SS AX SAMY : i } Shelt- M2. Dea mat ae UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. My, Pr = r SELECT EXTRA-TROPICAL PLANTS. READILY ELIGIBLE FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE OR NATURALIZATION, WITH INDICATIONS OF THEIR NATIVE COUNTRIES AND SOME OF THEIR USES. we —BY— oe” BARON FERD. VON MUELLER, K.C.M.G., M. D., Pu. D., F.R.S., Honorary or Corresponding Member of Scientific Societies and Academies in Philadelphia, New Orleans, San Francisco, Chicago, Kingston, Mexico, Caracas, Buenos Ayres. ‘‘ Omnia enim in usus suos creata sunt.’’—SyRACH, XXXiXx, 21, 26. American edition, revised and enlarged. L,. rE — DETROIT, MICH.: GEORGE S. DAVIS, 1884. COPYRIGHT BY GEORGE §S. DAVIS. DETROIT, MICH., 1884. TO THE HONORABLE HENRY M. TELLER, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERIUA, WHOSE INTELLIGENT AND UNTIRING SERVICES IN THE PROMOTION OF THE RURAL INDUSTRIES, AND IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INEXHAUSTIBLE . RESOURCES OF HIS MATCHLESS COUNTRY, HAVE BEEN SIGNALLY SUCCESSFUL, THIS VOLUME Is RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. N the volumes, issued by the Victorian Acclimatization Society from 1871 to 1878, five contributions have appeared concerning such in- dustrial plants as are available for culture in extra-tropical countries, or in high mountain-regions within the tropics. These writings were mainly offered with a view of promoting the introduction and diffusion of the very many kinds of plants, which may be extensively reared in the forests, fields or pastures of temperate geographic latitudes. But the work thus originated became acces- sible merely to the members of the Society, while frequent calls arose for these or some similar data, not only throughout the Australian communities, but also abroad. The whole was, therefore, re-arranged and largely supplemented, first for re-issue in Victoria, and lately also ia India, under the auspices of the Central Government at Calcutta. Subsequently the work was honored by being reprinted, with numerous additions, for the use of New South Wales; and at nearly the same time it went through a German translation, by Dr. Goeze, in Herr Th. Fischer’s publishing establishment in Cassel; while now it appears revised and still further augmented, more particularly for North American use, through the generous interest of one of the most enterprising scientific publishers in the United States. As stated in the preface to the original essays, they did not claim completeness, either as a specific index to, OF as a series of notes on, the respective rural or technologic applicability of the plants enumerated. But what these writings may,perhaps, aspire to, is to bring together some condensed data, in popular language, on all the principal utilitarian plants, hitherto known to prosper in extra-tropical zones. Informa- tion of this kind is widely scattered through many, and often voluminous, works in several languages; yet such volumes apply, generally, to countries with a climatic zone far narrower than that for which these pages were written. Most, but not all the books, which it was desirable to consult, were at the author’s command; but the necessity of further successive supplements will be apparent, even irrespective of needful references to future discoveries, because in the progress of geographic, medical, technologic and chemical inquiries, many new plants of utilitarian value are likely to be disclosed, and new uses of known plants to be elucidated. Thus, for instance, among the trees and shrubs, or herbs and grasses, occurring in the middle and higher altitudinal zones of Africa, or, nearer to us, of New Guinea and the Sunda Islands, many Vi PREFACE. specific forms may be expected to occur. which we could transfer to extra- tropical countries or to mountains in other equinoctial regions. Indeed, the writer would modestly hope, that his local efforts may prove to be useful in various parts of the globe, in extending rural pursuits, through the generous action of an enlightened American, Capt. Ellwood Cooper, late Principal of the Santa Barbara College, of California, who deemed the first fragmentary pub- lications then offered for Australian use, also worthy of re-issue in San Francisco. Occasional and partial reprints had also previously appeared in weekly journals of Sydney and San Francisco, and in some other periodicals, likewise in a volume of miscellaneous writings of mine, issued by Captain Ellwood Cooper, as early as in 1876, for California. As already intimated, the rapid progress of tillage almost throughout all colonial dominions, is causing a growing desire for general and particular indications of such plants, which a colder clime excludes from the northern countries, in which many of the colonists spent their youth; and it must be clear to any reflecting mind, that in all warmer latitudes, as compared with the Middle-European zones, there exists a vastly enlarged scope for cultural choice of plants. Thus, merely indicative as these notes are, they may yet facilitate the selection. More extensive information can then be sought for in larger, though less