368 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



its comforts, its affections, its virtues, and its intel- 

 lectual riches. 



In a very interesting and instructive paper by 

 Mr. John Lindley, ' On the Tropical Fruits likely 

 to be worth cultivatint^ in Engrland*,' it is stated, 

 upon the authority of Mr. Crawford, that some of 

 the varieties of the banana possess an exquisite fla- 

 vour, surpassing the finest pear ; and that others in 

 the East Indies have been compared to an excellent 

 reinette apple, after its sweetness has been con- 

 densed by keeping through the winter. Of these 

 varieties there are so many, that they would be as 

 diflicult to describe as the sorts of apples and pears 

 of Europe. The banana has frequently produced its 

 bunches of yellow fruit in hothouses in this king- 

 dom ; particularly at Wynnstay, the seat of Sir W. W. 

 VVynn; and at Messrs. Loddiges', at Hackney: and, 

 according to Mr. Lindley, " it appears probable that 

 there will be as little difficulty in ripening the fruit, 

 as that of any tropical tree whatever." 



The Tamarind — Tamarindus Indica. 



The tamarind-tree is a native both of the East 

 Indies and of tropical America, and probably also of 

 Arabia and some parts of Africa. It was very early 

 introduced into this country; for Gerarde, whose 

 Herbal was published in 1633, makes mention of 

 it as growing here. It does not often flower in 

 England, thougli it has done so in the Royal Gardens 

 at Kew. It is, howe\er, a common ornament of our 

 hothouses. Where it is a native, it grows to be a 

 large tree, and affords excellent timber — heavy, firm, 

 hard, and durable. The stem is large, covered with 

 brown bark, and divides into many branches ; the 



* Hort. Trans, vol. v. 



