Finally, 30 c.c. of a well made fluid extract of the same coca was thoroughly mixed with 8 grms. of caustic magnesia in a capsule, and the mixture dried on a water-bath and powdered. This powder was then exhausted, one part by ether and the other part by chloroform, exactly as in the method given, both parts giving very slightly higher results. As a check upon the results, the solution of alkaloid washed out was titrated with normal solution of oxalic acid. From all this it would appear that this inferior coca of the markets, or rather the best that can be selected from it, yields about the same proportion of the alkaloid as was obtained by Niemann and Maisch, but it has been shown that, by the older processes of assay used by them, much of the alkaloid was probably lost or destroyed, and that much better results are generally obtained by the modern process. Now, since 3 drachms of this coca, or three fluid drachms of its fluid extract, gave the same physiological, or perhaps therapeutical, effect as 3 grains of caffeine, and as the 3 drachms contained about 0.45 grain of cocaine, it follows that cocaine is about 6.5 times more effective than caffeine; but it also follows that the coca accessible, and even the very best coca, contains very much less of its alkaloid than those articles which yield caffeine do of that principle. * * * * * THE MELLOCO. ULLUCUS TUBEROSA.--Early last year two tubers of this plant were received at Kew from Caracas, and from out of doors in a prepared bed in June. The result of this experiment, together with a few particulars as to the esculent properties of the tubers, may be worth recording, as I believe several gardeners, among them being the Messrs. Sutton, have obtained tubers of the Ullucus from Kew with a view to giving it a trial. The two Caracas tubers mentioned above were as large as hens' eggs, rather longer, and somewhat flattened; the skin was red, as in some potatoes. These, when placed in heat, rapidly developed shoots, which were removed as soon as they were strong enough to form cuttings; in this way about a hundred sturdy young plants were obtained and made ready for planting out of doors in June. They were planted in a light, sandy, well manured soil in a position exposed to full sunshine. Here they grew quickly, forming by the middle of August tufts of shoots and leaves one foot across. They were earthed up as for potatoes, and the strongest shoots were pegged down and partly covered with soil, though the latter proved unnecessary. At this time there were no tubers nor any signs of them. On again examining the plants in September (about the middle), we were surprised to find no tubers had yet been formed. The plants were now very strong, and it was therefore concluded that instead of forming tubers the strength of the plants had "run to leaves." We gave them up, no further notice being taken of them till the frost came, when on perceiving that a