in Extra- Tropical Countries. 219 



[orchella conica, Persoon. 



Europe, Asia, Northern and Central America, northward to lat. 

 70 in Norway. With M. semilibera this Morel has been found in 

 Victoria and New South Wales ; its spread should be encouraged by 

 artificial means, as it is a wholesome esculent. . Kohlrausch and 

 Siegel found 29 to 35 per cent, of protein in Morels when dried. 

 European superior species, probably admitting of introduction, are : M. 

 esculenta, M. Gigas, Pers., M. rimosipes,D.C., M. Bohemica, Krombh., 

 M. deliciosa, Fries (which extends to Java) and M. patula, Pers., 

 the Bell-Morell ; but several others occur in other parts of the 

 globe. Though these f ungs show a predilection for pine-forests, they 

 are not dependent upon them ; thus the writer found M. conica 

 (Persoon) in Eucalyptus-forests, and this late in the autumn. They 

 can all be dried and preserved for culinary purposes. 



Moringa pterygosperma, Gaertner. 



The Horse-Radish Tree of India, abundant as far as the middle 

 regions of the mountains. Height to about 20 feet, but thick- 

 stemmed. The long pods are edible ; the seeds are somewhat 

 almond-like and rich in oil, which has no perceptible smell, and is 

 esteemed by watchmakers particularly. Gum exudes from the stem. 

 M. aptera (Gaertner) occurs from Abyssinia and Egypt to Arabia 

 and Syria. M. Concanensis (Nimmo) is an allied species from the 

 drier regions of North- Western India. 



Moras alba, Linn.* 



The White Mulberry-tree. Upper .India and Western China. 

 This tree in several varieties provides the food for the ordinary 

 Chinese silk-insect (Bombyx Mori). Silk was produced in Italy 

 700 years ago, and this branch of industry has flourished there ever 

 since. In China silk has been reeled for 4,500 years ; this may 

 demonstrate the permanency of an industry, which we wish to 

 establish extensively anywhere under a similar sky. " One pound of 

 silk is worth its weight in silver, and this pound may be produced (so 

 far as the food of the Bombyx is concerned) from thirty pounds of 

 mulberry -leaves or from a single tree, which may thus be brought to 

 yield annually the material for 16 yards of Gros de Naples" (R. 

 Thompson). The White Mulberry-tree is of extremely easy growth 

 from cuttings, also readily raised from well-matured seeds. It is 

 usually unisexual, and finally attains a very large size. It can still 

 be grown in climes, where olives will no longer thrive. In Norway 

 the tree bore seeds in lat. 59 55' (Schuebeler). Spots for mulberry- 

 culture must not be over moist, when the leaves are to be utilized for 

 the Bombyx. In 1870, according to the British Trade Journal, the 

 produce of cocoons amounted in Europe to 16,588,000; in Asia to 

 28,112,000; in Africa to 44,000; in the South-Sea Islands to 

 24,000; in America to 20,000 thus giving a general total of 

 44,788,000. In 1875 the yield of raw silk in the district of 

 Rajshahye (British India) was estimated at 400,000, employing 



