225 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



Though the Blood Plum is an edible fruit, it is not of sufficient 

 value to make it worth cultivating for economical purposes. As an 

 ornamental tree it may be worthy of attention in tropical or sub- 

 tropical regions, Being a native of warm regions, as a matter of 

 course, it cannot be cultivated in any but the warmest parts of 

 Australia. Propaga ion may be effected by seeds, layers, or cuttings 

 of the previous season's wood. 



BRAZIL ALMOND. 



HISTORY AND USES. 



This is an evergreen tree known as Geo/roya superba, and belonging 

 to the order 'Leguminosese. It attains a height of thirty of forty feet, 

 and has winged glossy leaves and yellow flowers. The fruit is about 

 the size of a Walnut, and has a greenish yellow skin covered with 

 thick down. The pulp is fleshy, and encloses a very hard mit-like 

 seed. By the South American Indians the pulpy portion of the 

 fruit is used for food, and they turn the kernels of the seeds to 

 account in the same way. The fruit is commonly known in South 

 America under the name of Almender. The wood is very hard, fine 

 grained, takes an excellent polish, and is used to some extent 

 for fine cabinet work. 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



This tree- is not likely to be cultivated to any extent in Australia, as 

 its fruit is insipid, and greatly inferior to many other kinds, though 

 the seeds or nuts have a fairly good flavour. As it is indigenous to 

 warm regions it is suitable only for tropical or semi-tropical localities. 

 Being a drought resisting tree, it might prove useful in some of the 

 hot, dry, interior districts. It is also worth cultivating in shrubberies 

 as an ornamental plant. The best mode of propagation is by seeds, 

 but plants may also be readily obtained from cuttings of the ripened 

 wood. 



BRAZIL NUT. 



HISTORY AND USES. 



The Brazil Nut is the fruit of Bertholletia excelsa a large handsome 

 tree belonging to the Lecyth ideas section of the natural order 

 Myrtacese. It is an evergreen with large smooth broad leaves nearly 

 two feet in length, and attains a height of from 100 to 150 feet. The 

 fruit grows upon the upper branches, and when mature, forms a 

 perfect ball about six inches in diameter. It consists of an outer 