comprehensive works already extant, or likely still to be called forth by local requirements in other countries. The writer should even not be disinclined, under fair support and encouragement, to issue, collateral to the present volume, also another, exclusively devoted to the industrial plants of the hotter zones, for the promotion of tropical culture, particularly in our Australian continent. Considerable difficulty was experienced in fixing the limits of such remarks as are admissible into the present pages, from the fact that a certain plant may be important only under particular climatic conditions and cultural applications, or it may have been overrated in regard to the copiousness and relative value of its yield. Thus it was not always easy to sift the chaff from the grain, when these notes were gathered; the remarks might, indeed, under less rigorous restrictions, have been indefinitely extended; and although the author has for more that twenty years been watch- ing, for industrial tests, the plants introduced by him into the Melbourne Botanic Garden, he had still, to a very large extent, to rely implicitly on the experience of other observers elsewhere. It may, also, be here stated, that when calculations of measurements and weights were quoted, such always represent the maximum as far as hitherto on record. To draw prominent attention to the primarily important among the very many hundreds of plants, PREFACE. Vii referred to in these pages, the leading species have been designated with an asterisk. It has not been easy, in numerous instances, to trace the original source of that information on utilitarian plants, which we find recorded in the various volumes of phytologic or rural or technologic literature; many original observations are, however, contained in the writings of Bernardin, Bentley Brandis, Brockhaus, Candolle, Chambers, Collins, Dyer, Drury, Engelmann, Flueckiger, Asa Gray, Grisebach, Hanbury, Hooker, King, Koch, Langethal, Lawson, Lindley, Lorentz, Loudon, Martius, Masters, Meehan, Meyer, Michaux, Nuttall, Oliver, Pereira, Philippi, Porcher, Rosenthal, Roxburgh, Sargent, Seemann, Simmonds, Stewart, Trimen, Wittstein and also some others, to whose names reference is cursorily made in the text. The volumes of the Agricultural Department at Washington, of the Austrian Apotheker- Verein, of the Journal of Applied Science, of the Bulletin de la Société d’Accli- matation de France, and of several other periodicals, have likewise afforded data, utilized on this occasion. : In grouping together, at the close of this volume, all the genera enumer- ated, according to the products which they yield, facility is afforded for tracing out any series of plants regarding which special economic information may be sought, or which may at any time prominently engage the attention of the cultivator, the manufacturer, or the artisan. Again, the placing together in index-form of the respective industrial plants according to their geographic dis- tribution, as has likewise been done in the concluding pages, has rendered it easy to order or obtain from abroad the plants of such other countries with which any settlers or colonists may be in relation, through commercial, literary, or other intercourse. Lists like the present may also aid in naming the plants and their products with scientific correctness, in establishments of economic horticulture or in technologic or other educational collections. If the line of demarkation between the plants admissible into this list and those which should have been excluded, has occasionaliy been extended in favor of the latter, then it must be pleaded that the final value of any particular species for a peculiar want, locality or treatment, cannot always be fully foretold. Doubt- less, many plants of primary importance for rural requirements, here again alluded to, have long since been secured by intelligent early pioneers of im- migration, who timely strove to enrich the cultural resources of their adopted country. In these efforts the writer, so far as his public or private means would permit, has endeavored for more than a quarter of a century to take an honorable share. But although such plants are introduced, they are not in all instances as yet widely diffused, nor tested in all desirable localities. For the sake of completeness even the most ordinary cultural plants have not been Vili PREFACE. passed, as the opportunity seemed an apt one to offer a few cursory remarks on their value. The writer entertains a hope that a copy of this plain volume may find a place in the library of every educational establishment, for occasional, and, perhaps, frequent reference to its pages. The increased ease of communica- tion, which has latterly arisen between nearly all parts of the globe, places us now also in a fair position for independent efforts, to suggest or pro- mote introductions of new vegetable treasures from unexplored regions, or to submit neglected plans of promising value to unbiased original tests. It may merely be instanced, that after the lapse of more than three centuries since the conquest of Mexico,only the most scanty information is extant