190 : AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 
Orientals burn it in their temples for its fragrance, and it has also been 
used in medicine. 
Balsam of copaiba.—This drug is produced by Copaifera officinalis, 
(Leguminose,) a lofty tree, nativeof South America, The resinous juice is 
obtained by boring holes near the base of the tree, reaching into the pith 
or center of the stem, from which it flows copiously. ‘The older trees 
afford the best quality of balsam, and yield it several times during the 
year. That taken from young trees is crude and watery, and of less 
value. At first the juice is fidid and without color, but soon acquires 
a consistency equal to that of thick oil, and changes to a yellowish color. 
An inferidr article is obtained by decoction from the bark and branches, 
which is destitute of the qualities of the true balsam, and is thin and 
liquid. The pure balsam has rather an agreeable smell, and a bitter, 
biting taste of considerable duration in the mouth. Ié dissolves entirely 
in rectified spirit, especially with the addition of a little alkali, the solu- 
tion having a very fragrant smell. Distilled with water it yields nearly 
half its weight of a limpid essential oil, and in strong heat, without addi- 
tion, a blue oil. . 
Mezican elemi is a greenish resin furnished by Llaphriwn elemiferum, 
(Amyridacee.) 
Eastern elemi is furnished by Canarium commune, (Amyridacee,) a plant 
cultivated in the Moluccas for its fruit. A gum exudes from its bark, 
which is said to resemble in its properties the balsam of copaiba. 
Another species, C. strictum, is known in Malabar as the black dammar 
resin tree, in contradistinction to the white dammar, Vateria Indica. 
Jarilla balsam is yielded by Adesmia balsamifera, (Leguminose,) a 
Chilian plant of great beauty when in blossom. This balsam has a 
pleasant odor, perceptible at a great distance, and is said to be of much 
value in healing wounds. ° ’ 
Putty root.—The plant bearing this name is Aplectrum hyemale, (Orchid- 
acece,) a terrestrial orchid, a-native of our woods, which forms small 
tubers containing a quantity of adhesive mucilage, which has been used 
in mending broken porcelain; hence its local name. 
Caoutchouc, or India-rubber.—One of the plants that furnish this sub- 
stance is Siphonia Brasiliensis, (Euphorbiacee,) a common tree in the 
forests of Para. This gum exists in the tree in the form of a thin, white 
milk, and is obtained by making incisions in the trunk, from which it 
exudes, and is collected in vessels, and afterward converted into the 
black, homogeneous, elastic mass, familiar to us as india-rubber, by 
pouring the milk upon molds, and immediately holding them over a 
dense smoke. As it solidifies another coating is poured over it, and the 
process is repeated until the required thickness is secured. ‘ 
Siphonia eiastica, 8. lutea, and 8. brevifolia also furnish India-rabber 
of goodquality. Others of this genus yield an inferior, brittle gum. 
Guita percha.—This is the inspissated juice of Isonandra gutta, (Sapo- 
tacee,) a large forest tree, reaching a height of 60 to 70 feet, with a 
trunk 2 to 3 feet in diameter. It is a native of the islands of Southern 
India, especially Borneo and Sumatra. The raw gutta-percha is exported 
in lumps weighing five to six pounds. It is prepared for use by cutting 
it up in slices, which are softened by being immersed in hot water; they 
are then torn into fine shreds, by rapidly revolving cylinders set with 
sharp teeth, and thrown into cold water, when the impurities sink, and 
the gutta-percha floats on the surface; the shreds are then transferred 
to hot water, and are made into solid masses, which are afterward 
kneaded by machinery, in order to expel the extraneous moisture. 
Balata gum.—tThis .elastic gum is obtained from Mimusops balata, 
