April i, 1884.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



759 



after flowering, forcing the young pods underground, where 

 they ripen. Extensively grown in warm climates as an im- 

 portant article of food, and for the sake of its oil which is 

 largely used as a substitute for olive oil, also by perfumers in 

 the preparation of pomades, cold cream, &c., and for soap 

 making, burning in lamps, and by watch makers. Its native 

 country is doubtful; but it is probably of American origin. 



On the lower shelves are seeds of Geam or Chick Pea. 

 {Cicer arietiimm, L.), an annual herb, cultivated from an early 

 period in warm countries, especially in India, where it is used 

 in cakes, euri-ies, &c. It was known to the ancient Egyp- 

 tians, Hebrews, and Greeks. It contains much acid oxalate 

 of potash. 



On the lower shelves are various products of the genus 

 Cassia. Amongst them seeds of C. Tora, L., an annual 

 weed widely spread in India and the tropics generally. 

 Pods, seeds, and bark of C. mcriculaUi, L., a shrub, com- 

 mon in Central and Southern India. The bark is used for 

 tanning and dyeing leather. Negbo Coffee, the seeds of 

 C. occidentalis, L., used in tropical Africa as well as in 

 Central America and the West Indies as a substitute for 

 coffee. 



On the bottom shelf are specimens of the wood of 

 Cassia siamea, Lamk, a moderate sized tree of India, Ceylon, 

 the Malay Peninsula, anu Siam, the heartwood of which 

 is dark brown, and often beautifully marked. It is used 

 in Burma for walking sticks, mallets, &c. 



On the upper .shelves of the first compartment of this 

 case is shown the woody pods of Cassia yrandis, Linn, f., 

 the produce of a tree of Brazil. 



No. 193. Pods of the Puhgixg Cassia (Cassia Fistula, 

 L.), an ornamental tree, 30 to 50 feet high, bearing numer- 

 ous racemes of bright yellow flowers. It is a native of 

 India, Ceylon, Java, the Philippines, tropical and sub-tropical 

 Africa, and is frequently planted in the West Indies, 

 Central America, and Brazil. The pods are pendulous, often 

 2 feet long, cylindrical, and when ripe, of a dark purplish 

 brown. They contain a large number of small seeds, each 

 embedded in pulp, of a blackish brown colour, which has a 

 sweetish taste, and is used in medicine as a mild laxative. It 

 is imported from the East and West Indies, but chiefly from 

 the latter. Wood, powdered bark, and gum of this species 

 are also shown. 



No. 194. Ae<vbia:n or Tiknevelly Senna (Cassia anr/iis- 

 tifolia,Yahl}. A small shrub of Southern Arabia, Somali 

 Land, Seiude, and the Punjaub. The leaflets, when gathered 

 and dried, form part of the senna of commerce, known as 

 Arabian, JXocha, Bombay, or East Indian Senna. These 

 sorts are exported from Mocha, Aden, and other ports of 

 the Red Sea to Bombay, from whence they are re-exported 

 to Europe and America. They are regariled in commerce as 

 of inferior quality iu consequence of their being carelessly 

 dried, and often mixed with portions of legumes, stalks, 

 and flowers. All the Sennas are purgative. 



The kind known as Tinnevellt Senna is furnished by 

 the same plant grown in Southern India, and on account of 

 its more lu.xuriant growth and careful preparation, it is 

 considered in commerce as a fine kind. The best Senna, 

 however, is that next described.* 



Nu. 203. Tamabinds. The pulp of the pods of Tamar- 

 indiis inilica, L., imported from India and the West Indian 

 Islands, preserved in sugar. The Tamarind-tree grows to a 

 height of 60 to 80 feet, with a wide spreading head of dense 

 foliage. It is now found iu all tropical countries, but Africa 

 is, in all probability, its origin. Cultivated cliietly for its 

 fruits, in warm covmtries it is of tfn grown as a shade tree 

 or for the fragrance of its flowers. Tamarinds have an 

 agreeable acid taste, and in hot countries are used to make 

 cooling drinks. Dried fruits, gum, and wood of the Tamar- 

 ind, are exhibited. The latter is very heavy and sinks in 

 water ; a table and chair made of it are shown in Museum 

 No. 3. 



No. 217. Pods of the Rain Tkee (Ccdliandra Sammi, 

 Gri.seb.). Native of West Indies and South America. The 

 name Rain tree is derived from its occasionally iu South 

 America distilling moisture to such- an extent as to wet the 

 ground beneath. This is described as being caused by 

 " multitudes of cicadas sucking the juices of the tender 

 " young branches and leaves and squirting forth slender 

 " streams of limpid fluid.'' The pods are sweet, and used 

 for feeding cattle. The plant has been introduced iiito India 



* zUexaiidiiac or Nubian Senna (Cassia acuti folia, DelileJ . 



and other countries. A photograph of the tree is shown, as 

 well as a specimen of the wood. 