on the timber of that empire, and that of several thousand tropical grasses not many dozen have been tried with chemical exactitude for pasture purposes, not to speak of many prominently utilitarian trees, shrubs and herbs, restricted to cool moun- tain regions elsewhere within the tropics, but never yet carried to the lowlands of higher latitudes. For inquiries of such kind every civilized State is striving to afford, in well-planned, thoughtfully directed and generously-supported special scientific establishments, the needful aid, not merely for adding to the prosperity, comfort and enjoyment of the present generation, but also with an anticipation of earning the gratitude of posterity; and this, as a rule, is done with a sensitive jealousy, to maintain also thereby the fair fame of the country for scientific dignity and industrial development. Friendly consideration “will recognize the fact that a desire to arouse, more and more, such a spirit of emulation, has much inspired the writer to offer these pages, trusting that enlightened statesmanship, far and wide, will foster this aim which he has had in view, in a liberal and circumspect manner. Melbourne, 158}. Sin CY PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE —IN— EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. Aberia Caffra, Hooker. The Kai-Apple of Natal and Caffraria. ‘This tall shrub serves for hedges. ‘The rather large fruits are edible, and can be con- verted into preserves. Allied South-African species are A. Zeyheri and A. tristis (Sonder). Acacia acuminata, Bentham. A kind of ‘“Myall” from Western Australia, attaining a height of forty feet. The scent of the wood comparable to that of raspberries. It is the best of West-Australian woods for - charcoal. The stems much sought for fence posts, very lasting, even when young. ‘A similar tree with hard and scented wood is A. Doratoxylon (A. Cunn.). : Acacia aneura, F. v. Mueller. Arid desert-interior of extra-tropic Australia. A tree never more than 25 feet high. Wood excessively hard, dark-brown, used preferentially by the natives for boomerangs, sticks to lift edible roots, end-shafts of Phragmites-spears, woomerangs, nulla-nullas and jagged spear-ends. Acacia Arabica, Willdenow. The “Kikar” or “ Babur.” North and Central Africa, also in South-west Asia, growing in dry, calcareous soil. This small tree can be utilized for thorny hedges, as also A. Seyal (Delile) and A. tortilis (Forskael). They all furnish the best gum- arabic for medicinal and technical purposes. The lac insect lives also on the foliage, and thus in Sind the lac is mainly . yielded by this tree. The stem attains a circumference of 10 feet. The astringent pods are valuable for tanning, also the 2 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE bark, which is known as “Baboot” bark; the wood, known as “Sunt,” is very durable if water-seasoned, extensively used for wheels, well-curbs, and many kinds of implements, also for the knees and planks of boats. A. gummifera (Willd.) and A. Ehrenbergiana (Hayne) are among the species which yield gum-arabic in North Africa’ A. latronum (Willdenow) and A. modesta (Wallich) form thorny hedges in India (Brandis). Acacia armata, R. Brown. Extra-tropical Australia. The Kangaroo-Thorn. Much grown for hedges, though less manageable than various other hedge plants. Important for covering coast-sand with an unapproachable prickly vegetation. Acacia binervata, De Candolle. Extra-tropic East-Australia. A tree attaining a height of 40 feet. The bark used by tanners, but not so rich as that of A. decurrens (W. Dovegrove). Acacia Catechu, Willdenow. India, Africa, up to 3,000 feet. Tree attaining 4o feet in height. The extract prepared from the bark and heartwood is the catechu of medicine or cutch of tannery. Pure cutch is worth about £25 per ton ; 4 tons of bark will produce 1 ton of cutch or terra japonica. A. Suma (Kurz) is closely allied. Acacia Cavenia, Hooker and Arnott. The Espino of the present inhabitants of Chili, the Cavan of the former population. A small tree with exceedingly hard wood, resisting underground moisture. The plant is well adapted for hedges. The husks contain 32 per cent. tannin (Sievers), valuable as a dye material. Acacia Cebil, Grisebach. La Plata States. This is one of the most useful of all trees there, on account of its bark, which is exceedingly rich in tan- nic acid; a species well worthy of introduction here, even as an ornamental tree. Numerous other Acaciz, particularly the Australian species, deserve yet tests for tannin. Acacia concinna, De Candolle. = India. Praised by Dr. Cleghorn as a valuable hedge-shrub. The pod contains saponin. Acacia decurrens, Willdenow.