136 



yon. March, ipo6 — Surveying on the Farm ; Mensuration by 

 A. S. Kenyon; Strawberry Culture by James Lang. 



The Queensland Agricultural Journal, March, i()o6. Silage and 

 Silos. Poultry : Feeding and Fattening Chickens. 



Bulletin of the Department of Agriculture, Jamaica, February, 

 ipo6. Grape Fruit and Shaddocks by Sir Daniel Morris. 



The Florida Agriculturist, March 28, ipo6. Making the Most 

 of the Vegetable Garden. April 4. Citrus Fruit Pointers. 



Queensland Agricultural Journal, April, ipo6. Chemistry Les- 

 sons on the Chemistry of the Farm, Dairy and Household, by 

 J. C. Briinnich. The Black Wattle in Hawaii and Natal. 



The Tropical Agriculturist, Ceylon, February^ ipo6. The Avo- 

 cado : A Salad Fruit from the Tropics. 



THF BANYAN TREE. 



The Banyan tree (Ficus Betighalcnsis) is an East Indian tree 

 of the order of Urticace?e, and while extensively planted, occurs 

 in a wild state only in the lower Himalayas and the Deccan Hills. 

 It has been raised in other lands, fine specimens being reported 

 in Honolulu and elsewhere. 



It is noted for its roots, which descend from the branches and 

 become accessory trunks, permiting the tree to extend over a 

 wide area. As the tree ages the original trunk dies and decays,j 

 leaving the younger trunk to support the life of the tree. 



A banyan tree on the Xerbudda River is reported to have had 

 more than 3000 small trunks. Among these trunks and leafy 

 aisles it is said 7000 people could stand. This tree is now much 

 reduced in size by floods. The tree is not high, the maximum 

 being usually about 70 feet. 



The leaves are heart shaped, 5 to 6 inches long ; the inconspicu- 

 ous axillary flowers are succeeded by cherry-like scarlet fruits 

 growing in pairs from the axils of the leaves, which are eaten by 

 the monkeys. The seeds seldom germinate on the ground, but 

 usually among the leaf bases of palms, being deposited by birds] 

 the roots descending the palm trunks, embrace and finally kill 

 them. 



Its light porous wood, its juice and its fruit have no economic 



