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small Acorns in bunches which are regularly sold as food in its native 

 country. These Acorns have a sweet, pleasant flavour, and when 

 baked taste somewhat like Chestnuts. Another evergreen species, 

 Quercus glabra, has Acorns that are largely used as food in its native 

 country. Edible Acorns, largely used as food in China, are obtained 

 from Querctu cornea, an evergreen tree of moderate growth indigenous 

 to that country. 



Cri/nvATioN AXI> PROPAGATION. 



All the species mentioned will thrive in the temperate regions in 

 Australasia. They will also freely adapt themselves to various local 

 condition of soil and climate. Though their cultivation as food- 

 yielding trees for mankind would be of little practical value in this 

 part of the world, yet they might prove worthy of attention for 

 {'ceding some classes of live stock. Pigs are remarkably fond* of 

 Acorns, and all the species mentioned are relished by cattle, horses, 

 and poultry. As ornamental trees all the species are worthy of 

 attention, and are well adapted for parks and shrubberies. Some of 

 them may also prove worthy of cultivation for the sake of their 

 timber, which is highly appreciated in their native countries. Pro- 

 pagation is generally effected by seeds which should be planted soon 

 after they are ripe, covering them to the depth of two inches. Plants 

 may be obtained from layers or cuttings, but these never make good 

 trees, which can only be obtained from seed. 



EGG PLANT. 



HISTORY. 



This plant, which also passes under the English names of Guinea 

 Squash and Vegetable Egg, is known botanically as Solaanm melongena, 

 and it belongs to the natural order Solanacea?. It embraces a number 

 of varieties bearing blue or purple flowers, and fruits varying con- 

 siderably in shape, size, and colour. The one after which the plant 

 is named is known as oviyerum, its fruit in shape and colour bearing 

 a perfect resemblance to a hen's egg, though sometimes it is much 

 larger. There are also purple, red, violet, yellow, and striped fruited 

 varieties of various shapes. In France the fruit passes under the 

 name of Aubergines, and in other places they are known as Bringals, 

 Brinjals, and Begoons. In its natural state the species is very widely 

 distributed, as it appears to be indigenous to India and various other 

 parts of Asia, as also Northern Africa and Tropical America. Ac- 

 cording to Baron von Mueller, S. insa-num, S'. longum, S. serptntinum, 

 S. uttddtum, S. fero.c, S. album, <tnd S. 2)seu<lo-saponacenm are closely 

 allied species, and may prove useful esculents. Solanum muricatum, 

 a shrubby South American species, known in Peru as the Pepino, 

 may also prove serviceable. The fruit of this species is egg-shaped, 

 about six inches in length, white with purple spots. 