* The Black Wattle. From the eastern part of South Australia, through Victoria and New South Wales, to the southern part of Queensland. A small or middle-sized tree. Its wood is used for staves, for turners’ work, occasionally also for axe and pick- ¢ IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 3 handles and many other purposes ; it supplies an excellent fire- wood ; achief use of the tree would be also to afford the first shelter, in treeless localities, for raising forests. Its bark, rich in tannin, and its gum, not dissimilar to gum-arabic, render this tree highly important. The English price of the bark ranges generally from £8 to £11. In Melbourne it averages about #5 per ton. It varies, so far as experiments made in my laboratory have shown, in its contents of tannin from 30 to 4o per cent. in bark artificially dried. In the mercantile bark the percentage is somewhat less, according to the state of its dry- ness—it retaining about ro per cent. moisture. 1% lb. of Black Wattle-bark give 1 lb. of leather, whereas 5 lbs. of English Oak-bark are requisite for the same results, but the tannic prin- ciple of both is not absolutely identical. Melbourne tanners consider a ton of Black Wattle-bark sufficient to tan 25 to 30 hides ; it is best adapted for sole-leather and other so-called heavy goods. The leather is fully as durable as that tanned with oak-bark, and nearly as good in color. Bark carefully stored for a season improves in tanning power Io to 15 per cent. From experiments made under the author’s direction it appears that no appreciable difference exists in the percentage of tannin in Wattle-bark, whether obtained in the dry or in the wet season. * The tannin of this Acacia yields a grav precipitate with ferric, and a violet color with ferrous salts; it is completely thrown down from a strong aqueous solution by means of concentrated sulphuric acid The bark improves by age and desiccation, and yields about 40 per cent. of catechu, rather more than half of which is tannic acid. Bichromate of potash added in a minute quantity to the boiling solution of mimosa-tannin produces a ruby red liquid, fit for dye-purposes; and this solution gives, with the salts of sub-oxide of iron, black pigments. and with the salts of the full oxide of iron, red-brown dyes. As far back as 1823 a fluid extract of Wattle-bark was shipped to London, fetching then the extraordinary price of #50 per ton, one ton of bark yielding 4 cwt. of extract of tar- consistence (Simmons), thus saving much freight and cartage. Tan extract is best obtained from the bark by hydraulic pres- sure and evaporation of the strong liquid thus obtained in wide pans under steam-heat, or better still, to avoid any decomposi- tion of the tannic acid, by evaporation under a strong current of cold air. For cutch or terra japonica tne infusion is care- fully evaporated by gentle heat. The estimation of tannic acid in Acacia barks is effected most expeditiously by filtering the aqueous decoction of the bark after cooling, evaporating the solution and then re-dissolving the residue in alcohol and deter- mining the weight of the tannic principle obtained by evapo- rating the filtered alcoholic solution to perfect dryness. SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE The cultivation of the Black Wattle is extremely easy, being effected by sowing either broadcast or in rows. Seeds can be obtained in Melbourne at about 5s. per 1b., which contains from 30,000 tO 50,000 grains ; they are known to retain their vitality for several years. For discrimination in mercantile transactions it may be noted, that the seeds of the genuine A. decurrens are somewhat smaller, comparatively shorter, rounder and not so flat as those of A. dealbata, while the funicular appendage does not extend so far along the seeds nor is the pod quite so broad ; from those of A. pycnantha they differ in being shorter, thus more ovate than oblong. Seeds should be soaked in warm water before sowing. Any bare, sterile, unutilized place might most remuneratively be sown with this Wattle Acacia; the return could be expected in from five to ten years. Full-grown trees, which supply also the best quality, yield as much as 1 cwt. of bark. Mr. Dickinson states, that he has seen 10 cwt. of bark obtained from a single tree of gigantic dimensions at Southport. A quarter of a ton of bark was obtained from one tree at Tambo without strippiug all the limbs. The height of this tree was 60 feet, and the stem 2 feet in diameter. The rate of growth of the tree is about 1 inch in diameter of stem annually. It is content with the poorest and driest soil, although in more fertile ground it shows greater rapidity of growth. This Acacia is perhaps the most important of all tan-yielding trees of the warm-temperate zones, for its strength in tannic acid, its rapidity of growth, its contentedness with almost any soil, the ease with which it can be reared and its early yield of tanner’s bark, and indeed also gum and stave- wood. ‘This tree is to be recommended for poor land affected with sorrel. It is hardier than Eucalyptus globulus, thus enduring the climate of South England; although it hardly extends to sub-alpine elevations. The variety DEALBATA (Acacia dealbata, Link) is generally known amongst Australian colonists as Silver-wattle. It prefers for its habitation humid river-banks, and sometimes attains there a height of 150 feet, supplying a clear and tough timber used by coopers and other artisans, but principally serving as select fuel of great heating power. The bark of this variety is much thinner and greatly inferior in quality