182 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



soil. It recommends itself also for retaining the foliage 

 till very late in the season,, and for producing abundance of 

 fragrant flowers which may perhaps be worth distilling for 

 essential oil. A black-fruited Melia seems as yet little known. 

 The wood is considered of value for some kinds of musical 

 instruments. 



Melianthus major, Linne. 



South Africa. The leaves of this stately plant are very 

 efficacious as antiseptics, also in cases of scald head, ringworm, 

 and various other cutaneous diseases (Dr. Pappe) . Its effect 

 of promoting granulation is very remarkable (Dr. A. Brown) . 

 Flowers rich in honey, as indicated by the generic name. 



Melica altissima, Linne. 



North-Eastern Europe, Middle Asia. This perennial grass has 

 recently come into use as pasture. 



Melica ciliata, Linne. 



Europe and Middle Asia. A perennial fodder grass, particu- 

 larly desirable for sheep. Best for dry gypsum or calcareous 

 ground. 



Melica nutans, Linne. 



The Pearl Grass. Europe and North and Middle Asia, en- 

 during an Alpine clime, and living also in the shade of forests. 

 It produces suckers, and affords good herbage in woody regions ; 

 so, also, does M. uniflora. Several other species are on record 

 from various parts of the globe, among which M. mutica, of 

 North America, seems to deserve special attention. 



Melicocca bijuga, Linne. 



Central America, on mountains. So many sapindaceous trees 

 of the Cupania series have been shown by my own experi- 

 ments to be hardy in a climate like that of Victoria, that 

 now also this important member of the series could be ad- 

 mitted into this list. The pulp of the fruit is of grape taste ; 

 the seeds can be used like sweet chestnuts. 



Melilotus alba,Desrousseaux. 



The Cabul or Bokhara Clover. Middle and Southern Europe, 

 North Africa, Middle Asia. A biennial herb. On account 

 of its fragrance it is of value for admixture to hay. It is also 

 a good bee-plant. Flowers white. Odorous principle : cumariu. 



