Naturalisation in Extra- Tropical Countries. 



height of which is not recorded, is 93 feet in girth at the ground, 

 and 64 feet at 11 feet from it; the branches of this individual tree 

 are as thick as the stems of large elms. The elevation of Calaveras 

 is about 4,760 feet above sea-level. A stump 33 feet in diameter is 

 known at Yoseinite. At Tuolumne a stump is tunnelled for the 

 passing through of stage-coaches, the opening being only about 

 one-quarter of the breadth of the stem. According to Dr. Gibbons, 

 this giant of the forest has a far wider range than was formerly 

 supposed, Mr. John Muir having shown, that it stretches over nearly 

 200 miles at an altitude of 5,000 to 8,000 feet. From the Calaveras 

 to the King-River it occurs in small and isolated groves, but from 

 the latter point south to Deer- Creek, a distance of about 70 miles, 

 there are almost unbroken forests of this noble tree. Growth of 

 the tree about 2 feet a year under ordinary culture, much more in 

 damp forest-glens. Prof. Schuebeler found it to endure the climate 

 of Norway northward to lat. 61 15 '. The wood is soft and white 

 when felled ; afterwards it turns red ; it is very durable. Both 

 Sequoias produce shoots from the root after the stem is cut away. 

 Well-shaped plants are produced also from cuttings. The genus 

 Sequoia can be reduced to Athrotaxis, as shown by Bentham and 

 J. Hooker. 



Serenoa serrulata, J. Hooker. (Sabal serrulata, Roemer and Schultes.) 



The Saw-Palmetto. South -Carolina, Georgia and Florida; par- 

 ticularly well adapted for sea-coasts. The stem grows to eight 

 feet in height, but according to Mr. A. J. Cook may slimly creep 

 along the ground for 20 feet, sending roots beneath for nourishment. 

 This is a grand honey-plant. Mr. G. Damkohler mentions this Palm 

 as a tan -plant. The leaves can be used for cabbage- tree hats, 

 mats, baskets and other purposes, for which palm-leaves are sought. 

 The fibrous -spongy parts of the stem serve as brushes. 



Sesamum Indicum. Linne.* 



The Gingili. Southern Asia, extending eastward to Japan, 

 originating according to A. de Candolle in the Sunda-Islands, but 

 according to Dr. Schweinfurth likely of Central African origin. 

 Well known already to Hippocrates [Fraas]. This annual herb is 

 cultivated as far as 42 north-latitude in Japan. The oil, fresh 

 expressed from the seeds, is one of the best for table-use, and free 

 from any unpleasant taste ; it congeals far less readily than olive- 



. oil. There are varieties of this plant with white, red and black 



, seeds ; the lattter is the earliest and richest, but gives a darker 

 oil. Yield 45 to 50 per cent. oil. Nearly a million acres are under 

 cultivation with this plant in the Madras-Presidency. The export 

 of the oil from Bangkok in 1870 was valued, according to Sim- 

 monds, at 183,000 ; the market value is from 25s. to 35s. per cwt. 

 Ripens well in the milder regions of the colony of Victoria. The 



; plant still succeeds at Malta and Gaza, and is much grown in 

 Turkey. Parched and pounded the seeds make a rich soup. In 



