68 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



12 per cent, tannin (Wiesner) ; the leaves furnish food for the 

 Bombyx Tamamai (Dupont). The importance of the tree rests 

 on its adaptability for shade plantations, its nutritious nuts and 

 timber value. The American wood is slightly lighter in colour than 

 that of the Red Oak, and valuable for its durability, thus available 

 for shingles and rails ; chestnut rails in North America have lasted 

 for half- a century. The wood is beautifully laminated, and thus 

 sought for furniture (Simmons). Dr. Yasey mentions that the 

 wood is largely employed for furniture, for the inside finish of 

 railroad cars and steamboats. The American nuts are smaller but 

 sweeter than the European ; they are important particularly for 

 fattening hogs (Robb). 



Castanopsis argentea, A. Candolle. 



A lofty tree in the mountains of India, produces also edible 

 chestnuts. Other species of the genus Castanopsis are valuable. 



Castanopsis chrysophylla, A. de Candolle. 



The Oak-Chestnut of California and Oregon. A tree attaining a 

 height of 150 feet, and 8 feet in diameter. Either for beauty or 

 utility worthy of cultivation (Dr. Gibbons). The leaves are golden- 

 yellow underneath. Wood durable. 



Castanopsis Indica, A. de Candolle. 



Mountains of India, at about 4,000 feet. This Oak-Chestnut 

 produces seeds with the taste of filberts. 



Casuarina Decaisneana, F. v. Mueller. 



Central Australia, where it is the only species of the genus. This 

 tree is one of the largest among its congeners, and particularly 

 valuable for arid regions. 



Casuarina distyla, Yentenat. 



Extra-tropical Australia. A shrubby species, well adapted for 

 fixing the sand-drifts of sea-coasts. All Casuarinas can be pollarded 

 for cattle-fodder. 



Casuarina equisetifolia, Forster. 



East Africa, South Asia, North Australia, Polynesia. Attains a 

 maximum height of 150 feet. Splendid for fuel, giving great heat 

 and leaving little ashes. The timber is tough, nicely marked. 

 The tree will live in somewhat saline soil at the edge of the sea. 

 Captain Campbell- Walker estimates the yield of firewood from this 

 tree four times as great as the return from any tree of the forests 

 of France. In India it grows on pure sand, and is much used as 



