IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 13 



made from the young stems of this plant. It is also a sub- 

 stitute for cork in various appliances. The Solah is of less 

 importance for cultivation than for naturalisation. 



^Ssculus flava, Aiton. 



North America. This showy tree rises to 60 feet. The wood 

 is light, soft, and porous, not inclined to split or crack in dry- 

 ing. It is valuable for troughs, bread-trays, wooden bowls, 

 shuttles (Simmons). 



^Esculus Hippocastanum, Linne. 



The Horse-Chestnut Tree. Indigenous to Central Asia. One 

 of the most showy of deciduous trees, more particularly when 

 during spring " it has reached the meridian of its glory, and 

 stands forth in all the gorgeousness of leaves and blossoms." 

 Height 60 feet. Circumference of stem up to 16 feet. It 

 will succeed in sandy soil on sheltered spots ; the wood adapted 

 for furniture ; the seeds a food for various domestic animals ; 

 the bark a good tanning material. The wood remains free 

 from insects. The tree ascends the Himalayas up to 10,000 

 feet. A variety is known with thornless fruits. Three species 

 occur in Japan, and several, but none of great height, in 

 North America and South Asia. 



-ZSsculus Indica, Colebrooke. 



In the Himalayas, from 3,500 to 9,000 feet. Height finally 

 50 feet ; trunk comparatively short, occasionally with a girth 

 of 25 feet. Never quite without leaves. Cajn. be used like the 

 Horse-Chestnut as an ornamental shade-tree. 



Agaricus Caesareus, Schaeffer. 



In the Spruce-forests of Middle and South Europe. Trials 

 might be made to naturalise this long-famed and highly deli- 

 cious Mushroom in our forests. It attains a width of nearly 

 one foot, and is of a magnificent orange colour. Numerous 

 other edible Agarics could doubtless be brought into this 

 country by the mere dissemination of the spores at apt localities. 

 As large or otherwise specially eligible may here be mentioned 

 A. extinctorius L., A. melleus Vahl., A deliciosus L., A. 

 giganteus Sowerby, A. Cardarella Fr., A. Marzuolus Fr., A. 

 eryngii Cand., A. splendens Pers., A. odorus Bulliard, A. 

 auricula Cand., A. oreades Bolt., A. esculentus Wulf., A. 

 mouceron Tratt., A. socialis Cand., all from Europe, besides 

 numerous other highly valuable species from other parts of the 

 globe. Professor Goeppert adds as edible species sold in 



