266 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



ceasing growth are crowded cabbage-like into heads, beneath which 

 the annual flower-stalks arise. The plant ascends mountains in its 

 native island to the height of 1,400 feet, but luxuriates most on the 

 sea border. To arctic and other antarctic countries it would be a 

 boon. Probably it would live on our Alps. Whalers might bring 

 us the roots and seeds of this remarkable plant, which seems to 

 have never entered into culture yet. The plant was used by the 

 celebrated Captain Cook and all subsequent navigators, touching at 

 yonder remote spot, as cabbage, and it proved to possess powerful 

 properties against scurvy. Dr. Hooker observes that Pringlea can 

 sectionally be referred to Cochlearia. The whole plant is rich in a 

 pungent volatile oil. Through culture important new culinary 

 varieties may likely be raised from this plant. The taste of this 

 vegetable in its natural growth is like mustard and cress, and the 

 Kerguelen's Land Cabbage, when boiled, proved a wholesome and 

 agreeable substitute for the ordinary cabbage. 



Priva laevis, Jussieu. 



Chili and the Argentine Republic. A perennial herb, the small 

 tubers of which can be used for food (Philippi). 



Prosopis dulcis, Kunth. 



From California and Texas to the southern parts of the La Plata 

 States. Vernacularly known as the Cashaw-, Mesquite- or Algaroba- 

 Tree. A thorny shrub, growing finally to a tree, attaining a stem 

 of 2J feet in diameter, adapted for live fences. The wood is 

 durable and of extraordinary strength. This is one of the species 

 yielding the sweetish Algaroba-pods for cattle fodder, and utilized 

 even in some instances for human food. The pods of the various 

 kinds of Prosopis are adapted only for such animals as chew the 

 cud, and thus get rid of distending gasses (R. Russell). Argentina 

 Algaroba-pods contain, according to Sievert, 25 to 28 per cent, 

 grape sugar, 11 to 17 per cent, starch, 7 to 11 per cent, protein, of 

 organic acids, pectin, and other non-nitrogenous nutritive sub- 

 stances 14 to 24 per cent. They are also comparatively rich in 

 potash, lime, and phosphoric acid. A sparkling drink called Aloja 

 is made of the fruits. This and some allied species yield the 

 Algarobylla bark for tanning; the leaves contain, according to 

 Sievert, 21 per cent, tannin. The pods also of several species are 

 rich in tannic acid. Mere varieties according to Bentham are : P. 

 horrida, P. juliflora, P. siliquastrum, P. glandulosa. The latter 

 variety exudes a gum not unlike gum-arabic, and this is obtained so 

 copiously that children could earn two to three dollars a day in 

 Texas while gathering it, latterly about 40,000 Ibs. being bought 

 by druggists there. The tree attains a height of 30 feet, and its 

 wood is excessively hard, eligible for select furniture ; polished it 

 has the appearance of Mahogany. A short communication on the 



