HE Helianthus or sunflower (the English is a literal translation of the botanical name), of which there are thirty-five known species, is a native of America, from whence it was first brought to Europe in the year 1597. Owing to the recent fashion in favour of this showy flower, it is familiar to everybody, but it is not so well known that the common garden vegetable, the Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus) is one of the same genus. The name "Jerusalem" is probably a corruption of the Italian "girasole" or "turn-sun," i.e., sunflower; while the usurped title "artichoke" (to which it has botanically speaking no right whatever) has reference to the flavour of the tubers. Few persons in this country have ever seen the flower of the Jerusalem artichoke, which is seldom produced in the British Isles, indeed it is not worth the trouble needed to bring it to perfection, being a small yellow blossom like that of the coltsfoot enlarged.

The sunflower is largely grown in parts of France for its seeds, which yield large quantities of oil and oil-cake used for cattle food, and in certain regions of America it is cultivated for the stems, which supply sufficient fuel for cooking.

to be the common Heliotropium Europeum of South Europe, which is not much more than an insignificant weed. The modern sweet-scented Peruvian Heliotrope, or "Cherrypie," was not introduced from South America till 1740, having been discovered by the celebrated Jussieu when botanizing among the Cordilleras.

There is a wonderful jumble and confusion in the minds of many about and between these two plants Helianthus and Heliotropium. What the ancients believed concerning their Heliotrope has been transferred without any reason (except that the first part of each name is the same) to the Helianthus, a name given by the great Linnæus, on account of the brilliant colour of the flowers, and their resembling the typical representations of the sun-an orb surrounded by a circle of tongues of flame. And the idea thus associated with the plant, notwithstanding its being disowned by such an authority as Sir Joseph Paxton in his "Botanical Dictionary," is still taught by our popular dictionaries, just as the poet sings "how the sunflower turns on her god when he sets the same look that she turned when he rose !"

I thought the notion had passed away from the minds of modern botanists as a poet's fancy, till I lately read in the "Journal of Microscopy and Natural Science" for July 1886, an interesting paper by Mr. H. W. S. Worsley-Bennison, F.L.S., Lecturer on Botany at Westminster Hospital, on "The Power of Movement in Plants," in which at p. 157 occurs the following passage-"Positive Heliotropism, . . Among flowers, the compositæ furnish us with many examples, one being specially prominent, the sunflower, whose peduncle twists in a circle during the day, bringing its flower constantly towards the sun."

....

When I perused this statement in print by such a writer, though I was quite sceptical of any such extraordinary Heliotropism, I resolved to test it practically, and having done so I now send you the result.

A long row of fine sunflowers in an open space, apart from walls or trees, in my garden, afforded a most favourable opportunity; and amongst them I

K

Gallery, by Thomas Donaldson.

To ethnologists this volume has therefore an unusual value.

Handy Guide to Norway, Second ed., by Thomas B. Willson (London: Ed. Stanford). Mr. Willson's excellent guide to a now much visited country has been thoroughly revised and enlarged. It may be too late to visit Norway this year, but those who think of going next summer should obtain this handy book. It is abundantly illustrated with maps, and the notes on botany and fishing, &c., make it unusually valuable.

My Microscope, by a Quekett Club Man (London: Roper and Drowley). A charmingly-written and artistic little book, designed to be an "Introduction to the study of the Infinitely Little." This is the second edition, showing how well the first was appreciated by the rapidity with which it has gone off.

British Reptiles, by C. C. Hopley (London: Swan Sonnenschein). This is another shilling volume of "The Young Collector" series, whose chief value consists in each having been entrusted to the person best fitted to write it. Nobody will doubt Miss Hopley's fitness this little book includes the Batrachians.

The Transactions of the Leeds Geological Association, Part 3, contains some excellent papers by Mr. Thomas Tate, Professor McAll, W. Cheetham, C. Brownridge, Professor Green, &c., and some wellwritten accounts of geological excursions made in the district.

Transactions Chichester and West Sussex Natural History Society, has papers by the Rev. C. D. Ash, Rev. F. H. Arnold ("Phyto-Geography of the South Coast "), Rev. J. Fraser, Dr. Paxton, and Mr. Joseph Anderson, jun.

The Westmoreland Note-Book and Natural History Record, is devoted to local topography, biography and antiquarianisms; it also contains local ornithological, botanical, and geological papers.

Transactions Hertfordshire Natural History Society, vol. iv. part 8, is devoted to accounts of various field meetings, held in different parts of the county.

The eleventh annual report of the Hackney Microscopical and Natural History Society, contains abstracts of papers read, and shows the Society to be in a very healthy state.

doubt, are more or less interested in the cultivation of these beautiful flowers.

