Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 307 



cannot well be cut repeatedly in the season [Dr. Stebler]. Sheep 

 cannot be turned out so well on young Sainfoin-fields as cattle. 

 The hay is superior even to that of Lucerne and Clover. The 

 plant will hold out from five to seven years [Langethal]. It 

 yields much honey for bees. 0. montana (De Candolle) is a 

 dwarfer sub-alpine variety of limestone-regions. viciaefolia 

 (Scopoli), is the earliest name for this species. 



Onosma XSmodi, Bentharn. (Maharanga Emodi, A. de Candolle.) 



Nepal. The root, like that of the Alkanna tinctoria, produces a 

 red dye. 



Ophiopogron Japonicus, Ker. (Flueggea Japonica, Eichard.) 



The mucilaginous tubers can be used for food, a remark which 

 applies to many other as yet disregarded allied plants. 



Opuntia coccinellifera, Miller. 



Mexico and West-Indies. The Cochineal-Cactus. On this and 

 0. Tuna, 0. Hernandezii and perhapis a few others subsists the 

 Coccus, which affords the costly cochineal-dye. Three gatherings 

 can be effected in the year. About 1,200 tons used to be imported 

 annually into Britain alone, and a good deal to other countries, 

 valued at about 400 per ton. The precious carmin-pigment is 

 prepared from cochineal. Different Cochineal-Opuntias occur in 

 Argentina also. Some species of Opuntia will endure a temper- 

 ature of 14 F. ; one even advances to 50 north latitude in Canada. 

 Mr. Dickinson observes, that many species are hardy at Port 

 Phillip, growing even in sand, overtopping by 10 feet the Leptosper- 

 mum Isevigatum, and breaking it down by their great weight 

 within a few yards of the sea. Mr. B. Gr. Ely, of Keilor, draws 

 attention to the fodder-value of Opuntias, after freeing them by an 

 easy method of his own from prickles and hairlets. Mr. A. K 

 Pearson shows a fair proportion of nutritive substance to be con- 

 tained in these kinds of plants. They would best serve in almost 

 rainless regions, remaining sappy at all times. 



Opuntia Dillenii, De Candolle. 



Central America. A Tuna-like Cactus, serving for uninflammable 

 hedges, and perhaps also for the rearing of the Coccus Cacti. It is 

 particularly eligible for barren land, but apt to stray beyond bounds 

 in hot countries. 



Opuntia elatior, Miller. 



Central America. A hedge-plant with formidable thorns. 

 Opuntia Ficus Xndica, Miller. 



Called inaptly, with other congeners, Indian Fig. Central 

 America, north as far as Florida. Serves for big hedges. Pulp 

 of fruit edible. Exudes a gum, somewhat like Tragacanth. 



u2 



