20 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



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 Hippocastanum, Linne. 



The "Horse-Chestnut-Tree/' Indigenous to North-Greece r 

 Thessaly and Epirus, on high ranges [Heldreich], where it is asso- 

 ciated \vith the Walnut, several Oaks and Pines, at an altitude of 

 3-4,000 feet, occurring likewise in Imeretia, the Caucasus [Eich- 

 wald], and possibly wild also in Central Asia, reared on the Himal- 

 ayas to 10,000 feet. 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 gorgeousiiess of 

 leaves and blossoms/' Height reaching 60 feet, circumference of 

 stem sometimes 16 feet. In cool climates one of the choicest of 

 trees for street-planting. Flowers sought by bees in preference to 

 those of any other northern tree except the Linden. Even in Nor- 

 way, in latitude 67 56 ; 1ST., a cultivated tree attained a height of 

 60 feet and a stem -circumference of 11 feet [Schuebeler]. It will 

 succeed even in sandy soil, but likes sheltered spots. The wood 

 adapted for furniture, also particularly for mould patterns in cast- 

 ing, the slips of pianofortes and a variety of other purposes ; it 

 remains free from insects. The fruits afford saponin. The seeds 

 yield starch copiously, and supply also food for various domestic 

 animals ; the bark serves as a good tanning material. A variety 

 is known with thomless fruits. Three species occur in Japan and 

 several in North -America and South-Asia, mostly not of great 

 height. 



JEsculus Indica, Colebrooke. 



In the Himalayas, from 3,500 to 9,000 feet. Height finally 70 

 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. Twigs lopped off for fodder 

 in India. Wood whitish, soft, available for various purposes, 

 particularly liked for water-troughs, driiiking-vessels, platters 

 [Gamble]. Other Asiatic species are A. Punduana (Wallich), A, 

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



JEsculus lutea, Wangenhein. (A.flai-a, Aiton). 



The "Buck-eye." North-America. This showy tree rises occa- 

 sionally to a height of 80 feet. The wood is light, soft and porous y 

 not inclined to split or crack in drying. It is valuable for troughs, 

 bread-trays, wooden bowls and shuttles [Simmonds], also for ceil- 

 ing and wainscoting [Mohr]. 