Perhaps the worst insect enemies of the rose are the various species of aphides, green fly, or smother flies, as they are variously called. G. B. Buckton, F.R.S., in his excellent monograph published by the Ray Society, gives five species as infesting various species or varieties of rose. The most common of these are Siphonophora rosa and S. rosarum, but for all practical purposes they may all be treated as one species. No gardener needs be told of their hurtful properties, clustering round the buds and tender branches, and sucking the juices of the plant by inserting the rostrum through the tender bark. The rate of increase of these insects is something prodigious, and unless a check is put upon them as soon as they appear in the spring, they soon become so numerous as to render any remedial measures almost hopeless. In common with other aphides, the rose aphis has several natural enemies, and these at all times should be encouraged. The most observable, perhaps, being the various kinds of hovering flies (Syrphidae), those two-winged insects with bodies banded black and yellow, and which may be seen in sunny weather flying about the garden and poising motionless every now and then before some object, especially a composite flower, but darting off with lightning speed, if disturbed, to poise again in another place. These deposit eggs among the aphides, and the grubs which hatch from them are legless, broad behind and tapering gradually to the head. They feed upon the green flies, as do also the various kinds of lady-bird beetles (Coccinellidae) and their larvæ. In the case of a tree which grows in such a position that it cannot readily be examined, it is a good plan to collect a quantity of these latter insects and place them upon it. The rose aphis has, however, another enemy, perhaps more destructive than either of the above, in the shape of a very minute metallic fly (Aphidius cancellatus) which deposits its eggs in the aphides, the larvae feeding within. This fly is so small that it is seldom seen at large, but the dried carcases of the victimised insects may be readily observed fixed upon the rose leaves, and if collected and placed in a glass-topped box the parasites may be bred from them. Near to woods perhaps also the larvæ of some of the lace-winged flies (Hemerobiidae) do their share in aphis destruction. These larvæ may readily be distinguished from those of the hovering flies in the fact that they have six legs on the front segments, and some of the species make a cloak of the aphis skins which is carried upon the back. Every rose grower should make himself thoroughly acquainted with all these insects, and with judicious care and proper selection, they will help him greatly in his work.

Among the artificial remedies employed for the destruction of these numerous pests, it will only be necessary to mention two. The first is that recom

mended by Miss Ormerod as a general aphis wash, and which consists of one part of black soft soap boiled in eight parts of soft water, to which paraffin must be added while boiling, and the mixture bottled while warm. When required for use it is to be diluted with water, the strength depending on the state of foliage and severity of attack. Another wash is that recommended by Mr. Whitehead as being of general use in the Kentish hop gardens: viz., 6 to 8 parts quassia boiled in 100 parts of soft water and 4 to 5 parts soft soap.

The common cuckoo-spit insect, or froghopper (Aphrophora spumaria) often very common in gardens, is also injurious to roses and other plants, and there is also a scale (Diaspis rosa) which is supposed to be peculiar to this genus of plants.

Beaumont Park, Huddersfield.

(To be continued.)

S. L. MOSLEY.

THE ECONOMICAL PRODUCTS OF

THE

PLANTS.

By J. T. RICHES.

HE DURIAN FRUIT.-This is the produce of Durio Zibethinus, Linn., a tree belonging, according to the latest arrangement in Bentham and Hooker fils' Genera, Plantarum, to the family Malvacea, tribe Duriæ. It is a native of the Islands of the Malay Archipelago, and is now extensively cultivated both in the Peninsula and Islands. The present cultivated varieties are vastly superior to the wild form from which they have originated, and which still exists in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra. It is a very large tree, growing from sixty to eighty feet high, resembling in appearance an elm tree. Leaves alternate, oblong, acuminate, rounded at the base, entire subcoriaceous, densely covered beneath with minute scales, giving them a silvery-red appearance. Flowers produced in little clusters, on the main trunk or branches of a yellowish-green colour. Fruit variable in form, globular or oval, measuring as much as ten inches long, rather more than half as broad; it has a thick very hard rind, covered with hard short hexagonal spines, and is divided into five cells, each of which contains from one to four seeds, rather longer than a pigeon's egg, completely enveloped in the firm cream-coloured pulp, which is the edible portion, and its consistency and flavour is indescribable, and during the period when the fruit is in season, it forms a staple part of the food of the natives, and in a good fruit season large quantities are preserved in salt in jars and bamboos, and kept the year round, when the odour is very uninviting to Europeans, but the Dyaks are regardless of this, being accustomed to it, and they very much enjoy them as a relish with their rice.

