IN EXTRA-TEOPIpAL COUNTRIES. 309 



really measured trees are 272, 270, and 260 feet high, but 

 one o these has the enormous circumference of 67 feet at 

 6 feet from the ground, while another, the height of which 

 is not recorded, is 93 feet in girth at the ground and 64 

 feet at 11 feet from it; the branches of this individual 

 tree are as thick as the stems of large Elms. The height 

 of the Calaveras-grove is 4,760 feet above sea-level. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Gibbons this giant of the forest has a far wider 

 range than was formerly supposed, Mr. John Muir having 

 shown that it stretches over nearly 200 miles at an alti- 

 tude of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. From the Calaveras to the 

 King River it occurs in small and isolated groves, but from the 

 latter point south to Deer Creek, a distance of about 70 miles, 

 there are almost unbroken forests of this noble tree. Growth 

 of the tree about 2 feet a year under ordinary culture, much 

 more in damp forest glens. Both Sequoias produce shoots 

 from the root after the stem is cut away. 



Sesamum Indicum, Linne. 



The Gingili. Southern Asia, extending eastwards to Japan. 

 This annual herb is cultivated as far as 42 north latitude in 

 Japan. The oil, fresh expressed from the seeds, is one of the 

 best for table use ; free of any unpleasant taste. It congeals 

 with more difficulty than olive oil. There are varieties of this 

 plant with white, red, and black seeds ; the latter is the 

 earliest and richest, but gives a darker oil. Yield 45 to 50 per 

 cent. oil. Nearly a million acres are under cultivation with 

 this plant in the Madras Presidency. The export of the oil 

 from Bangkok in 1870 was valued, according to Simmonds, at 

 183,000 ; the market value is from 25 to 35 shillings per cwt. 

 The plant succeeds still at Malta and at Gaza, and is much 

 grown in Turkey. Parched and pounded, the seeds make a 

 rich soup. In Greece the seeds are often sprinkled over cakes. 

 One of the advantages of the culture of this plant consists in 

 its quick return of produce. The soot of the oil is used for 

 China-ink. 



Sesbania aculeata, Persoon. 



The Danchi. Intra tropical and sub-tropical Asia, Africa, 

 and Australia. This tall annual plant has proved adapted for 

 desert regions. It yields a tough fibre for ropes, nets, and 

 cordage, valued at from 30 to 40 for the ton. Several 

 congeneric plants can be equally well utilised. 



Sesbania JEgyptiaca, Persoon. 



Africa, South Asia, North Australia. The foliage of this tall 



