330 Seleet Plants for Industrial Culture and 



three of maize for fodder." Some of the many other species of 

 Pennisetum are doubtless of rural value. A plant allied to P. 

 typhoideum occurs in China, namely P. cereale (Trinius). This 

 also affords millet or corn for cakes. 



Pennisetum villosum, R. Brown. 



Ahyssinia. A grass of decorative beauty, forming ample tufts ; 

 it is recommended by Dr. Curl for permanent pasture in New 

 Zealand. With numerous other grasses it was introduced into 

 Australia by the writer of this work. Proves fruitful in Norway 

 to lat. 67 56' [Schuebeler]. 



Pentzia virg-ata, Lessing. 



South-Africa. A small cushion-like bush, recommended for 

 establishment in deserts for sheep-fodder. It has the peculiarity, 

 that whenever a branch touches the ground, it strikes roots and 

 forms a new plant ; this enables the species to cover ground rapidly 

 [Sir Samuel Wilson]. Valuable also for fixing drift-sand in water- 

 rills, by readily bending over and rooting, thus forming natural 

 little catch-dams to retain water [McOwan], Mutton from sheep 

 depasturing on this plant proves particularly palatable. Several 

 other species occur in South-Africa. Systematically these plants 

 are allied to the Tansy. 



Periandra dulcis, Martius. 



Sub-tropical Brazil. The sweet root of this shrub yields a kind 

 of liquorice. 



Perilla argruta, Bentham. 



Japan. An annual herb. An infusion of this plant is used for 

 imparting a deep-red colour to table-vegetables and other sub- 

 stances. In Japan the seeds are pressed for oil. P. ocimoides, L., 

 of Upper India, probably serves similar purposes. Some species 

 of Perilla are suitable for ribbon-culture P. Nankinensis affords 

 its aromatic flowers as a condiment in China and Japan. 



Persea gratissima. Gaertner. 



The Avocado-Pear or rather "Aguacate," called in Peru " Palta." 

 From Mexico to Peru and Brazil in forest- tracts near the coast ; 

 but its real nativity, according to A. de Candolle, restricted to 

 Mexico. A noble evergreen spreading tree. Adverse to drought ; 

 likes humid soil. Suggestively mentioned here as probably avail- 

 able for mild localities outside the tropics, inasmuch as it has 

 become naturalised in Madeira, the Azores and Canary Islands. 

 The fruit attains sometimes a weight of 2 Ibs., and is generally 

 sliced for salad, and of delicious taste and flavour. Its pulp 

 contains about 8 per cent, of greenish oil. In Jamaica it is culti- 

 vated up to 4,000 feet [W. Fawcett], It matured in litoral 



