Remarks on the Culture of Exotic Vegetables. 165 



FRAXINUS excelsoir. Common Ash, Esch. Polygamia 

 Dioecia of Linnaeus ; and Natural Order, Olineae. 



This tree may be propagated by layers ; but the seeds or the 

 keys as thev are usually termed, answer best, and may be sown 

 with oats ; which latter, being cut at the proper season, leaves 

 the ground covered with young trees. It is particularly adapted 

 to bleak and exposed situations, and thrives where few other 

 trees will ; upon hilly ground it may be sown with furze. It 

 bears transplanting well; and forms a valuable coppice, where 

 small timber for spars is wanted ; and for this purpose it re- 

 quires to be cut down every six or seven years. The young 

 branches are good fodder for cattle. This tree attains nearly 

 the same size as the oak, and in Europe brings nearly the same 

 price as the best of that timber. 



The variety of uses to which this timber is applied, is a suffi- 

 cient recommendation for its culture ; and, although the Colony 

 contains some species of timber applicable to the same purposes 

 as the ash, there are uses to which it alone appears applicable. 

 It burns freely when fresh felled. The bark is used in tanning 

 calf-skins, and also dyes yellow. The ashes of the wood afford 

 a good potash. 



The ash was introduced to this Colony in 1827. 



ALNUS glutinosa. Alder, Elzeboom. Monoecia Tetrandria 

 of Linnaeus, and Natural Order, Amentaceas. 



This tree is best reared from seeds, but may be propagated 

 by layers, or truncheons sharpened at one end, and planted 

 about two feet deep in the ground. 



It is properly an aquatic tree, and is the most eligible for the 

 embankments of rivers, water courses, &c. Its timber is 

 valuable for articles which are required to be constantly under 

 water ; and serves also for many domestic purposes. 



The whole tree is astringent, and the bark useful to the tan- 

 ner and leather-dresser ; and in dying cotton, forms a basis for 

 black: the young shoots are also made use of in dying, and 

 according to their age give a variety of colours. 



This tree was introduced previous to 1695, and has become 

 naturalised to the Colony ; but appears to be neglected as far as 

 its properties to the turner, tanner, dyer, &c. are useful. 



MYRTUS communis. Common Myrtle. Myrtus. Icosan- 

 dria Monogynia of Linnaeus, and Nat. Ord. Myrtaceae. 



Three varieties of this shrub are well known in the Colony, 

 and appear to have been introduced to it at an early period. 

 To many persons it may appear unnecessary to mention it in 

 this place ; but hitherto it has been considered here, more as an 

 ornamental than a useful shrub ; and in a country like this, ex- 

 posed to strong winds, the myrtle is of great utility in the 

 formation of hedges, which breaking the force of the wind, 

 foftens its blasts, and thus no eddy current returns with accumu- 



