in Extra-Tropical Countries. 241 



Origanum Majorana, Linn& 



North- Africa, Middle Asia, Arabia. A perennial herb, used for 

 condiments, also for the distillation of its essential oil, much employed 

 in French factories of scented soap (Dr. Piesse). In Norway it will 

 grow to lat. 70 22' (Schuebeler). 



Origanum Maru, Linn. 



Palestine. Perennial and very odorous. 



Origanum Onites, Linn. 



Countries at and near the Mediterranean Sea. Somewhat shrubby 

 and strongly scented. 



Origanum vulgare, Linn<$. 



The ordinary Marjoram. All Europe, North- Africa, Northern and 

 Middle Asia. In Norway it is indigenous in lat. 66 16' (Schue- 

 beler). A scented herb of perennial growth, containing a pleasant 

 volatile oil. It prefers limestone-soil. Of importance also as a 

 honey-plant. O. hirtum, Link, O. virens, Hoffmannsegg and O. 

 normale, D. Don, are closely allied plants of similar use. Several 

 other Marjorams, chiefly Mediterranean, are of value. Their seeds 

 maintain vitality for a few years. 



Ornithopus sativus, Brotero. 



South-Europe and North- Africa. " The Seratella or Serradella." 

 An annual herb, larger than the ordinary Bird's-foot clover, O. per- 

 pusillus, L. It is valuable as a fodder-plant on sterile particularly 

 sandy soil. It requires no lime, but improves in growth on gypsum- 

 land. A good honey-plant. It matures seeds near Christiania 

 (Schuebeler). Has done particularly well in Hawaia. 



Oryza latifolia, Desvaux. 



Wild in Central America, but perhaps of Asiatic origin. This 

 species is said to be perennial and to attain a height of 18 feet. It 

 deserves trial-culture, and may prove a good fodder-grass on wet land 

 in warm localities. O. perennis (Moench) seems closely allied. 

 Bentham and J. Hooker are not inclined, to admit more than one 

 species of Oryza. The present one is however maintained by 

 Grisebach. 



Oryza sativa, Linn<$.* 



The Rice-Plant. South-Asia and North- Australia. Annual like 

 most cereals. Many rivulets in ranges afford ample opportunities for 

 irrigating rice-fields; but these can be formed with full advantage 

 only in the warmer parts of extra-tropic countries, where rice will 

 ripen as well as in Italy, China or the Southern States of the 

 American Union. Among the numerous varieties of Indian rice may. 

 be noted as prominent sorts: The Early Rice, which ripens in four 

 months and- is not injured by saline inundations; the hardier Moun- 

 tain-Rice, which can be raised on comparatively dry ground, and 



