426 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES VARNISH 



cal America. It has insignificant greenisli flowers, and produces 

 a pod-like fruit, 5 to 10 inches long, and 1 inch in circumfer- 

 ence, which is well known for its grateful aromatic qualities, 

 and is used in confectionery, perfumery, and medicine. In com- 

 merce it is, in proportion to bulk, the highest-priced vegetable 

 production imported. The greatest importation to this country 

 is from the eastern parts of Mexico. It is now cultivated in 

 Guiana and other parts of tropical America, as also in Ceylon, 

 India, and other parts of the East. Vanilline, the active 

 principle of Vanilla, is now closely imitated, and manufactured 

 from pine-wood and clove oil. 



Varnish, Black (J^Ielanorrhma usitadssima), a large tree of 

 the Cashew iN'ut family (Anacardiacece), native of the forests 

 of Pegu, Tenasserim, and Sylhet, said to attain a height of 80 

 to 100 feet, having a large spreading head, and broad, simple, 

 thick, firm leaves. Its wood is black, hard, and heavy, so much 

 so that boat anchors are made of it. It is known by the name 

 of Pegu Lignum Vit?e and Thitsee. Its most important product 

 is the sap which flows from the trunk on being wounded, of 

 which large quantities are collected. It is first white, and 

 becomes black on exposure to the air. It is largely used as a 

 varnish for all kinds of household furniture and ornamental 

 work. It possesses the acrid property of most plants of the 

 family, in causing swellings on the skin if incautiously handled. 



Varnish, Japan, the sap of EJms vernicifera, a slender- 

 branched tree with winged leaves, attaining a height of 20 

 feet, belonging to the Cashew Nut family (Anacardiacese). It is 

 common throughout Japan, and is cultivated for its sap, which 

 flows from its stem and branches on beinir wounded. It is first 

 cream-coloured, but on exposure to the air soon turns black, 

 and is the varnish which the Japanese use for lacquering or 

 varnishing their furniture or ornamental articles ; the antique 

 ware is now scarce and highly prized by connoisseurs. 



Varnish, New Grenada {Elcmgia utilis), a lofty tree of the 

 Cinchona family (Cinchonacese), native of the Andes of Xew 

 Grenada. It is remarkable for secreting a quantity of green, 



