in Extra-Tropical Countries. 187 



is Iris juncea (Poiret), the edible root of which is known by the name 

 of-Zeloak among the Algerian natives (Simmonds). I. versicolor 

 (Linne) of North-America is there drawn into medicinal use. 



Isatis indigotica, Fortune. 



Northern China. Perennial, almost shrubby. Its use is similar to 

 that of the following plant. 



Isatis tinctoria, Linn<$. 



" Dyer's Woad." From the Mediterranean regions through part of 

 the Orient, apparently extending as far as Japan. In Norway it is 

 hardy to lat. 67 16' (Schuebeler). A tall herb of two years' dura- 

 tion. The blue dye is obtained from the fermented leaves. Woad 

 succeeds best in rich limestone-ground. Contains luteolin. Many 

 other species of Isatis, mostly Asiatic, may perhaps produce dye with 

 equal advantage. Boissier enumerates twenty-eight kinds merely as 

 Oriental. 



Jacaranda mimosifolia, D. Don. 



Brazil. This tree, with J. Braziliana and J. obtusifolia (Humboldt), 

 furnishes a beautiful and fragrant kind of Palixander- or Palissandre- 

 wood, and so do probably some other tropical American species. 

 This wood is bluish-red, traversed by blackish veins. J. mimosifolia 

 is hardy at Melbourne, soon recovering from the injuries of our slight 

 nocturnal frosts, and thus may perhaps be reared with advantage in 

 many of the warmer and moister regions of the temperate zone. 



Jacksonia cupulifera, Meissner. 



West-Australia. It might prove an advantage, to disseminate this 

 small tree in arid desert-regions, as horses and cattle relish the foliage 

 amazingly. Several other Jacksonias share the local renown, which 

 this congener of theirs has acquired from its utility as a pasture- 

 bush. 



Jasmirmm grandiflorum, Linn<$.* 



From India to Japan. Flowers white. Extensively cultivated in 

 South-Europe. It is planted in rows 3 feet apart. Leek, tuberoses 

 and similar plants are used, to occupy the spare-ground for the first 

 year ; 1,000 plants in the second year after grafting produce 50 kilos 

 (about 1 cwt.) of flowers in rich soil. Ten thousand Ibs. can be pro- 

 duced on a hectare (nearly 2j acres), which under very favorable cir- 

 cumstances will realize a profit of 230 per annunl. Dr. Piesse records, 

 that in very recent times at Grasse, Cannes and the adjoining villages 

 about 100,000 Ibs. of Jasmin-flowers were gathered annually for 

 perfumery-purposes. The plants must be guarded against frost and 

 exposure to wind (Deherain). In France this jasmin is generally 

 grafted .on J. officinale. The bushes are richly manured and well 

 watered. Ordinary cleft-grafting is practised, the stock being headed 

 down to near the ground. A good workman and assistant will graft 

 about 1,000 plants in a day. The delicate scent is withdrawn, either 



