the CARLINE THISTLE: A genus of the polygama æqualis order, belonging to the fynge-netta clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 49th order, Compositæ. The calyx is radiated with long coloured marginal scales. There are seven species, only one of which is a native of Britain, viz., the vulgaris. The others are natives of the south of France or Italy; and are very easily propagated in this country by seeds, which must be sown on a bed of fresh undunged earth, where they are to remain, as they do not bear transplanting. When the plants appear above ground, they should be carefully weeded, and afterwards thinned, leaving them about ten inches or a foot apart. The second year most of them will flower: but, unless the season proves dry, they rarely produce good seeds in this country, and some of the plants decay soon after they have flowered, so that it is pretty difficult to maintain them here. The roots are used in medicine, and for that purpose are imported from those countries where the plants grow naturally. As we receive them, they are about an inch thick, externally of a rusty brown colour, corroded as it were on the surface, and perforated with numerous small holes, appearing on the surface as if worm-eaten. They have a strong smell, and a sub-acid, bitterish, weakly, aromatic taste. They are looked upon to be warm alexipharmics and diaphoretics. Frederic Hoffman the Elder relates that he has observed a decoction of them in broth to occasion vomiting. They have been for some time greatly esteemed among foreign physicians; but never were much in use in this country. The present practice has entirely rejected them, nor are they often to be met with in the shops.