242 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 





which actually perishes under lengthened inundation, but which is 

 less productive; the Glutinous Rice, which succeeds as well in wet as 

 in almost dry places, and produces black or reddish grains. In the 

 rich plains of Lombardy, irrigated from the Alps, the average-crop is 

 estimated at forty-eight bushels for the acre annually. According to 

 General Capron the average-yield in Japan is fifty bushels per acre. 

 The spirit, distilled from rice and molasses, is known as arrack. 

 Rice-beer, known as " Sake," is extensively brewed in Japan, and 

 is the principal fermented beverage used by the inhabitants. Rice- 

 starch is now consumed in enormous quantities, particularly in 

 Britain. Nearly 330,000 tons of rice to the value of 2,680,000 were 

 imported into the United Kingdom during 1884. Rice-sugar, called 

 " Ame " in Japan, constitutes there a kind of confectionery. 



Oryzopsis cuspidata, Bentham. 



South- Western parts of North-America. A perennial grass of 

 easy dissemination. Tufts dense, hence one of the Bunch-grasses; 

 thrives on soil too sandy and too dry for more valuable grasses 

 (Dr. Vasey). 



Oryzopsis panicoides, Bentham. (Piptochcetium panicoides, E. Desvaux.) 



Extra-tropical South- America. This with some congeners affords 

 good pasturage in Chili and the La Plata-States (Hieronymus). 



Osmanthus fragrans, Loureiro. 



China and Japan. The flowers of this bush serve for oil-distilla- 

 tion like those of the Jasmine. The scent of one plant will perfume 

 a whole conservatory (G. W. Johnson). 



Osmitopsis asteriscoides, Cassini. 



South-Africa. A camphor-scented shrub, much in use there for 

 medicinal purposes (Dr. Pappe). 



Ostrya carpinifolia, Scopoli. 



" The Hop-Hornbeam." South-Europe and Orient. A deciduous 

 tree, reaching 60 feet in height. Uses much like those of the fol- 

 lowing. 



Ostrya Virginica, Willdenow. 



" Lever-wood " Tree of Eastern States of North- America, also 

 Mexico. Occasionally called Iron-wood; to 40 feet high, in rich wood- 

 lands. Wood singularly hard, close-grained and heavy, in use for 

 levers, mill-cogs, wheels, mallets, wedges and other implements. 

 Cattle browse on the foliage. The growth of the tree is very slow. 



Osyris compressa, A. de Candolle. 



South- Africa. One of the most valuable tans for finer leathers is 

 provided there by the leaves and young twigs of this shrub or small 

 tree. The bloom obtained from this tan is much like that imparted 

 by Sumach. 



