in Extra-Tropical Countries. 257 



up to seven feet high, giving at the rate of 30 tons green feed, or 6 

 tons of hay per acre; in six or seven weeks more a second cutting is 

 obtained, reaching 55 tons per acre of green feed, the grass being nine 

 feet high; a third cut is got in the same season. Farm stock eat it 

 greedily. One plant of pearl millet "is worth three of maize for 

 fodder." Some of the many other species of Pennisetum are doubt- 

 less of rural value. A plant allied to P. thyphoideum occurs in 

 China, namely P. cereale (Triuius). This also affords millet or corn 

 for cakes. 



Pentzia virgata, Leasing. 



. South-Africa. A small cushion-like bush, recommended for 

 establishment in deserts for sheep-fodder. It has the peculiarity, 

 that whenever a branch touches the ground, it strikes roots and forms 

 a new plant; this enables the species to cover ground rapidly (Sir 

 Samuel Wilson). Valuable also for fixing drift-sand in water-rills, 

 by readily bending over and rooting, thus forming natural little catch- 

 dams to retain water (McOwau). Several other species occur inr 

 South-Africa. 



Periandra dulcis, Martius. 



Sub-tropical Brazil. The sweet root of this shrub yields liquorice, 



Perilla arguta, Bentham. 



Japan. An annual herb. An infusion of this plant is used for 

 imparting a deep-red color to table-vegetables and other substances. 

 In Japan the seeds are pressed for oil. P. ocimoides, L., of Upper 

 India probably serves similar purposes. Some species of Perilla are 

 suitable for ribbon-culture. 



Persea gratissima, Gaertner. 



The Avocado-Pear. From Mexico to Peru and Brazil in forest- 

 tracts near the coast; but its real nativity, according to A. de Candolle, 

 restricted to Mexico. Suggestively mentioned here as probably 

 available for mild localities outside the tropics, inasmuch as it has 

 become naturalized in Madeira, the Azores and Canary -Islands. A 

 noble evergeen spreading tree. The pulp of the large pear-shaped 

 fruit is of delicious taste and flavor. The fruit attains sometimes a 

 weight of 2 Ibs., and is generally sliced for salad. Its pulp contains 

 about 8 per cent, of greenish oil. The seeds have come into medi- 

 cinal use at the instance of Dr. Froehliug, particularly through the 

 efforts of Messrs. Parke and Davis, to whom we mainly owe the 

 introduction of many other valuable new drugs into medicine. 



Persea Teneriffae, F. v. Mueller. (P. Indica, Sprengel.) 



Madeira, Azores and Canary-Islands. This magnificent tree 

 produces a beautiful, hard, mahogany-like wood, especially sought for 

 superior furniture and turners' work. One of the most hardy trees- 

 of the large order of Laurinse. 



