14 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



altitude of 3-4,000 feet, in Imeretia, Caucasus (Eichwald). One of 

 the most showy of deciduous trees, more particularly when during 

 spring " it has reached the meridian of its glory, and stands forth 

 in all the gorgeousness of leaves and blossoms." Height 60 feet. 

 Circumference of stem up to 16 feet. It will succeed in sandy soil 

 on sheltered spots ; the wood adapted for furniture ; the seeds yield 

 starch copiously, and supply also a food for various domestic 

 animals ; the bark a good tanning material. The wood remains 

 free from insects ; it is used for a variety of purposes, including the 

 slips of pianofortes. The tree ascends the Himalayas up to 10,000 

 feet. A variety is known with thornless fruits. Three species 

 occur in Japan, and several, but none of great height, in North 

 America and South Asia. 



2Esculus Californica, Nuttall. 



California. This beautiful tree attains a height of 50 feet, with a 

 stem 2 feet in diameter, the crown spreading out exceptionally over 

 a distance of 60 feet, the upper branches touching the ground. In 

 full bloom it is a magnificent ornament, with its crowded snow- 

 white flowers, visible for a long distance. The wood is light and 

 porous, and used for the yokes of oxen and for various other 

 implements (Dr. Gibbons). 



JEsculus Indica, Colebrooke. 



In the Himalayas, from 3,500 to 9,000 feet. Height finally 50 

 feet ; trunk comparatively short, occasionally with a girth of 

 25 feet. Never quite without leaves. Can be used like the Horse- 

 Chestnut as an ornamental shade-tree. Other Asiatic species are 

 A. Punduana (Wallich), A. turbinata (Blume), A. Sinensis 

 (Bunge), and A. dissimilis (Blume). 



JEsculus turbinata, Blume. 



Japan. The seeds are there used for human food. 



Agaricus Caesareus, Schaeffer. 



In the Spruce-forests of Middle and South Europe. Trials might 

 be made to naturalise this long-famed and highly delicious Mush- 

 room in our forests. It attains a width of nearly one foot, and is 

 of a magnificent orange colour. Numerous other edible Agarics 

 could doubtless be brought into this country by the mere dissemi- 

 nation of the spores at apt localities. As large or otherwise 

 specially eligible may here be mentioned A. extinctorius L., A. 

 melleus Vahl., A. deliciosus L., A. giganteus Sowerby, A. Carda- 

 rella Fr., A. Marzuolus Fr., A. eryngii Cand., A. splendens Pers., 

 A. odorus Bulliard, A. auricula Cand., A. oreades Bolt., A. escu- 

 lentus Wulf., A. mouceron Tratt., A. socialis Cand., all from 



