into active operation for this especial purpose. The discoveries recently emanating from the Giessen laboratory, and the progress which has been made by many continental Chemists, more especially in the abstruse department of Organic Chemistry, have extended far and wide the public curiosity and desire for enlightment on the subject, and we are glad to find that an establishment similar to that of Professor Liebig at Giessen is about to be opened at University College, under the superintendence of Professors Graham and Fownes. The object of this school is to give practical instruction to pupils in the highest branches of Chemistry, including ultimate analysis and the most abstruse researches in reference to the constitution of organic bodies.

We have heard that similar arrangements are in progress at King's College, but have not yet seen a Prospectus.

Another institution, namely, the College of Chemistry, has been announced as about to commence operations in Hanover Square; and we are informed that Professor Hoffman, a German Chemist, has been appointed superintendent. We regret that it has been considered necessary to send out of the country for a Chemist to carry on this undertaking; for while we are naturally desirous to see our own country keeping pace with others in scientific reputation, we cannot but feel that our national credit is diminished by the appointment of a foreign professor.

A fourth establishment of this kind is, we have been informed, in contemplation, under the superintendence of Dr. Playfair.

If all the practical schools above enumerated should come into immediate and active operation, very extensive accommodation will exist in this metropolis for the prosecution of chemical researches and education; and provided the supply of Pupils should be in proportion, we may expect shortly to become a nation of scientific Chemists. A certain amount of competition is highly desirable, and the only fear we entertain on the subject is, that the sudden inundation of the country with practical schools, may in some measure defeat its own object, by providing more accommodation than the public demand will support. We sincerely hope this fear will prove to be groundless.

BOTANICAL GARDENS.

THE ancient Apothecaries were fully sensible of the value of Botanical Gardens to the student, and before they were recognised by law as a body, some of the most active of their number had projected an establishment of this description, where a variety of plants might be cultivated and properly arranged. The earliest Botanical garden on record was situated in Holborn, and belonged to John Gerarde, at the end of the sixteenth century. About 1630, Tradescant established a similar garden in South Lambeth; and a few years afterwards the Society of Apothecaries commenced their "Physic Garden" at Chelsea, which was let on lease, dated August 29, 1673, by Charles Cheyne, Esq. (afterwards Lord Cheyne), to the Society, at a yearly rent of £5 for the term of 61 years. Several of the members built a wall round the garden chiefly at their own expense, it being made a condition that the Court of Assistants should pay £2 every year for ever to each of the six herborizings. The proprietors of the laboratory stock gave £50 towards the expense of the wall on condition of being allowed a piece of the garden for herbs. There was also a physic-garden at Westminster, the lease of which was purchased by the Society of Apothecaries for the sake of the plants, which were removed to Chelsea. The expense of the Chelsea garden about this time is stated to have been £180, including the gardener's salary, which was £50.

In 1707, the expense of the garden was found so heavy that it was proposed to part with it, but the zeal of the members prevailed, and a subscription was raised, twenty of them agreeing to contribute £100 per annum among them for seven years. A general subscription of 2s. a year from the members, and also fees from apprentices, aided the funds.

In the year 1714 Sir Hans Sloane was brought into communication with the Society, the freehold of the garden having become his property; and in 1722 a new lease was granted to the Society of Apothecaries on the following conditions. The lease declares that the garden" is hereafter to be continued as a physic-garden, and for the better encouraging and enabling the said Society to support the charge thereof, for the manifestation of the power, wisdom, and glory of God in the works of the creation, and that their apprentices and others may better distinguish good and useful plants from those that bear resemblance to them, and yet are hurtful, and other the like good purposes," Sir Hans Sloane confirms the former lease, the garden being held for ever at the yearly rent of £5, the Society rendering yearly to the Royal Society fifty specimens of distinct

and different plants, well dried and preserved, which grew in the garden the same year, with their names, until 2000 shall have been received. In the event of these conditions not being fulfilled, and the garden being converted into building ground for dwellings or any other purpose, save such as are necessary for a physic-garden, the lease should be forfeited and transferred to the Royal Society on the same conditions, and if refused it should be transferred in trust to the College of Physicians.