to that of the Black Wattle, yielding only about half the quantity of tannin principle. It is chiefly employed for lighter leather. This tree is distinguished from the Black Wattle by the silvery or rather ashy hue of its young foliage: it flowers early in spring, ripening its seeds in about 5 months, while the Black Wattle occurs chiefly on drier ridges, blossoms late in spring or at the beginning of summer, and its seeds do not mature in less than about 14 months. IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 5 ‘For fuller information the ‘Report on Wattle-bark,’’ pre- sented in 1878 to the Parliament of Victoria by a special com- mission, may be referred to. Acacia estrophiolata, F. v. Mueller. Central Australia. A tree attaining a height of 30 feet with a stem-diameter of 1 foot, enduring the extremest of dry heat; suitable for cemeteries on account of its pendent branches. It flowers almost constantly and accommodates itself to all sorts of soil, even sand. Wood very durable, locally much used for implements and especially wheel-wright’s work (Rev. H. Kempe). Acacia excelsa, Bentham. The Ironbark-Acacia of Queensland, extending into New South Wales. Attains a height of 80 feet. Branches pendent. The wood is dark-colored, hard, heavy and durable, well adapted for furniture and implements; towards the centre it is of a deep pink color. The tree exudes a large quantity of clear gum (O’Shanesy). Acacia falcata, Willdenow. East Australia. One of the best of trees for raising a woody vegetation on drift-sand, as particularly proved at the Cape of Good Hope. Important also for its bark in tanneries. Acacia Farnesiana, Willdenow. Dioscorides’ small Acacia. Indigenous to South Asia; found westward as far as Japan; a native also of the warmer parts of Australia, as far south as the Darling River; found sponta- neous in tropical and sub-tropical America, but apparently not in tropical Africa. Professor Fraas has recognized in this Acacia the ancient plant. The scented flowers are much sought for perfumery. This species may be utilized as a hedge plant; a kind of gum-arabic may also be obtained from it. The scent perhaps obtainable from the fresh and slightly moist flowers by gentle dry distillation under mere steam-heat. Ordinarily the odorous essential oil is withdrawn from the flowers by the enfleurage-process; many Australian Acacias might be thus treated for perfumery. Acacia fasciculifera, F. v. Mueller. South Queensland. Tree sometimes seventy feet high, branches pendent. Desirabie for culture on account of the excellence of its easily-worked dark wood. Eligible also for cemeteries. 6 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE Acacia giraffae, Willdenow. South Africa. The Camel-Thorn. This tree attains a great age, and a height of 4o feet. The trunk assumes a large size, and supplies a wood of great hardness. ‘The tree will grow on the driest of soil. Acacia gummifera, Willdenow. This species yields the Gum Arabic of Morocco. (Sir Joseph Hooker and John Ball.) Acacia glaucescens, Willdenow. Queensland and New South Wales. Extreme height about 60 feet. A kind of “ Myall,” with hard, dark, prettily-grained wood which is less fragrant than that of some other species. Acacia harpophylla, F. v. Mueller. Southern Queensland, where this tree, according to Mr. Thozet, furnishes a considerable share of the mercantile wattle- bark for tanning purposes. Wood, according to Mr. O’Shanesy, brown, hard, heavy and elastic; used by the natives for spears. The tree sometimes attains a height of 90 feet, growing nat- urally on sand lands, almost to the exclusion of other trees and shrubs, furnishing wood of a violet odor, which splits freely, and is useful for fancy lathe-work. Saplings used as stakes in vine- yards have lasted 20 years and more. The tree yields also considerable quantities of gum. It is one of the principal “ Brigalows” in the scrubs of that designation. Acacia homalophylla, Cunningham. The Victorian ‘“‘ Myall,” extending into the deserts of South Australia and New South Wales. Never a tall tree. The dark-brown wood is much sought for turners’ work on account of its solidity and fragrance; perhaps its most extensive use is in the manufacture of tobacco-pipes. Acacia horrida, Willdenow. The “Doornboom”’ or “ Karra-Doorn” of South Africa. A formidable hedge bush with thorns often 3 inches long, readily available for impenetrable hedge-rows. It exudes also a gum of good quality, but often of amber color. ‘This is the prin- cipal species used for tanners’ bark in South Africa, where Leucospermum conocarpum (R. Br.) is also extensively em- ployed for the same purpose (M. Gibbon.) It imparts, how- ever, an unpleasant odor to the leather made with it (McOwan). IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 7 Acacia implexa, Bentham. Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland. A tree of middle size, content with poor soil. Wood firm and close, dark-brown with yellowish stripes; much in demand for turnery, cog- wheels, and other purposes which need tenacity and strength (Dickinson). Bark available for tanneries. Acacia Koa, A. Gray. Hawaii; there one of the most valuable of timber trees. Stem reaching a height of 60 feet, topped by wide-spreading phyllo- dinous foliage. Wood easy to work, particularly in afresh state ; . formerly much used for boat-building and for building pur- poses generally; also suitable for cabinet-work. Species of Metrosideros, some ascending to 8,ooo feet, one overtopping all other trees, furnish a large share of hard, tough and very durable timber in the Hawaian islands. Their wood varies from a light red to a purplish hue. Acacia leiophylia, Bentham.* (A. saligna, Bentham, non Wendland.) South-western Australia, where it is the principal tree chosen for tanners’ bark. It is a wide-spreading small tree, fit for avenues ; emitting suckers. The bark contains nearly 30 per cent. of mimosa-tannin, and is extensively used by tanners in West Australia. Perfectly dried leaves yield from 7 to 8 per cent. mimosa-tannic acid, giving a lead precipitate of a light yellow color ; the leaves contain also a considerable quantity of sulphate of lime. The London price of fair West Australian gum-arabic from this species was from 46s. to 49s. per cwt. in 1879. ‘The tree has proved in Algeria to resist the sirocco bet- ter than most species (Dr. Bonand). The principal Jaborandi-plant of tropical and sub-tropical - Brazil. The leaves and bark of this shrub, which contain essen- tial oil and a peculiar alkaloid, are famed as an agreeable, powerful and quickly acting sudorific. Recommended as a specific in diphtheria and supposed to be also reliable in hydro- phobia. This bush is likely to endure the clime of milder temperate frost-regions (Continho, Baillon, Hardy, Guebler). Like P. simplex, also an active sialogogue. Puilocarpin contracts the pupil, and stimulates powerfully the salivary glands. Pimpinella Anisum, Linné. The Anise-Plant. Greece, Egypt, Persia. Anannual. The seed-like fruits enter into various medicines and condiments, and are required for the distillation of oil, rich in anethol. The herbage left after obtaining the seeds serves for fodder. The plant will bear seeds in Norway up to lat. 68° 4o (Schuebeler). Pimpinella saxifraga, Linné. Europe, Northern and Middle Asia. A perennial herb; its root used in medicine; a peculiar volatile oil can be distilled from the root. P. manga, L. is a closely allied species, and P. nigra, W. is a variety. The root of the last is particularly powerful. IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 263 Pimpinella Sisarum, Bentham. (Siz Sisarum., Linné.) East Asia. A perennial herb. The bunches of small tubers afford an excellent culinary vegetable. The taste is sweet and somewhat celery-like. The roots endure frost. Pinus Abies, Du Roi.* (Pinus Picea, Linné.) Silver Fir, Tanne. In Middle Europe, to 50° north latitude, forming dense forests. It will endure the climate of Norway to lat. 67° 56° (Schuebeler). A fine tree, already the charm of the ancients, attaining 200 feet in height, and 20 feet in circum- ference of stem, reaching an age of 300 years. It furnishes a most valuable timber for building as well as furniture, and in respect to lightness, toughness and elasticity it is even more esteemed than the Norway Spruce, but is not so good for fuel or charcoal. It is pale, light, not very resinous, and is mostly employed for the finer works of joiners and cabinet- makers, for sounding boards of musical instruments, largely for toys, also for lucifer matches, for coopers’ and turners’ work, and for masts and spars. _It also yields a fine white resin and the Strasburg turpentine, similar to the Venetian. Besides the above normal form the following two main varieties occur:—P. Abies var. Cephalonica, Parlatore (7. Cephalonica, Endl.), Greece, 3,000 to 5,000 feet above the sea. A tree 60 feet high, with a stem circumference of ro feet. The wood is very hard and durable, and much esteemed for building. General Napier mentions that in pulling down some houses at Argostoli, which had been built 150 to 300 years, all the wood-work of this fir was found as hard as oak and perfectly sound—P. Abies var. Nordmanniana, Pariatore (P. ordmanniana, Steven), Crimea and Circassia,to 6,000 feet above the sea. Can be grown in Nor- way to lat. 61° 15’. This is one of the most imposing firs, at- taining a height of about roo feet, with a perfectly straight stem. It furnishes a valuable building timber. The Silver Fir is desirable for mountain forests. It will grow on sand, but only half as fast as P. Pinaster. Pinus alba, Aiton. White Spruce. From Canada to Carolina, up to the highest mountains. It resembles P. fizcea, but is smailer, at most 50 feet high. It bears the shears well when trained for hedges, which are strong, enduring and compact (J. Hicks). The bark richer in tannin than that of the Hemlock Spruce. The timber well adapted for deal-boards, spars, and many other purposes, but on the whole inferior to Black Spruce. The tree grows in damp situations or swampy ground. Eligible for Alpine regions. Hardy in Norway to lat. 67° 56’. 