70 MELIACEJE. [ Me.lla. 



white, prominent, bent outwards where they touch the pores ; the distance 

 between the rays less than the transverse diameter of the pores. 



Planted and self-sown throughout the greater part of India and Burma. 

 The weight and transverse strength have been determined by the following 

 experiments : 



Weight. Value of P. 



Puckle in 1859, three experiments, with bars 2' X 1" X 1", found 49 Ibs. 539 

 Skinner in 1862, No. 19 50 720 



Cunningham in 1854, two experiments, with bars 2' X 1" X 1", 

 Fowke in Catalogue, South Kensington Museum, 1859 



Wallich 



Srnythies in 1878, the mean of our three specimens 



52 

 45 

 46 

 53 



587 

 315 



The wood is used for the construction of carts, in ship-building and for making agricul- 

 tural implements, and in South India for furniture. It is held sacred by Hindus, and idols 

 are made of it. The bark is bitter and is used as a febrifuge. The leaves are made 

 into a poultice for ulcers. The gum is clear, amber-coloured and used as a stimulant. 

 The seeds are employed to kill insects and for washing the hair. The fruit gives a fixed, 

 acrid, bitter, yellow-coloured oil which is used to burn, but smokes badly in burning : it 

 is also used in medicine as an antiseptic and anthelmintic. 



Ibs. 



P 463. Ajmere (sapwood) 48 



D 1053. Salem, Madras 53 



No. 11. Salem Collection 59 



2. M. Azedarach, Linn.; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 544; Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 

 395 (also M. sempervirens, Sw.) ; Beddome 1. 14 (13 by mistake) ; Brandis 

 68; Kurzi. 212; Gamble 16. The Persian Lilac, Bastard Cedar or Bead 

 Tree. Vern. Ckein, kachein, Sutlej; Drek, bakain, bakdyan, detain, deikna, 

 bakarja, Hind.; Maha limbo, malla nim, muhli, C. P. ; Bakainu, Nep. ; 

 Mallay vembu, Tarn.; Taraka vepa, makdnim, Tel.; Bevu, chik bevu, 

 Kan. ; Ta-ma-kha, Burm. 



A tree with smooth grey bark. Sapwood yellowish white ; heartwood 

 soft, red. Annual rings marked by a broad belt of large pores, the 

 outer part of each animal ring containing a few smaller-sized pores which 

 are joined by irregular, wavy, concentric bands of soft tissue. Medullary 

 rays moderately broad ; visible on a radial section as long rough plates. 

 Pores very prominent on a longitudinal section. 



Commonly cultivated throughout India, and believed to be indigenous in the outer 

 Himalaya, Siwalik tract and the hills of Beluchistan. 



Growth rapid, 3 to 4 rings per inch of radius; it coppices freely. Weight, 30 Ibs. 

 according to Skinner, No. 92 ; our specimens give an average of 38 Ibs. Skinner gives 

 the value of P at 596. 



Wood used for furniture. Beddome, Brandis and Kurz all say it warps and splits, 

 but Mr. Halsey of Madhopur writes to say that it is equally useful either greeu or 

 seasoned. Our specimens split only very slightly, and we are inclined to think it is 

 better than it has been supposed to be. The wood is very handsomely marked :m<l 

 polishes well. The bark is extremely bitter and is employed as an anthelmintic. The 

 fruit yields an oil, and the nuts arc Frequently strung as beads. The loavs and pulp 

 of the fruit are used in native ni.-dicin.-. 



Ibs. 



P 340. Sainj, Giri Valley, Punjab 38 



P 946. Lahore, Punjab 35 



P 1201. Madhopur, Punjab 40 



3. M. dubia, Cav. ; Hook. Fl. Ind. i. 515.- M. cotnposUa, 

 Beddome t. 12; Brandis 69; Gamble 16. M. superba and M. 



Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. 390-7. Voru. Eixur, Vimharra, nimbarra, Bombay; 

 lj<i/mhi t Nep. ; Dinf/fairf-diiy, Klia-ia Hills; Mallay vembtt, Tain.; Been, 

 fjcctt, kad bunt, Kill). 



