126 



from the colour of the wood, which resembles horn and is tough, hard, 

 and heavy. The fruit is excellent, though not so good by a long way as 

 the Mangosteen proper. Gurcinia celebica, an evergreen tree indigenous 

 to the Celebes and Macassar, yields a fruit known as the Celebes 

 Mangosteen. It is somewhat larger than the Mangosteen proper, but in 

 quality is greatly inferior. Garcinia pei/dnncitlata, a robust evergreen 

 tree which attains a height of fifty or sixty feet, has rich yellow fruit 

 which often reaches two pounds in weight. The fruit is intensely acid, 

 and in India is used by the natives in localities where it grows as a 

 substitute for the Lime. It is a native of Southern India. G rein in. 

 pictnrahi, another Indian evergreen species which becomes a tall robust 

 tree, yields fruit whose seeds supply an oil, which is used to a large 

 extent as a substitute for "ghee." Garcinia purpure<f, also a robust 

 evergreen tree indigenous to Southern India, is known as the Mate 

 Mangosteen. The fruit of this species is smooth, and both skin and tiesh 

 are of a deep purple colour. In flavour the pulp is somewhat acid, but 

 .agreeable, though vastly inferior to the Mangosteen proper. The seeds 

 yield an oil from which is made an article of food in India known as 

 Kakum butter, 



CULTIVATION AND PROPAGATION. 



The Mangosteen and its kindred species, being natives of the tropics, 

 can only be cultivated successfully in warm and moist regions. Probably 

 suitable localities may be found for them in the northern coast districts of 

 Queensland and North Australia. It is perfectly useless, however, to 

 attempt the cultivation of these trees unless the climatic conditions are 

 favourable. In suitable localities the Mangosteen is well worthy of 

 attention as a fruit, and should be generally cultivated. It will thrive in 

 any fairly good soil, but does best in a friable sandy loam, which should 

 be worked deeply, and drainage provided when necessary. Shelter must 

 be provided when it does not exist naturally, as the trees will not stand 

 exposure to strong winds. The trees in a plantation should stand not 

 less than twenty feet apart, in order to allow room for free development. 

 As ornamental trees the Mangosteen and ether species of Garcinia may 

 be planted with advantage in congenial localities, as their bright evergreen 

 foliage is very attractive. Propagation is most usually effected by seeds, 

 which should be planted an inch and a -half deep. Plants, however, may, 

 if necessary, be readily obtained from layers, and ripened cuttings of the 

 current season's wood may be rooted in sand if protected from sun and 

 wind , 



MANILLA TAMARIND. 



This name has been given to an evergreen tree belonging to the 

 natural order Leguminosae, known botanically as Imjn </"/<*/*, whose fruit 

 is somewhat similar in appearance to the real Tamarind (Tamarind"* 

 ). The tree attains the height of about thirty feet, has finely cut 



