267 



VARIETIES. 



The Chestnut is limited to a few cultivated varieties, of which the 

 most popular are as follows : 



Banlcs 1 Prolific. A very free-bearing' variety, and nuts of good size. 



Devonshire (iVe?' 1 Prolific}. This variety is generally a free bearer, has 

 fair sized nuts, and ripens a little earlier than other sorts. Tree vigorous. 



Downton (Knif/Ms Prolific}. An old and reputable variety, which is 

 distinguished by shorter spines on the husks than the Devonshire. Tree 

 strong in growth, and a fairly good bearer. 



Mammoth. A newly introduced variety, with very large nuts, and 

 said to be strong in growth and prolific. 



CHILIAN HAZEL. 



This is a beautiful evergreen tree known botanically as Gruevina 

 avellana, belonging to the natural order Proteacese. It is a native of 

 Chili and other parts of South America, and attains a height of thirty or 

 forty feet The foliage is bright green, and the snowy-white flowers 

 which grow in spikes, are produced simultaneously with the ripening of 

 the fruit of the previous season. When grown for ornamental purposes, 

 the contrast between the flowers, foliage, and coral red fruit is very 

 effective. The nuts are known in Chili under the name of Avellano. 

 They are about the size of large Hazel Nuts and have a very pleasant 

 flavour. The wood is tough and elastic, and is said to be useful for 

 many purposes, and more particularly boat building. The Chilian Hazel 

 may be grown with success in the Southern Colonies of Australia, as also 

 in Tasmania and New Zealand. It is a very desirable ornamental tree, 

 independent of the value of its fruit which is produced freely. Any 

 fairly good soil is suitable, but a well drained sandy loam is most 

 favourable. Propagation is effected by seeds, layers, and ripened cuttings 

 of the current season's growth, which strike readily in sand or light soil. 



CHINESE OLIVE. 



This name is applied to the fruit of Ganarium commune, a shrub 

 belonging to the natural order Burseraceae, It is indigenous to Java and 

 the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The fruit is a three-sided drupe the 

 size of a small Plum, which contains a large proportion of oil that is of 

 commercial value. From the stem a gum is obtained which 

 contains a considerable quantity of a stimulant volatile oil utilised for 

 various purposes. The Chinese Olive can only be grown successfully in 

 moist tropical regions, but as an oil yielding plant is not so valuable as 

 many others. Propagation may be readily effected by seeds, layers, and 

 cuttings of the ripened shoots of the current season's growth. 



CHINESE RAISIN. 



The plant known under this name is Hovenia dnlcis. a small tree from 

 Japan, belonging to the order Rhamnaceae or the Buckthorn family. It 