MvEOnALAN Okdee (Combretiicea:). All tropical trees and 

 shrubs, growing in both hemispheres. They are characterized 

 by some degree of astringency. 



On an upper shelf note fruits of Teimi»ala Catuppa, L., 

 from Bombay^ Venezuela, Africa, &c., also samples of oil 

 expressed from the seeds. 



No. 238. MviiOBALAKS. The fruits of Terminalia Che- 

 bida, Retz, and T. hel/crica, Roxb., large deciduous trees 

 common in India, Ceylon, and the Malay Islands. The 

 hard woody fruits of both species are imported in large 

 quantities for the use of tanners. Specimens are exhibited 

 from various parts of the East ladies. Astringent galls 

 are often formed on the twigs of T. Chelivla, used in India 

 for making ink, as well as for dyeing and tanning. Speci- 

 mens of these are exhibited; also samples of the hard 

 woods of both species, used for a variety of purposes iu 

 India. 



In the last compartment are gum, leaves, and wood of 

 AnO(/eissus latifolia, Wall., a large tree common from the 

 Himalaya to Ceylon. The gum is extensively used in cloth 

 printing in India, and the leaves iu timning. 



No. 241. Wood of Blue Gum (iiaca/y^^Mi-^Zoiii/us, Lab.), 

 of Tasmania and South-ea^t Australia. One of the largest 

 known trees, occasionally reacliing a height of over 300 feet, 

 and of remarkably rapid grow th. It has become famihar of 

 late years, having been introduced and cultivated largely 

 iu many jjarts of the world, especially iu the Mediterranean 

 region antl iu malarious districts in Italy. The leaves of 

 this and other species of Eucalyptus have been supposed to 

 possess febrifugal properties. Smoked in the form of cigars 

 they have been recommended in asthma. The oil obtained 

 from the leaves is antiseptic, aud the hard wood is very 

 valuable in Australia for shipbuilding, railway sleepers, mill 

 work, &c. 



No. 244. Allspice, Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper, the 

 dried, umipe fruits of Pimenta officinalis, Ldl. {Myrtus 

 Fimenta, L.), a tree common in Jamaica; from whence large 

 quantities are imported into this country. Pimento is very 

 largely used as a spice, also in medicine for its aromatic aud 

 stimulant properties. Oil of Pimento, obtamed by distill- 

 ation from the fruits, is often used for sinular pui-iJO.ses as 

 the Oil of Cloves, as well as in jjerfumery. Sticks of the 

 pimento are imported in very large quantities for walking 

 sticks and umbrella handles. 



From the leaves of an allied species (P. acris, Wight.), 

 the oil of bay or bay berry is obtained, used in the manu- 

 facture of Bay Rom, employed in the United States as a 

 refreshing perfume in f aintness, or to sprinkle about sick 

 rooms, as well as for hair washes. 



No. 245. Clo\-es. The dried, unopened flower-buds of 

 1,'ugenia caiyophyllata, T^hh., a tree originally brought from 

 the Moluccas; now cultivated for this valuable spice in 

 Zanzibar, West Indies, Guiana, Brazil, and mast tropical 

 countries. Cloves are collected for market in the Moluccas 

 either by gathering them by hand, or by beating the branches 

 with long bamboos, cloths being placed beneath the trees to 

 receive them. They are simply dried in the sun. They are 

 gathered in the green state, before they ripen or turn red, 

 and in drying they change to the famihar brown colour. 

 Many varieties are known in commerce, those from Penang 

 being considered the best. Cloves contain a large qrtantity 

 of oil, which is procured by distillation, aud extensively 

 used by soap makers, perfumers, and in medicine. Cloves 

 themselves are very largely used as a spice, and iu nieiliciue, 

 Oil account of their stimulant and aromatic jiroperties. 

 Observe the curious and fragrant ornamental models from 

 Amboyna made of Cloves strung together. Also silvered 

 Cloves, and Clove confectionerj^ from India. 



The dried fruits of the Clove Tree, under the name of 

 Mother Cloves, are sometimes imported. They coutain, 

 however, less oil than cloves, and are infeiior in fragrance. 

 No. 246. Rose Apples, the fruits of Kuycnia Jmnhus, L. 

 A small tree of India,and cultivatedin manytropical countries, 

 nie tree is planted for hedges, shade, and ornament, as well 

 as for the sake of the fruits, which have a fragiauce similar 

 to rose water, but a very insipid taste. They are usually 

 about the size of a small apple, but vary in colom-, some be- 

 ing white, others rose piuk. Candied Rose Apples, preserved 

 with sugar, are exlribited. 

 No. 254. I'OMEUKANAiES, the iiroduce of Punicu Girun-> 