204 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE Pinus albicaulis, Engelmann. California. Akin to P. flexilis. Fruit aments nearly globu- lar, purplish, with short and thick scales. | Bark whitish, scaly. Pinus Alcocqiana, Parlatore. Japan, at an elevation of 6,000 to 7,000 feet. A fine tree, often 120 feet high, with very small blue-green leaves; the wood is used for light household furniture. P. tonga and P. Polita as- cend there to the same height (Rind). Pinus amabilis, Douglas. Californian Silver Fir. North California, Oregon, British Columbia, at elevations of from 4,000 to 7,000 even 10,000 feet. A handsome Fir 200 feet high, circumference of stem 24 feet. The stem is branchless up to roo feet. The tree passes under the name of the “Queen of the Forests” (Lemmon). The wood is elastic, strong and hard, fit for masts and spars; it has a peculiar red color; spikes, nails, and bolts hold firm - and never corrode in it (Dufur). Very closely allied to P. no- bilis, and also to P. grandis. Pinus aristata, Engelmann. California at elevations of 8-10,o00 feet in the Sierras. IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 377 Trigonella Fenum Grecum, Linné. Countries on the Mediterranean Sea. The seeds of this annual herb find their use in veterinary medicine. Trigonella suavissima, Lindley. Interior of Australia, from the Murray River and its tributa- ries to the vicinity of Shark Bay. This perennial, fragrant, clover-like plant proved a good pasture herb. A lithograph, ‘illustrating this plant, occurs in the work on the ‘Plants Indig- enous to Victoria.” Some of the many European, Asiatic and African plants of this genus deserve local tests. Triphasia Aurantiola, Loureiro. South-Eastern Asia. This shrub is worch cultivation for the exquisite fragrance of its flowers. The fruits, though small, are of pleasant sweetness. The plant may also prove well adapted for hedges. Glycosmis citrifolia, Lindley, and Claus- sena punctata, Oliver, also East Asiatic fruit-shrubs, may possibly show themselves hardy in sheltered forest regions of temperate clime. Tripsacum dactyloides, Linné. Central and Northern America; known vernacularly as Gama-Grass. A reedy perennial grass, more ornamental than utilitarian. It is the original Buffalo Grass, and attains a height of 7 feet, assuming the aspect of maize. It is of infer- ior value for feed, but serves for binding sand. C. Mohr how- ever regards it as a valuable fodder-grass. The seeds are available for food. Tristania conferta, R. Brown. New South Wales and Queensland. A noble shady tree, at- taining a height of 150 feet. It is not only eligible as an avenue tree, but also as producing select, lasting timber; ribs of vessels from this tree have lasted unimpaired thirty years ° ~ and more. Trithrinax Acanthocoma, Drude. Rio Grande do Sul, in dry elevations. A dwarf Fan Palm for window or table decoration, attaining only a height of 6 feet; foliage not leathery. Trithrinax Brasiliensis, Martius. Rio Grande do Sul and Parana, Uruguay and Paraguay. A very hardy Paim, not tall. Trithrinax campestris, Drude.* Argentina, as far south as 32° 40’. Height reaching 30 feet. 378 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE One of the most southern of all Palms. Content with even less humidity than Chamaerops humilis. |The leaves are almost of a woody hardness and stiffer than those of any other Palm (Drude). Germination from seeds easy (Lorentz and Hierony- mus). Another species occurs in Southern Bolivia. Triticum junceum, Linné. Europe and North Africa. CH upEMOdipe yams. 2790") Rlums 22): 200 lis Geboxtatl eae 1205) |) bocoon: Yellow. ac E78 *Pa-Koo . 164 ‘« Frankincense. 282 Pomegranate Ler SOR Palisander-Wood... 112 ‘“ Georgia .... 264 | Pompelmos ape hy ee Ralixandeny) ciisjes _ 184 “* Giant »... 272 | Poplars Se a 400) Palmetto, Blue .... 315 Goldene Ace 27h) LOppynsan « Sen 24 43 dwarf.... 330 oe GLeyi See vA! | Potato was Pee e355 Palm-Lilies seo AO}s) ‘© Hickory .... 265 |*Prairie-Turnip .... 300 Palms 74, 93-179, 301 popokludSonisin = oper pp Glassman 1322) anna “hy, 377, 398 “« Huon Sooo iit. | PiReKoMaer2 S eA Palmyra PAE STs GALT Scie be ini Cklylca tama r 258 Pampas-Grass .... 42 Sc King: ef 282) | ekideiof India... sg 272 Paper Mulberry.... 61 “ Loblolly Re AZO 2 lehlVietlcin Sse Cy) Papyrus Serereee LOO 1) Lofty; Pee 200) | eatinestree eae Ao Para-Grass serene 2A. ‘* Long-leaved Puchero 04 Parsimon Ayaka | L2O Wellow ) 223264) Pulas) 235; mois, VO Parsley.... SiR See ae, Viahocanyae 226) |eulqie:s.o Diaie eena tts) Parsnip See Sy: “* Mexican Pumpkin LOA SO Dervilucye eo 2 Swamp.... 266 | Putchuck Cert lets) . Passion-Flowers.... 250 ‘* Moreton-Bay. 36] Pyengadu tee 400 Pea, common ... 284 “Norfolk Island 36 fine gor en Bean.. 227 Pea. nut SACS a Nuts 270: 274, 280 Pea-tree See et 70 ““ Okote ST 282 Osteen Sis oily} Peach-Palm See A9 “Oregon .... 268 | Quandong aed Bes Reach? 22 - Soe en2O7 aeeaTcc hy 278 | Quebracho cide OM Pearl-Grass aoe uy bond secs ZO || OWewile oo 5% cise» GES Pear, Snow Walia SOM! naewed Tike 2770) | Ouiek, yc ee On Pear late =19303 “Screw nado Lae || Cynnmcoks ee ee GOS Pecan-Nut Tree. . We ** Shake Ne eqarTe Peluy... Wee 7 ‘* Southern .... 264 | Radish.... eins: Suis Pencil-Cedar ... . 189 ‘« Stone 274, 278 | Rain-tree Sarco Penny-royal 171, 214 Sugar .... 