200 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



localities. This species has a very straight stem, and rises to 120 

 feet. The wood, though soft and light, is resinous, and will resist 

 underground-decay for a century and more, like that of Fitzroya Pata- 

 gonica; for railway-sleepers this timber is locally preferred to any 

 other (Dr. Philippi); it is also highly esteemed for various artisans' 

 work; it is nearly white. 



Ligustrum Japonicum, Thunberg. 



The Japan-Privet. A shrub, evergreen or nearly so, promising to 

 become a valuable hedge-plant. Hardy still in Christiania (Schue- 

 beler). It grows readily from cuttings like the ordinary European 

 Privet, Ligustrum vulgare (Linne). Both will grow under trees, 

 where scarcely anything else would live (Johnson). 



Limonia acidissima, Linne. 



India, up to 4,000 feet; hardy in England. This shrub or small 

 tree has fruit of extreme acidity, but insignificant in size, which cul- 

 ture may enlarge. 



Lindera Benzoin, Blume. 



From Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, there called the Spice-Laurel. 

 An aromatic bush, one of the hardiest of the order. The aroma of 

 the foliage much like that of Bay-leaves. 



Linum usitatissimum, Lhm.* 



The Flax-Plant. Orient. Perhaps indigenous also in South- 

 Europe, and possibly derived fsom L. angustifolium (Hudson), which 

 was cultivated in Switzerland already during the stone-age (Heer). 

 A well-known annual, which yields linen-fibre and linseed-oil. Few 

 plants find a wider congeniality of soil and climate, and few give a 

 quicker return. Good and deep soil, particularly of forests, well- 

 drained, is requiste for successful flax-culture. In Norway it is cul- 

 tivated as far north as lat. 70 3' (Prof. Schuebeler). The Flax 

 belongs to the Potash-plants. Change of seed-grain is desirable. 

 Thick sowing extends the length and flexibility of the fibre. To 

 obtain the best fibre, the plant must be pulled, when the seeds com- 

 mence to ripen. If the seeds are allowed in part to mature, then both 

 fibre and seeds may be turned to account. If the seed is left to ripen 

 completely, the fibre is generally discarded. The seed yields by 

 pressure about 22 per cent, of oil. The residue can either be pre- 

 pared as linseed-meal or be utilized as admixture to stable-fodder. 

 The demand for both fibre and oil is enormous. Two principal 

 varieties are under culture; a tall sort, with smaller flowers, closed 

 capsules and dark seed; a dwarf sort, more branched (even if closely 

 sown), with larger flowers and capsules, the seed-vessels opening 

 spontaneously and with elasticity, while the seeds are of a pale color. 

 None of the perennial species of Linum are so manageable in culture 

 as the ordinary annual flax. Great Britain imported in 1884 of Flax 

 80,000 tons, worth over three million pounds sterling, and of Linseed 

 1,805,000 quarters, valued at 3,832,000. 



