90 ME. T. MEEHAN ON THE PRODUCTION OF 



brated in his neighbourhood. Indeed, so favourably has it been 

 received, that 1 have been requested to procure considerable quan- 

 tities, both for distilling spirit and for feeding cattle. The Bassia 

 family is the only family I know which yields a flower in sufficient 

 quantities for feeding cattle and distilling spirit on a large scale, 

 potatoes, maize, and barley, which are principally used, are costly 

 in production and uncertain in their yield ; but the Mahwa crop 

 never fails. The oldest inhabitant in Monghyr had never heard 

 of a season when the Mahwa crop was not abundant ; for whether 

 the fruit subsequently forms or not, the corolla is certain to be 

 there, and certain to fall in great profusion. The extraordinary 

 keeping-qualities of Mahwa form also a further recommendation to 

 its introduction into England. Before leaving India, I had a ton 

 shovelled into sacks and put on board a vessel in Calcutta. They 

 were gathered in April 1876, and, after being kept for nearly two 

 years, are as good as when first dried. No weevil, apparently, 

 attacks these flowers as they attack grain. 



India would benefit greatly if Mahwa flowers met with a demand 

 in England. The vast forests of Mahwa trees, which now yield 

 little profit to their owners, would soon become a source of wealth ; 

 and the collection of the corollas would give work to thousands of 

 poor people who at present inhabit the rocky country where the 

 Mahwa grows. 



To sum up the merits of the Mahwa-flowers for distilling-pur- 

 poses and feeding cattle, they are : — 1, cheapness ; 2, unlimited 

 supply ; 3, certain yield ; 4, nourishing qualities ; 5, good keep- 

 ing-qualities. 



The fruit which follows after the corollas have fallen, yields seeds 

 from which a greenish-yellow oil is produced. This is used to 

 adulterate^/ or clarified butter. This substance has some com- 

 mercial importance, inasmuch as it is worth £35 a ton for soap- 

 making, according to Mr. Cooke's report on oils and oil-seeds of 

 India. 



On the Laws governing the Production of Seed in Wistaria 

 sinensis. By Thomas Meeuan, Germantown, Philadelphia. 

 Communicated by the Eev. Gr. Henslow, F.L.S. &c. 



[Read March 7, 1878.] 



The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia did me the 

 honour of publishing, in the ISth volume of its ■ Proceedings ' 



