in Extra-Tropical Countries. 79 



and position, according to Mr. Barney. It is hardier than most 

 Eucalypts, but will not stand severe frosts. According to Professor 

 Burrill, it is not liable to be destroyed by insects; bears seeds when 

 quite young. Professor Meehan considers the wood to be as durable 

 as that of the best Chestnut-trees; indeed, it lasts for an almost inde- 

 finite period. General Harrison insists, that there is nothing like it 

 for posts. Catalpa-pickets of the old French stockade are still sound. 

 Logs thrown across water-courses for crossing have lasted for three 

 generations; railway-posts and platforms of this wood are almost inde- 

 structible. Logs a century old, and posts half a century old, were 

 not in the least decayed (Barney). Railway cross -ties made of this 

 wood are also very durable, a tree twenty years old furnishing 

 sufficient timber for four ties. Canoes of Catalpa-wood never crack or 

 decay. 



Catalpa Kaempferi, Siebold and Zuccarini. 



Japan. Grows in eijrht years to about 25 feet in height, with a 

 trunk of 2 feet circumference; bunches of flowers very large and fra- 

 grant (Hovey). Proved hardy at Christiania (Schuebeler). C. 

 Bungei (Meyer) from North-China, or a closely allied species, can be 

 grown from hedges. Flowers of all Catalpas sought by bees. 



Catalpa speciosa, Warder. 



In the Mississippi-states. Hardier and taller than C. bignonioides; 

 blooming earlier; leaves inodorous, flowers larger, growth as rapid and 

 wood as durable; also only with a very thin layer of destructible 

 sap wood (Dr. Engelmann). Found to have attained in 40 years a 

 stem -circumference of 40 feet at 4 feet froaa the ground (Letterman). 



Gatha edulis, Forskael. 



Arabia and Eastern Africa. The leaves of this shrub, under the 

 designation of Kafta or Cat, are used for a tea of a very stimulating 

 effect, to some extent to be compared to that of Erythroxylon Coca. 

 To us the plant would be mainly valuable for medicinal purposes. 



Ceanothus rigidus, Nuttall. 



California. One of the best of hedge-shrubs, available for dry 

 situations. Evergreen; to 12 feet high; the branches becoming 

 densely intricate. In the coast-tracts it is replaced by C thyrsiflorus 

 (Escholtz), which can also be used for hedges and copses, and will live 

 in mere coast-sand. C. prostratus (Bentham) forms natural mats on 

 slopes made by roads and slides, which it gradually covers, and with 

 its pretty blue flowers soon decorates (Professor Bolander). Irre- 

 spective of their beauty, the different species are worthy of cultiva- 

 tion as forming excellent wind-breaks. A fair tea is made from the 

 leaves of C. velutinus (Dr. Gibbons). Some species are relied on as 

 forage-plants. 



Cedrela australis, F. v. Mueller. 



Eastern Australia, as far south as 36. The Australian Red 

 Cedar. Foliage deciduous in cool regions. Attains a height of 200 



