

IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 23 



Alopecurus bulbosus, Linne. 



Middle and South Europe. An important grass for salt-marshes. ; 



Alopecurus geniculatus, Linne. 



Europe, Asia, North Africa. A good fodder-grass for swampy 

 ground ; easily naturalised. 



Alopecurus pratensis, Linne.* 



Meadow Fox-tail Grass. Europe, North Africa, North and 

 Middle Asia. One of -the best of perennial pasture-grasses. It 

 attains to its full perfection only after a few years of growth, as 

 noticed by Sinclair. For this reason it is not equal to Dactylis 

 glomerata for the purpose of changing crops. Otherwise it is more 

 nutritious than the latter, although the annual return in Britain 

 proved less. Langethal places it next to Timothy Grass for artificial 

 pastures. Sheep thrive well on it. Sinclair and others found that 

 this grass, when exclusively combined with white clover, will 

 support from the second season five ewes and five lambs on an acre 

 of sandy loam. But this grass, to thrive well, needs land not 

 altogether dry. In all permanent artificial pastures this Alopecurus 

 should form one of the principal ingredients, because it is so lasting 

 and so nutritive. It is one of the best grasses for maritime or 

 alluvial tracts of country. In our Alpine regions it would also 

 prove prolific, and might convert many places there gradually into 

 summer pastures. It is early flowering, and likes the presence of 

 lime in the soil. 



Alstonia constricta, F. v. Mueller. 



Warmer parts of East Australia, particularly in the dry inland 

 districts. The bark of this small tree is aromatic bitter, and 

 regarded as valuable in ague, also as a general tonic. It is allied 

 to the Dita bark of India and North-Eastern Australia from 

 Alstonia scholaris (R. Brown), and produces a peculiar alkaloid 

 (Porphyrin of Hesse). The sap of all Alstonias should be tried for 

 caoutchouc, that of A. plumosa and another species yielding Fiji 

 Rubber (Hooker). 



Alstroemeria pallida, Graham. 



Chili. Palatable starch can be obtained from the root of this plant, 

 which for its loveliness alone deserves a place in any garden. The 

 tubers of others of the numerous Alstrcemerias can doubtless be 

 utilised in a similar technic manner. 



Althaea officinalis, Linne. 



The Real Marsh-Mallow. Europe, North Africa, North and Middle 

 Asia. A tall perennial herb, with handsome flowers. The mucil- 

 aginous root and also the foliage are used for medicinal purposes. 

 The plant succeeds best on damp, somewhat saline soil. 



