  some  medicinal  plants  into  this  country, 
naming  olives,  which  are  now  growing  well  in  the  Southern 
States ;  figs,  prunes,  and  acorns  of  cork  trees.  The  cork  tree 
has  been  growing  well  from  the  vicinity  of  Cincinnati,  west  and 
south-west,  and  the  success  has  been  so  great  that  the  depart- 
ment is  importing  10,000  tin  cans  of  the  acorns  done  up  care- 
fully in  earth.  The  verbena,  foenugrec  seed  and  chufa,  or  earth 
almond,  are  also  among  the  number.  The  latter  is  a  small 
farinaceous  tuber  attached  to  the  root  of  a  grass-like  plant 
(Cyperus  esculentus.)  The  following  are  its  constituents,  viz  : 
Water    .  .        .        .  15-50 
Fibrous  matter  .  .  .  2145 
Starch  .        .        .  .  27-00 
Gum  and  albumen  .  .  .  6-65 
Peculiar  sugar,  like  mannite       .  12-25 
Wax  0-50 
Fat  oil  16-65 
100-00 
They  are  also  attempting  to  introduce  Pyrethrum  caucassicum, 
used  for  the  destruction  of  insects  and  other  vermin.  Attempts 
have  been  made  to  introduce  the  opium  poppy,  but  hitherto 
without  success.  Liquorice  has  been  introduced  to  a  small 
extent,  and  succeeds  well.  The  department  have  also  turned 
their  attention  to  the  Ptelia  trifoliata,  an  indigenous  shrubby 
tree,  which  is  said  to  be  a  substitute  for  the  hop,  and  is  alleged 
to  produce  three  times  as  much  lupulin  [?]  as  the  humulus. 
Mr.  Browne,  in  concluding  his  remarks,  suggested  that  the 
Association  might  aid  the  Department  by  collecting  information, 
and  by  introducing  medicinal  plants  and  substances,  and,  on 
motion,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  take  the  subject  into  con- 
sideration, and  report  in  what  manner  the  Association  can  aid 
in  the  work. 
