114 
The  Jalap  Plant. 
/Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
\       Mar.,  1875. 
dissolved  and  the  carbonate  added  thereto.  If,  by  reason  of  impurity 
or  discoloration  of  the  benzoic  acid,  it  is  necessary  to  filter  the  solu- 
tion, three  ounces  more  water  may  be  added  before  evaporation  ;  and, 
if  required,  a  little  purified  animal  charcoal  may  be  used.  The  ben- 
zoate  may  be  obtained  in  crystals  by  withdrawing  the  heat,  and  setting 
the  solution  aside  immediately  after  the  benzoic  acid  is  all  added. 
Watts*  says  the  lithium  salt  of  benzoic  acid  is  uncrystallizable. 
This  is  incorrect  \  the  benzoate  may  be  crystallized  without  the  slight- 
est difiSculty.  It  takes  the  form  of  glistening,  pearly  scales,  or  laminae, 
somewhat  resembles  iodide  of  cadmium,  but  less  lustrous.  The  crys- 
tals feel  soapy  or  greasy  to  the  touch  \  have  a  cool,  sweetish,  and  not 
disagreeable  taste,  and  are  perfectly  permanent  in  the  air.  The  solu- 
tion has  an  acid  reaction. 
I  have  found  the  salt  to  be  soluble  in  three  and  a  half  parts  of  water 
at  60°  F.  \  in  two  and  a  half  parts  at  212^  F.  ;  and  in  ten  parts  of 
cold  alcohol,  specific  gravity  838. — Canadian  Pharm.  Jour.^  Feb.^  1875. 
'Toronto,  Jan.  i^tJi,  1875. 
THE  JALAP  PLANT  [EXOGONIUM  PURGA.) 
Of  all  autumn -flowering  hardy  plants,  there  is,  perhaps,  none  more 
beautiful  than  the  Jalap  {Exogonium  purga).  Of  its  complete  hardi- 
ness there  can  be  little  doubt.  It  has  lived  at  Bitton  without  any  pro- 
tection for  four  years,  and  each  year  it  has  flowered  beautifully.  We 
have  also  heard  of  its  doing  well  at  Drayton  Beauchamp,  Kew,  and 
Fulham.  We  believe  it  has  also  lived  out  of  doors,  and  flowered,  in 
the  Edinburgh  Botanic  Gardens.  Mr.  Ellacombe  grows  it  in  a  shel- 
tered corner,  and  gives  a  tall  wire  cage  to  grow  up,  with  a  spreading 
top.  It  does  not  flower  in  the  lower  parts  ;  but  the  entire  top,  and 
the  pendent  shoots,  become  a  mass  of  most  lovely  blossoms.  At 
Bitton,  if  not  checked  by  late  spring  frost,  it  comes  into  blossom  early 
hi  September,  and  continues  to  flower  till  cut  down  by  frost.  Mr. 
Ellacombe  states  that,  if  he  were  to  plant  another,  he  should  place  it 
under  a  south  wall  near  a  peach  or  apricot  tree,  and  let  it  wind  its  way 
through  the  branches.  With  a  very  little  training,  it  would  do  no 
injury  to  the  tree  ;  and,  in  such  a  situation,  it  would  probably  flower  ear- 
lier, and  perfect  its  seeds.  As  regards  its  history,  it  gets  its  name  of  jalap 
from  its  native  habitat,  Xalapa,  in  Mexico.    It  is  the  true  jalap  of  com- 
*"Dict.  of  Chem.,"  p.  552. 
