in Extra-Tropical Countries. 357 



Sesbania cannabina, Persoon. 



South- Asia. An annual herb of easy growth in wet localities, 

 requiring less attention in weeding and otherwise than the Jute-plant. 

 The crop for fibre ripens in about five months. Regarded by Baker 

 as a variety of S. aculeata, in which case S. cannabina would claim 

 the right of priority for its specific name. 



Sesbania grandiflora, Persoon. 



North-Western Australia to the verge of the tropics, Indian Archi- 

 pelagus. Called in Australia the Corkwood-tree; valuable for various 

 utilitarian purposes. The red-flowered variety is grandly ornamental. 

 Dr. Roxburgh recommends the leaves and young pods as an exquisite 

 spinage. The plant is shy of frost. 



Sesleria coerulea, Arduino.* 



Many parts of Europe, but not in the far northern regions, though 

 in Scotland ascending to 2,500 feet. Of this perennial grass Langethal 

 observes, that it is for dry and loose limestone what Elymus arenarius 

 is for loose sand. It stands depasturing by sheep well, and is one of 

 the earliest grasses of the season. 



Sesuvium Portulacastrum, Linne". 



All round the globe on the shores of tropical and sub-tropical 

 countries, occurring naturally as far south as Port Jackson. A 

 perennial creeping herb, fit to fix the sandy silt on the edges of sea- 

 coasts. 



Shepherdia argentea, Nuttall. 



The Buffalo-Berry. From the Missouri to Hudson's Bay. This 

 bush bears red, acidulous, edible berries. 



Shorea robusta, Gaertner. 



The Sal-tree. India, up to about 3,000 feet. It attains as a 

 maximum a height of 150 feet and a stem -girth of 25 feet. Foliage 

 evergreen; leaves annual. One of the most famed of Indian timber 

 trees, likes a rather humid clime (about 70 inches rain), thrives in 

 annual extremes of temperature from the freezing point to about 100 F. 

 Drs. Stewart and Brandis found it on sandstone, conglomerate, gravelly 

 and shingly ground, where loose water- transmitting soils are mixed 

 with a large portion of vegetable mould. The climatic conditions 

 within a Sal-area may be expressed as mean annual rainfall, 40 to 

 100 inches; mean temperature, in the cool season 55 to 77, in the 

 hot season 77 to 85 F. The heartwood is dark-brown,' coarse- 

 grained, hard, very heavy, strong, tough, with fibrous cross-structure, 

 the fibres interlaced. It requires careful seasoning, otherwise it will 

 rend and warp. For buildings, river-boats and railway-sleepers it 

 is the most important timber of North-India. It exudes a pale, 

 aromatic, dammar-like resin. The Tussa-silkworm derives food from 

 this tree. 



