80 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



40776 to 40782 — Contd. (Quoted notes by Dr. A. R. Proschowsky.) 



carving of Seharunpur, Farakhabad, Lueknow, and Nagpur and the inlaid 

 work of Chiniot, Hosiarpur, Jallandhar, and Mainpuri arc largely on 

 shisham. In Rajputana, also, this wood is to a considerable extent em- 

 ployed by the wood carvers, but for particulars of the methods of treat- 

 ment and styles of carving the reader should consult Indian Art at Delhi, 

 1903 (pp. 103, 10S-9). Owing to the fact that the sissu very rarely grows 

 straight, the timber is not of much use for beams, though it is in much 

 demand for knees of boats. It has been successfully tried for railway 

 sleepers; it is an excellent fuel and makes very good charcoal, but it is 

 too expensive to be utilized for these purposes. The wood is said to yield 

 an empyreumatic medicinal oil. and the raspings of the wood are officinal, 

 being regarded as alterative. Near towns the trees are largely lopped for 

 fodder, and the fallen leaves collected and valued as fuel by the sweet- 

 meat makers." ( Watt, The Commercial Products of India, p. 485-486.) 



40779. Annona chekimola Miller. Annonacese. Cherimoya. 



" Quite hardy here and therefore wonderfully useful as a stock upon 

 which tn graft good varieties." 



40780 and 40781. Cocos odorata Barb. Rodr. Phcenicacese. 



40780. " Selected from the very best of the fruits." Received as 

 Cocos capitata. 



40781. "Edible and of pleasant taste but many fibers. There 

 should be little doubt that by selection better fruits could be ob- 

 tained." 



40782. Santalum album L. Santalaceae. Sandalwood. 



See S. P. I. Nos. 0449 and 8679 for description. 



"A small evergreen tree met with in the very dry regions of South India 

 and in North India chiefly as a cultivated plant. It affects open forest 

 lands with grass and patches of other trees, usually frequenting red or 

 stony soils. It is a root parasite on a long series of host plants and hence 

 apparently the difficulties experienced in systematic plantations where 

 provision has not been made for this requirement. On rich soil the plant 

 grows well, but the wood is deficient in odour, consequently inferior 

 commercially. Lushington and other officers of the Forest Department 

 have devoted much careful study to the cultivation of sandal, more 

 especially in relation to the production of the maximum percentage of 

 rich-scented wood. Lushington observes: 'On the whole I am inclined 



to think that the best way of aiding the reproduction of sandalw 1 



artificially is to in< rease the scrub, and this is best effected by merely 

 keeping out fire and grazing. As soon as the scrub reaches 2 or 3 feet 

 sandal reproduces naturally from seed dropped by birds, and this may 

 perhaps be further assisted by dibbling.' Rama Rao urges that weeding 

 is dangerous and that only surface pruning when the scrub becomes too 

 dense should be indulged in. Lushington mentions 8 inches* growth in 

 girth per ten years as a safe average and the exploitable age of the tree 

 as forty years, the minimum size being then 32 inches at 4A feet from 

 the ground." (Watt, Commercial Products of India, p. 976.) 



