FOREST PRODUCTS. 



taste of nauseous drugs. For particulars regarding the 

 cultivation of this spice, I refer the reader to Ludlow and 

 Owen's pamphlets on the subject. 



Anacardium occidentals. Cashew-nuts are largely eaten 

 roasted both by Europeans and Natives. They contain a 

 large percentage of a clear, bland oil, which is far superior 

 to olive oil, and might be used for oiling delicate machinery. 

 The demand for the nuts is however so great that the oil is 

 never likely to become a marketable product. The tree is 

 abundant on the west coast, and self-sown seed comes up 

 everywhere. The pericarp of the nut contains about 30 

 per cent, of a powerful caustic oil, that blisters where it 

 touches the skin. This oil is used for polishing gunstocks. 

 The pedicel of the seed is fleshy of a brilliant golden or 

 pinkish red colour, very juicy ; but slightly astringent. It 

 is largely eaten by the natives iu the hot weather. It how- 

 ever leaves an unpleasant acrid feeling behind in the 

 throat. 



Anamirta Cocculus. The fruit of this climber is used to 

 adulterate beer. The seeds contain a fatty oil. 



Andropogon Muricatum. Khus-khus grass grows wild, 

 and is cultivated in Malabar. The roots are used for 

 Khus-khus tatties in the hot weather. When distilled with 

 water, a delicious essential oil is obtained, having the peculiar 

 and fragrant odour of these grass roots when wet. 



Andropogon Gitratus. Lemon grass grows plentifully on 

 the slopes of the Western Ghats everywhere. When distill- 

 ed, it produces a fragrant essential oil which is used by 

 perfumers. 



Andropogon Nardus. Citronelle grass is found wild in 

 patches on the Western Ghats. It is also cultivated. From 

 171bs. of grass I distilled Ifoz. of essential oil of a yellow- 

 ish brown colour, exceedingly fragrant and closely resem- 

 bling the odour of crushed Verbena leaves. It is largely 

 used by perfumers and soap-makers at home. There are 

 large distilleries devoted to the extraction of this oil in 

 Ceylon. 



