IN EXTEA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 135 



Fagopyrum Tataricum, Moench. * 



Middle and North Asia. Yields for the higher mountain regions 

 a still safer crop than the foregoing, otherwise the remarks offered 

 in reference to F. esculentum apply also to F. Tataricum, but the 

 seeds of the latter are more thick-shelled, less amylaceous and less 

 palatable. 



Fagopyrum triangulare, Meissner. 



In the Himalayan Mountains, ascending naturally to regions 

 11,500 feet high. An annual. F. rottmdatum, Babington, 

 seems a variety of this species. It is cultivated for food like the 

 rest. 



Fagus Cunningham!, Hooker. 



The Victorian and Tasmanian Beech. A magnificent evergreen 

 tree, attaining large dimensions, and only living in cool, damp, 

 rich forest valleys, not rarely 200 feet high. The wood much used 

 by carpenters and other artisans ; the Myrtle wood of the trade. It 

 requires to be ascertained, by actual tests in the forests, whether 

 the allied tall evergreen New Zealand Beeches possess any advan- 

 tage over this species for forest culture ; they are Fagus Menziesii 

 (Hooker), the Red Birch of the colonists ; Fagus fusca (Hooker), 

 the Black Birch ; Fagus Solandri (Hooker), the White Birch. A 

 magnificent beech, Fagus Moorei (F. v. Mueller), occurs in New 

 England. 



Fagus Dombeyi, Mirbel. 



The Evergreen Beech of Chili, called there the Coigue or Coihue. 

 Of grand dimensions. Canoes out of its stem can be obtained of a 

 size to carry 10 tons freight. The wood is still harder than that 

 of the following species, with the qualities of which it otherwise 

 agrees (Dr. Philippi). This species extends to the Chonos group, 

 and perhaps still further south, and thus might be of value even for 

 Middle European forest culture. 



Fagus ferruginea, Alton. 



North American Beech. A large tree, with deciduous foliage^ 

 easily raised in woodlands. Grows there under similar circum- 

 stances as our Evergreen Beech here. Wood variable according to 

 localities. Well-seasoned wood, according to Simmonds, is extremely 

 hard and solid, hence employed for plane-stocks, shoe-lasts, tool- 

 handles, various implements and turneries. 



Fagus obliqua, Mirbel. 



The Roble of Chili, called Coyam by the original inhabitants. A 

 tall tree with a straight stem, attaining 3 to 4 feet diameter. 



