Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 45 



Aponog-eton distachyos, Thunberg. 



South-Africa. This curious water-plant might be naturalised in 

 ditches, swamps and lakes, for the sake of its edible tubers. The 

 scented flowering portion of this plant affords spinage. For a full 

 account see Paillieux and Bois in " Bulletin de la Soeiete d'Accli- 

 matation," 1888, pp. 782-786. 



Aquilaria Ag-allocha, Boxburgh. 



Silhet and Assam. A tree of immense size. It furnishes the 

 fragrant calambac- or agallochum-wood, known also as aggur or 

 tuggur or the aloe- wood of commerce, famed since ancient times, v 

 The odorous portion is only partially distributed through the stem. 

 This wood is also of medicinal value. 



Arachis hypograea, Linne.* 



Peru and Brazil. The " Earth-nut, Pea-nut or Ground-nut." 

 The seeds of this annual herb are consumed in a roasted state, or 

 used for the expression of a palatable oil, which does not readily 

 become rancid, the percentage ranging to 45. Where an oil-mill is 

 not accessible, the seeds, shelled out, could be pounded and put into- 

 a cauldron of boiling water, when the oil will rise to the surface 

 and could easily be skimmed off. the residue serving as a fattening 

 food for fowls [B. L. Holmes]. The import of this fruit into Vic- 

 toria during 1887 was 2,166 centals, valued at 2,129. The plant 

 is a very productive one, and yields a very quick return. It ranks 

 also as a valuable fodder-herb ; the hay is very nutritious, much 

 increasing the milk of cows. A light somewhat calcareous soil is 

 best fitted for its growth. On such soil 50 bushels may be obtained 

 from the acre, but Mr. Bernays notes the return up to 120 bushels, 

 the weight of which ranges from 25 to 32 Ibs. Mr. Holtze har- 

 vested at Port Darwin 27 cwt. from an acre, the product being 

 saleable at 20 per ton there. In 1880 the peanut-crop in the 

 Southern United States came to 2,820,000 bushels, representing a 

 value of 517,000. Professor Wittmack obtained fruits from 

 ancient graves of Ancoii. 



Aralia cor data, Tlmnberg. (A. edulis, Siebold). 



Japan. A perennial herb. The young shoots and foliage pro- 

 vide an excellent culinary vegetable there. 



Aralia Ginseng*, Decaisne and Planchon. (Panax Ginseng, Meyer.) 



China and Upper India, ascending to 12,000 feet. This herb fur- 

 nishes the celebrated Ginseng-root, so much esteemed as a stimu- 

 lant by the Chinese, the value of which however may be overrated. 

 The root, to be particularly powerful, needs probably to be obtained 

 from high mountain-elevations. The species is closely related to 

 the North- American A. quinquefolia (Decaisne and Planchon). 



