164 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



cut away, but such shipments should not be exposed to severe 

 frosts on transit. Encephalartos-stems rotting from below can be 

 saved by cutting away the whole diseased portion and then again 

 plunging the stem after amputation in to the soil [Dyer]. Seeds 

 have kept germinable for 6 years [Dall]. Where naturally these 

 Pine-palms abound, an excellent starch may profitably be got from 

 their stems. 



Eng elhardtia spicata, Blume. 



The spurious Walnut-tree of the mountains of Java, Burmah and 

 the Himalayas up to 6,000 feet. It reaches a height of 200 feet. 

 Wood pale- red, hard and heavy, manufactured into the solid cart- 

 wheels and large troughs, which are in use throughout the Sunda- 

 Islands [Brandis]. The bark is rich in tan-substance [Roxburgh]. 



XSpicampes macroura, Bentham. 



Mexico. This grass, like some of its congeners, furnishes the 

 " Broom-root," the fibre of which is exported from Vera Cruz to 

 the annual value of about 60,000 [D. Morris]. 



Eromophila longifolia, F. v. Mueller. 



Desert-regions throughout Australia. In the hot season this- 

 tall bush or small tree affords food to sheep in desert-tracts, when 

 grass and herbage fail [A. N". Grant]. Sheep browse on many 

 other species of this highly ornamental genus. All resist drought 

 and great climatic heat. A crude, somewhat peculiar tar is 

 copiously and easily obtained from the wood [Hon. Phil. King]. 

 Hypnotic properties are ascribed to the foliage, which opinion 

 needs however yet confirmation. 



Eremurus aurantiacus, Baker. 



Afghanistan, 7,000 to 9,000 feet. The leaves of this liliaceous 

 plant form for two months in the year almost the sole vegetable, 

 on which the natives of Hariab depend ; it is an agreeable food, 

 crisp and somewhat hard, but neither tough nor fibrous [Dr. 

 Aitchison] . Likely to become valuable as a spring-vegetable. The 

 young leaves of E. spectablis (Bieb.) are eaten, either fresh or 

 cooked [Dr. Stewart]. 



E riant bus fulvus, Kunth. 



Interior of Australia. A sweet perennial grass, of which cattle 

 are so fond as to eat it closely down, and thus cause it to die out 

 [Bailey]. Readily raised by re-dissemination. 



Erianthus Japonicus, Beauvois. 



Japan. Bears frosts of F. [Gorlie] Stems woody at the base, 

 reaching a height of 6 feet, with spikes nearly a foot long. The 

 striped-leaved variety is particularly decorative. 