272 | Rambutan hee Pennsylvania: Green So Swan pana se 2040) Ramee sen. Sacto SO Grass Sab 6) Ake) “* Torch .... 282 | Rampostan S228 Pepino.... seo BING “* Trucker .... 278 | Rancouran eee. Set Peppermint 138, 213 ‘© ‘Weymouth.... 281 | Rantil-Oil Pe LTO Persimmon GeO) ** White 269, 280, 281 Raspberry B27. 328, 329 Peru-Bark trees.... 86 zs “of New Black... 327 BReESIN bt sus sree py 2) Zealand. 225 | Rata ... Son5. IOs Pignut tree Se yD ““ Yellow of Ratanhia- Root Soon UL Pine, Aleppor ) 5.55270 North .... ; 274 | Rattlesnake-Grass.. 286 American America... (278 | Rauli .... ei tee Pitches) 280 “Yellow of Red Brazil-Wood.. 63 ‘* American Puget Sound 268] ‘‘ Cedar aeneie Wihite =...) 285 “Yellow Pitch. 264 ‘“ Gum-tree 127, : ““ Bishop’s .... 275 | Pinkroot our Sea , oy 144 i Black ..«. 226 | Pino-Nut .--. 269} ‘* Mahogany . 141 S) ebootan (222-3 269)), Biquillin-Bush...:.°.96|..<° Pine erat t) Brazilianiee.. 36) || Pisangy so Hele MOT *“ Sandal- Wood.. | 301 ** Broom .... 264 | Pita-fibre .... 18] Red-top Grass 19, 152 Bull .... 269 | Pitaya-Bark .... 87] Red-wood Cedar 349, 315 m Canary <.../2660 | Pitury ...). .... 122 | Reedmace RHEL EO 448 Page. Reulé 150 Rewa Rewa 190 Rheea .. PAPI HT S(6) Rhubarb 315, 316 Rice seas BAO ““ Canada ... 404 ‘“ Paper Plant... 151 Rimu Sub TET Ringal .. 40 IRGDNG os 5 150 Romerillo dye 174 Rose-Apple . 146 Roses .... 323, 324 Rosemary Jala, SAS Rosewood 97 Rue 330 IRE alos 348 Rye-Grass 200 Sabadilla 346 Sacci 18 Safflower 71 Saffron.... 102 Sage, Garden 338 Sainfoin L236 Sakray... 269, 297 Salad- Burnet W339 Sallow, British .... 334 Salmon-barked Gum- HES soce 142 Salsiivern ele eS Te Saltbush 46, 47, I9gI Sal-tree.--- Nala Qe Samphire 101 Sandal-tree 340 Sandstay : 195 Sapodilla Plum .... 14 Sarsaparilla 352 Sassafras-tree 340 Satin-Wood 85 Savara . 106 |, Savory, Summer... 340 BS \iiatimiivere 341 Scarlet Runner .... 256 Schamum ~ 359 Scorzonera, Native. 216 Scotino.. 317 Screw-bean 204 Scutch-Grass 108 Sea-Kail ues akOO Sea Lyme-Grass.... 124 Senna .... 75 Seratella 239 Serradella 239 “Shallot.... 24 Shamalo 244 “< New- Heald Spotted Gum-tree... 135 Spruce, Black 5) Qala BNE gcc, Bou uf Hemlock... 266 et Norway.... 277 ue Tideland... 281 ‘White 263 | " Squash . . . 104 Squill : 283 Squirt‘ng Cucumber. 122 Star Anise 181 Strawberries 159, 160 Strawberry Tomato. 262 Stringy - bark - trees 129, 131, 135, ey 138 , Styrax-tree 5 Hon “ Sugar-cane Bian Silt « Gum-tree 17, 130 Suey ae 103 Sulphur Root -- 254 Sumach oteney 3 Liy “*Staghorn... 318 Page. Sheep-Fescue 5 WES Sheoaks 77 »Silt-Grass sa ARO Silver-Fir 260 FO? Rainey Californian 264 Se ehect so 20 ae ee MeMlietanienc 207 “Sires : see Silvery Tree- Fern. 116 Singhara-Nut 34. BAB Siris- Acacia SNe Sisal-hemp SL Sissoo-tree ae ELD Sloe é TERE OS Snake-Root 38, 289 Soapwort 5.5! BOO Soffarmmear 6) dt) Soft-grass 5505/5) Soja -- 165 Solah sa) EG Soom-tree eee 2O4! Sorrel, French .... 330 “Kitchen .... 329 ““- Wood 5 Balt Soulchir SAAN) Sour Gum-tree 5 oe) OB Sour Plum ag Dali Soursop Senay “Spadic .'... AN IF] Spear- Wood Si Heh Spekboom aH) 208 Spikenard 56) PY Spinach 358 367 INDEX TO VERNACULAR NAMES. Page. Sumbul 148 Sunflower 172 Sunflower-Artichoke 172 Sunn-hemp 102 Sinten ee 2 Swamp Gum - tree 133, 139 “* Mahogany 127, 141 Sweet Calamus .... 29 jo) Ber bushs ee age ie Elas: 15 ‘“ Gum-tree.... 199 “Potato 182 Sweetsop 147 Sword Sedge 195 Sycamore Fig-tree.. 157 ° "es Maple.... 12 Tagasaste + sist EO Tallow-tree bei. Lite) Tallow-wood 137 Tamarack 276 Tamarak 268 Tamarind 364 Tanekaha 261 Tangleberry 162 Tanne .... 263 Tansy ... 365 Tapioca 206 Tare 389 seoWentil 390 Taro 95 Tarragon 39 Tata i Serres iy ea) “Tea of Heaven .... 178 Tea-shrub 66 Teak 366 Teff 285 Teon-itsigo 115 Teosinte 145 Terra Japonica . 2 | Thimbleberry .... 328 Thyme, Garden.... - 372 ‘Tideland Spruce.... 281 Timothy Grass .... 257 Tivoli-Yam 118 Tobacco | 229 Tomato 354 Tooart 133 _Tornillo 294 Tree-Mallow .... 194 Truffle 367, 379, 380 “)) oBlack ee geo Ss Gnceny 380 ened 380 Tuberose 289 INDEX TO VERNACULAR NAMES. Tuckahoe Truffle... Ab kerequires eae Tule Tulip-tree “Wood Tupelos Turkey-Oak Turnips Turnsole Turpentine-tree.... sascaylens as Tussock-Grass .... Ulmo Uanerelieo palm Umbrella-Fir Uvalho do campo.. Uvi- Yam Valonia Varnish-tree Oe Vegetable Marrow. . Velvet-grass Vernal Grass Vetch Vetch Wood Vines ... Vine- Maple Violet .... Vouvan.... Walnut-tree 125, 1&6, Wandoo Wapatoo Water-Beach “« Lemon «Melon Waternut Water-whorl Grass. Wattle, black ““ golden ‘<> silver Wax-Myrtle Palm i Tree Weld : Wiheati wi. Whin White Gum- free. Chinquepin. . Page. . 390 . 390 Io 308 UG) 449 Page. White Thorn Peron Whorl-Grass, water. 285 Whortleberry, Brit. 386 Willow-Oak . 310 bane Visvactl ei rtnesen 1 Willows 333-338 Windmill-Grass.... 84 Winter-Cherry 262 Wioadiine- 183 Wood-Sorrel ZAI Woodruff 42 Woollybutt 135 Wormwood 39 Wunge.... 103 Yams 117 Yarrow 5: AE eA So Yate-tree 4) 103F0) Yellow-Wood 93, 158 Yew 80, 366 ““ Western 366 York Gum-tree .... 135 Yoksun 4I ee loaikaneele 183 as he Rahs = ber f Rui: c Aah in Bit x) vif q z ary 4 i sees one ie * 4 ‘ : if 1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS NUTT OO0e?rb30L4A