Of all tropical fruits this is perhaps the most

delicious, at least it has been so regarded by most travellers who have written and spoken in the highest terms of it. One thing is certain, if it may not claim rank as the king of tropical fruits, it is the one with the most abominable and offensive odour, which has been commonly compared either to putrid animal matter or rotten onions, and it would be inferred that a fruit with such an odour, would be most repugnant. This is so perhaps upon first acquaintance, but that is speedily overcome, and the durian in the end becomes a favourite. The old traveller Simchott, writing as early as 1599, says: “It is of such an excellent taste that it surpasses in flavour all the other fruits of the world according to those who have tasted it." And Dr. Paludanus adds: "This fruit is of a hot and humid nature. To those not used to it, it seems at first to smell like rotten onions, but immediately they have tasted it they prefer it to all other food. The natives give it honourable titles, exalt it, and make verses on it." Mr. A. Wallace ("Malay Archipelago," p. 75), than whom we want no better authority, says: "A rich butter-like custard flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but intermingled with it come wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion sauce, brown sherry, and other incongruities. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid, nor sweet, nor juicy, yet one feels the want of none of these qualities, for it is perfect as it is. It produces no nausea or other bad effects, and the more you eat of it, the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact to eat durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. It would not be well perhaps to say that the durian is the best of all fruits, because it cannot supply the place of the subacid juicy kinds, such as the orange, mango, and mangosteen, whose refreshing and cooling qualities are so wholesome and grateful, but as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour it is unsurpassed. If I had to fix on two only as representing the perfection of the two classes, I should certainly choose the durian and the orange as the king and queen of fruits." Mr. Wallace also remarked upon the dangerous character of a durian plantation when the fruit

ripe, and liable to fall, and it is of frequent occurrence that such prove very serious to many persons during the season, and owing to the great weight of the fruit, and its spiny coating, a very bad wound is caused by a blow upon the head, but which bleeds profusely. At the same time he remarks it is astonishing how rapidly persons recover from the effects of such a blow.

THE MANGOSTEEN FRUIT.-This is produced by Garcinia mangostana, Linn., which belongs to the Gamboge family (Guttiferex). It is a native of the Malay Archipelago, where it is extensively cultivated. It has also been introduced, and is cultivated in the Southern and Eastern provinces of India, but it does

not there attain to such perfection as in the Malay Islands. It appears to have been introduced into this country in 1789, and it first produced its fruit in the gardens of the Duke of Northumberland at Syon, Isleworth, in 1855, from whence it was figured by Sir W. J. Hooker in the Bot. Mag., t. 4847, where it is also well described.

It is a large tree, with a freely-branched conical head, leaves oblong-elliptical, acutely pointed, entire, glossy, of a leathery texture. Flowers near the extremities of the shoots, solitary, on very short

Fig. 78.-Flower of Garcinia mangostana, Linn.

Its

of the praise bestowed upon it. It is of a spherical form, of the size of a small orange when ripe, reddish-brown, and when old, chesnut-brown. succulent rind is nearly the fourth of an inch in thickness. It contains a very powerful astringent juice, and in wet weather exudes a yellow gum which is a variety of gamboge. On removing the rind its esculent substance appears in the form of a juicy pulp, having the whiteness and solubility of snow, and of a refreshing, delicate, delicious flavour. We were all anxious to carry away with us some precise expression of its qualities, but after satisfying ourselves that it partook of the compound taste of the pineapple and peach, we were obliged to confess that it had many other equally good but inexpressible qualities." It is stated that any quantity of the fruit may be eaten without deleterious effects, and it is given with sweet oranges to persons affected with fevers, and, according to good evidence, Dr. Solander, in the last stage of a putrid fever at Batavia, found himself insensibly recovering by sucking this delicious and refreshing fruit. According to Dr. Garcin, in honour of whom the genus is named: "It is one of the most delicious of the East Indian fruits, and a great deal of it may be eaten without inconvenience; it is the only fruit which sick people are allowed to eat without scruple." Mr. A. Wallace ("Malay Arch.," p. 84), in describing Sarawak, says, "a cool spring under an overhanging rock just below the cottage furnished us with refreshing baths and delicious water, and the Dyaks brought us daily heaped-up baskets of mangosteens and sunsats, two of the most delicious of the sub-acid tropical plants."

The bark of the tree is astringent, and a decoction of it is used by the natives in dysentery, etc., and the Chinese prepare a black dye from it.

Fig. 79.-Fruit of Garcinia mangostana. peduncles, of a dull red colour, and about the size of dog-roses. Fruit spherical in form, a section of which would be about three inches in diameter, and for which the tree is most highly esteemed, although it possesses other virtues which gain for it great favour. The fruit is largely used as an article of food, it is very luscious and wholesome, and with the last is one of the best tropical fruits. Dr. Abel, in his description of the fruits of Batavia, says: "First in beauty and flavour was the mangosteen. This, so often eulogised by travellers, certainly deserves much

IT

A NATURALIST ALL AT SEA.

T was in February that I jotted down a few notes near the Equator, outward-bound for Australia.* I wrote under difficulties-for a head-wind and choppy sea interfered sadly with our action, and I upset a bottle of ink over the counterpane in my berth, amongst other misfortunes.

Sydney was my farthest point from home. Our ship-the P. and O. "Victoria "-entered the heads at five o'clock A. M. I was already on deck, knowing full well that one of the finest sights in the world would shortly be revealed.

The gap in the precipitous headlands is so narrow that even Captain Cook himself at first sailed past without discovering the entrance. He landed at Botany Bay, marching overland to behold Port Jackson; a stupendous revelation it must have been !

SCIENCE-GOSSIP, April, 1888.