196 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Lavandula angnstifolia, C. Bauhin. (L. vera, De Candolle.) 



The principal Lavender-Plant. Countries around and near the 

 Mediterranean Sea. Of somewhat shrubby growth; from it, by dis- 

 tillation, the best oil of lavender is prepared ; the English being 

 superior to others. It lives on dry soil, but is less hardy than the 

 following, still it will grow in Norway to lat. 59 55' (Schuebeler). 

 A thousand plants will only yield about two quarts of oil (Piesse). 

 The plants last about four years for distillation -purposes. The 

 plantations should be renewed at intervals of three or four years. 

 The soil should be calcareous (Vilmorin). Easily grown from cuttings 

 also. 



Lavandula latifolia, C. Bauhin. (L. Spica, De Candolle. ) 



South-Europe, North-Africa. This species is the richest yielder 

 of oil. Hardy in Norway to lat. 67 56'. The Lavenders are easily 

 multiplied by slips. Seeds will keep for five years. 



Lavandula Stcechas, Linne". 



South-Europe, North-Africa. "Topped Lavender." This shrub 

 can also be utilized for oil-distillation and other purposes, for which 

 the two other Lavenders are used. The quality of the oil of these 

 species seems to differ according to their locality of growth. Mr. 

 James Dickinson, of Port Arlington, Victoria, informs us that this is 

 the best plant known to him for staying sand. It grows much quicker 

 than the Ulex; every seed which falls germinates, so that around 

 each bush every stroke of the spade brings up lots of seedlings fit 

 for transplantation. In mild regions it is five months in full flower 

 annually, coming into bloom early. Bees are passionately fond of 

 the nectar of the flowers. Mr. Dickinson calculates, that a ton of 

 the finest-flavored honey can be obtained annually from an acre of this 

 Lavender. 



Lavatera arborea, Linn. 



"Tree-Mallow" of the countries on the Mediterranean Sea. A 

 tall biennial plant of rapid growth. The ribbon-like bast is produced 

 in greater abundance and more rapidly than in most malvaceous plants, 

 and is recommended for paper-material. Bears frost to 15 F. (Gorlie). 

 The Tree-Mallow might easily be naturalized on sea-shores, where it 

 would be useful as a quick shelter. Perhaps it might serve with 

 allied plants for green manure. The bulky foliage has proved valuable 

 for fodder, and so has that of Lavatera plebeja (Sims) of Australia. 



Lawsonia alba, Lamarck. 



North- and Middle- Africa, Arabia, Persia, India and North- Western 

 Australia. The " Henne or Henna-bush." It may become of use as 

 a dye-plant in regions free from frost. The orange pigment is ob- 

 tained from the ground foliage. Mr. C. B. Clarke considers it one of 

 the best hedge-plants in India, together with Dodonaea viscosa (Linne) 

 and Odina Wodier (Roxburgh). 



