422 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



supposed ; and this remark applies with equal force to many other 

 chemical compounds from vegetable sources, briefly alluded to in 

 this present enumerative treatise. The seeds contain also a peculiar 

 alkaloid ricinin. The solid chemical compound of castor-oil is the 

 crystalline isocetic acid (a glycerid). The oil contains also a non- 

 crystalline acid, peculiar to it (ricinoleic acid). For the production 

 of a particular kind of silk the Bicinus-plant is also important, 

 inasmuch as the hardy Bombyx Arrindi requires the leaves of this 

 bush for food. Pastoral animals must strenuously be kept away 

 from the Ricinus. Even a few of the seeds, if swallowed, will 

 produce poisonous effects. The import of castor-oil in 1886 into 

 Britain was 175,813 cwt., worth 244,675. Into Victoria were 

 during 1887 imported medicinal oil to the value of 3,710, and 

 lubrication-oil worth 33,883. In the Chemist and Druggist it is 

 stated, that Britain latterly used 900,000 gallons a year, worth 

 crudely 160,000. In countries with a high labor-rate the compe- 

 tition with India also as regards the castor-oil industry will be 

 difficult. But if ruralists can be induced, to rear the plant exten- 

 sively and to offer the seeds cheaply, manufacturers would readily 

 set up oil-mills. 



Robinia Fsendacacia, Linne. 



The North-American Locust- Acacia, ranging from Alleghany to 

 Arkansas. Height reaching 90 feet. Hardy to lat. 63" 26' in 

 Norway. The hard and durable wood is in use for a variety of 

 purposes, and particularly eligible for treenails, axletrees and 

 turnery ; strength greater than that of the British oak, weight 

 lighter [D. J. Browne]. The natives used the wood for their bows. 

 The tree is of rapid growth, and attains an age of several hundred 

 years. A tree raised in 1635, in the Paris Jardin des Plantes, is 

 still alive. It may be planted closely for timber-belts and hedge- 

 shelter on farm-lands. It is one of the best trees for renovating 

 exhausted land and for improving poor soil. Also a bee-plant. 

 Recommended as one of the easiest grown of all trees on bare sand, 

 though standing in need of twice as much mineral aliment as Pinus 

 silvestris and nearly as much as poplars. It pushes through shift- 

 ing sand its spreading roots, which may attain a length of seventy 

 feet. It will maintain its hold in hollows of drifts, where even 

 poplars fail [Wessely]. The roots are poisonous. The allied R. 

 viscosa (Ventenat) attains a height of 40 feet. 



Roccella tlnctoria, De Oandolle. 



Canary-Islands, Azores, also in Western and Southern Europe 

 and North- Africa. This lichen furnishes the litmus, orseille or 

 orchil for dyes and chemical tests. It is a question of interest, 

 whether it could be translocated and naturalised on the cliffs of our 

 shores also. Other dye-lichens might perhaps still more easily be 



