137 



uses. The bark is regarded by Hindu physicians as a powerful 

 tonic. The white gelatinous juice is used to relieve toothache 

 and reduce inflammation of the soles of the feet, also to make 

 bird lime. Gum lac is obtained from the tree. 



The Hindus regard the tree as sacred, and it is described by 

 Southey in his poem, "The Curse of Kehama." 



Its close relative, the Ficus Indica, is sometimes erroneously 

 called the banyan tree. — Forest Leaves. 



PRICKLY PEAR. 



Experiments have been conducted by the Queensland Govern- 

 ment to investigate the most satisfactory method of eradicating 

 the prickly pear upon land which had bfen invaded by the per- 

 sistent growth of this plant. The ground selected w^as very steep 

 and covered with an almost impenetrable mass of the cactus. 

 The men employed were protected against the sharp needles of 

 the plant with leather leggins, and were armed with specially 

 constructed mattocks with which they chopped the plant to the 

 ground. The leaves and stem were cut into small pieces and 

 sprayed with a solution of sodium arsenic. Under this treatment 

 three or four days after the application of the spray the plants 

 became brown, in which withered condition they soon rotted 

 and disintegrated. The spray appears to have had no deleteri- 

 ous effect on other vegetation, although the roots of the cactus 

 were so thoroughly destroyed that some months after the experi- 

 ment no new growth of the plant was observed. The spray 

 used was composed of four pounds of ^vhite arsenic and three 

 pounds of w^ashing soda, boiled for half an hour in one gallon] 

 of water. Of this concentrated solution about six ounces wery 

 used to a gallon of water for spraying. 



WATER-CRESS. 



Water-cress may be successfully grown on ordinary garden 

 soil without the aid of running water. When water is laid 

 on from pipes, water-cress will thrive as well as in a running 

 stream. To cultivate on ordinary soil, prepare a bed of good 

 mould about 6 inches deep. Smooth and w^ater it in the even- 

 ing, and next day reduce the soil to a fine tilth. Mix the 