In 1732 a subscription of £549 14s. was raised for building a greenhouse, the corporation agreeing to contribute a sum not exceeding £500 for this purpose. In the course of two years a greenhouse, and two hothouses were erected, the total expense of which is stated to have been £1891 16s. In 1733 the Court of Assistants made an order that £20 a year should be paid by the Society towards the expense of sending a person to Georgia to collect plants and trees.

On several occasions Sir Hans Sloane contributed considerable sums of money towards the repairs of the greenhouse and other expenses of the garden, which in 1753 had increased to £328. In 1772 a demonstrator of Botany was appointed by the Society to superintend the garden, to encourage the cultivation of Botany among the students, to attend at stated times to demonstrate the plants, to make an annual excursion for two days at least to collect plants, to accompany the students in their herborizings, and to prepare plants for the herbarium, &c.

Sir Joseph Banks and many other distinguished men presented exotics and seeds, and subscriptions were frequently raised for various purposes, from which it appears that, notwithstanding the low rent, the garden was with difficulty maintained. In 1817 the ordinary expenditure had amounted to £535 8s. 11d., exclusive of repairs.

During a recent investigation before a Committee of the House of Commons, in reference to some projected improvements in the metropolis and its vicinity, the propriety of removing the Chelsea garden was considered, and the opinions of several scientific men were taken on the subject. It appeared to be the general opinion that the garden was not in so flourishing a state as could be desired, and that it had deteriorated considerably of late years. This was attributed partly to the want of sufficient funds to keep it in an effective state, and partly to the increase of buildings, manufactories, and chemical works in the neighbourhood, which vitiated the atmosphere.

Dr. Pereira, on being asked his opinion as to the propriety of removing the garden to Kew, admitted that the situation of the latter place was greatly preferable for the cultivation of plants, but considered that the distance from town would be a serious

inconvenience to medical students, and would, in many cases, prevent their deriving any benefit from it. The plan of sending specimens to London for the lecture-room was discussed, but this wss admitted to be insufficient to give the students an accurate and complete knowledge of them, unless they could occasionally see the plants growing. Dr. Pereira adverted to the Botanical Garden in the Regent's Park, as being more within reach of students, although he admitted that the soil and locality were not the most favourable for the purpose; but he considered the garden a very useful one for medical students, and mentioned the satisfaction which had been given to the botanical students of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY, by the lectures delivered in that garden by Dr. A. T. Thomson. Dr. Iliff and Sir William Hooker considered the situation of Chelsea Garden incompatible with the successful cultivation of plants for botanical purposes, and advocated the establishment of a similar garden at Kew.

We quite agree with Dr. Pereira in the opinion that the distance of Kew from London is a serious objection, and can bear testimony to the benefit which the students of the PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY have derived from attendance at the Gardens with Professor Thomson; but since the soil and situation of Kew are favourable to plants, and the undertaking is to emanate from the government, we think it desirable by all means to promote its accomplishment. This, however, should not interfere with the establishment or maintenance of a garden in a more accessible situation if a suitable site could be found. Although the latter would be inferior in character and extent, it might be sufficiently complete to be extremely valuable for the delivery of demonstrations or lectures.

A garden is to the botanical student as important as the laboratory to the Chemist; and since it is impossible to have so flourishing and extensive an establishment in or near the metropolis as a few miles in the country, there can be no objection to the existence of two gardens at least: the one on a small scale and accessible to students would be available for regular and elementary instruction; the other being situated at a greater distance might be visited occasionally, and ought to be conducted on such a scale as to be a national establishment, comprising every plant which can be cultivated in this country.

As the Metropolitan Botanical Lecturers experience some inconvenience and difficulty in procuring a sufficient supply for their Lectures, of recent illustrations, especially of medical plants, it should be one of the objects of a public MedicoBotanical Garden to provide lecturers under certain regulations, with such specimens as they may require, either gratuitously or on very moderate terms.

THOS. BONNER TEASDALE 338, Oxford Street

ASSOCIATES ADMITTED

ON PASSING THE MINOR EXAMINATION.

10, St.George's Place, Liverpool Rd.

HENRY THOS. LAMPLOUGH 4, William Street, Knightsbridge

HAVING of late had considerable demand for valerianate of zinc, in consequence probably of a desire among medical men to test its value as a therapeutic agent, we were led to inquire whether a method of obtaining the acid of valerian more quickly