170 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Ligustrum Japonicum, Thunberg. 



The Japan Privet. A shrub, evergreen or nearly so, promis- 

 ing to become a valuable hedge plant. It grows like the ordi- 

 nary European Privet readily from cuttings. Both will grow 

 under trees where scarcely anything else would live (Johnson) . 



Limonia acidissima, Linne. 



India, up to 4,000 feet; hardy in England. This shrub or 

 small tree has fruit of extreme acidity. 



Lindera Benzoin, Blume. 



From Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, there called the Spice 

 Laurel. An aromatic bush, one of the hardiest of the Order. 

 The aroma of the foliage much like that of Bay leaves. 



Linum usitatissimum, Linne.* 



The Flax Plant. Orient. A well-known annual, which yields 

 the fibre for linen and the linseed oil. Few plants find a wider 

 congeniality of soil and climate, and few give a quicker return. 

 Good and deep soil, particularly of forests, well-drained, is 

 requisite for successful flax culture. The Flax belongs to the 

 Potash plants. Change of seed grain is desirable. Thick sow- 

 ing extends the length and flexibility of the fibre. To obtain 

 the best fibre, the plant must be pulled when the seeds com- 

 mence to ripen. If the seeds are allowed in part to mature, 

 then both fibre and seeds may be turned to account. If the seed 

 is left to ripen completely, then the fibre is generally discarded. 

 The seed yields by pressure about 22 per cent, of oil. The 

 residue can either be prepared as linseed meal or be utilised as 

 admixture to stable fodder. The demand for both fibre and oil 

 is enormous. Two principal varieties are under culture : a tall 

 sort, with smaller flowers, closed capsules, and dark seeds ; a 

 dwarf sort, more branched (even if closely sown), with larger 

 flowers and capsules, the seed-vessels opening spontaneously 

 and with elasticity, while the seeds are of a pale colour. None 

 of the perennial species of Linum are so manageable in culture 

 as the ordinary annual flax. 



Lippia citriodora, Kunth. 



Peru, Chili, La Plata States, Brazil. An evergreen shrub, 

 yielding scented oil, used for condiments, the leaves fit for 

 flavouring tea. 



Liquidambar Altingia, Blume. 



At the Red Sea and in the mountains of India and New 



