MAIZE OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 257 



thick. It is greatly used for the interior fittings of houses, fur- 

 niture, railway carriages, and cabinet-work of all kinds. 



Mahogany, Indian — 1. ^S". fehrifitga, now separated as a 

 distinct genus under the name of Soymida. A large tree similar 

 in habit to the preceding, native of India, known by the native 

 names of Eohun and Eedwood. Its wood is similar to the 

 American mahogany, and used for similar purposes. The bark 

 is very astringent, and a few years ago came into repute as 

 a substitute for quinine. 2. ^S'. Chichrassia, now separated as a 

 distinct genus, under Chichrassia ; C. tabularis is a tree similar 

 to the preceding, and produces one of the woods known by the 

 name of Chittagong wood. It is light-coloured and beautifully 

 grained, and is in much repute by cabinetmakers. Its bark is 

 astringent, but not bitter. 



Mahogany, Native. {Sec Eucalyptus.) 



Mahwah, a name in India for Bassia latifolia. (Sec Butter 

 Tree.) 



Maidenhair Tree {Scdishi.ria acliantifolict), a remarkable 

 tree of the Yew Family (Taxaceae), native of Japan, where it is 

 called Gingko, and was introduced more than a hundred vears a^o. 

 It is the only deciduous tree of the family, and also differs in 

 having broad, two-lobed leaves, wdth longitudinal, forked veins ; 

 and the likeness of the leaves to the maidenhair fern has led it 

 to be called by the above name. This, with the Yew and a species 

 from Japan, is the only member of the family that withstands the 

 winters of this climate. Although a curious and showy summer 

 tree, it is nevertheless not much cultivated in this country. A 

 fine specimen, 40 feet high, may be seen growing in the Eoyal 

 Gardens, Kew. The kernels of the fruit are eaten by the 

 Japanese, and an oil is also extracted from them. 



Maitrank (May Drink), a German drink made by putting 

 young shoots of Woodruff (Asperida odorata) into wine. 



Maize, or Indian Corn {Zea Mays), an annual cane -like 

 OTass, OTowino' to a hei^'ht of 4 or 5 feet, bearing: a dense head 

 of closely -packed grains the size of peas, enclosed in a sheatli 

 called the cob. It is a native of South America, and was culti- 



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