97 



I 



On the "Augan'* Tree of Marocco (Argania Sideroxylon); hy 



Sir W. J. Hooker, K.H., D.CX., F.R., A., aad L.S, 



(With 3 Plates, Tab. III., IV.) 



Through the kindness and by the exertions of the Earl of Clarendon,' 

 Chief Secretary for Foreign Affairs, the Eoyal Gardens of Kew have 

 been put in possession of living plants and fresh seeds of a tree or 

 shrub very little known in Europe, little known even to botanists, but 

 highly esteemed by the Moors, in those parts of Marocco where it is a 

 native, for its tis^ul qualities, viz. the ^^ Argany Its economical pro- 

 perties are best explained by the copy of a letter, which his Lordship 

 did me the favour to communicate along with the plants and seeds, from 

 Henry Grace, Esq., British acting Vice-consul at Mogador, addressed 



w 



to J. H. Drummond Hay, Esq., Her Britannic Majesty's Agent and Con- 

 sul-General at Tangiers ; both of which gentlemen spared no pains in 

 procuring the information and seeds and living specimens ; an example 

 we should be glad to see followed by our Consuls in other countries 

 ^abounding in new and usefid plants. 



re 



Mogador, November Tth, 1853. 



" Sir, — ^The Argan tree grows more or less throughout the States of 

 Western Barbary, but principally in the province of Haka, and south of 

 this town. The soil in which it is found is light, sandy, and very 

 strong; it is usually seen upon the hills, which are banren of all else^ 

 and where irrigation is impossible. 



" I should imagine, from the appearance of some of the trees, that 

 they are from one to two hundred years old; and a remarkably large 

 one in this neighbourhood is probably at least three hundred. This 



I 



individual measures 26 feet round the trunk; at the height of three 

 feet it branches off; the branches (one of which measures 11 feet ia 

 circumference near the trunk) rest upon the ground, extending about 

 15 feet from the trunk, and again ascend. The highest branch of this 

 tree is not more than 16 to 18 feet from the ground, while the outer 

 branches spread so as to give a circumference of 220 feet; this is the 



largest I am aware of, 



" The mode of propagation, in this vicinity, is mostly by seed. When 

 sowing this, a little manure is placed with it, and it is well watered 

 until it shoots ; from which period it requires nothing further. In from 

 three to five years after sowing it bears fruit, which ripens between 



VOL. VI. 



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