30 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



there already at a comparatively early age [Edgar]. Near the Apsley- 

 River in New South Wales, it rose to 16 feet in two years sown on very 

 poor ground (A. R. Crawford). In India it attained in 10 years a 

 stem-girth of about 6 feet at 5 feet from the ground, its ramifications 

 by that time spreading out to 90 feet [Blechyndon]. It thrives par- 

 ticularly in the dry salt-pond-districts of the West-Indies, and likes 

 the vicinity of the sea, " its foliage possessing the power, to an 

 unusual extent, to attract, absorb and condense aerial humidity " 

 [Consul for France at Laroto]. Not ascending to above 1,000 feet 

 altitude in Jamaica; resisting drought, but very susceptible to frost. 

 The pods mature for fodder at a time, when grass and herbage on 

 pastures become parched. Rain and dew fall through the foliage, 

 which is shut up at night, thus allowing grass to grow underneath. 

 The tree thrives best, where the rainfall fluctuates between 30 and 

 60 inches a year. One of the best trees in mild climates for shade 

 by the roadsides. The wood is hard and ornamental; but the prin- 

 cipal utility of the tree lies in its pulpy pods, which are produced in 

 great abundance, and constitute a very fattening fodder for all kinds 

 of pastoral animals, which eat them with relish [Jenman, J. H. 

 Stephens]. 



Albizzia stipulata, Bentham. 



Continental and insular South-Asia, extending to the Himalayas 

 and China, ascending to 4,000 feet. An umbrageous tree of easy 

 culture, for which it is not quite restricted to the tropics. 



Albizzia Timbouva, F. v. Mueller. (Enterolobium Timbouva, Martius.) 



La Plata States. A good-sized tree with elastic wood, well 

 adapted for promenades. Bark comparatively rich in mimosa-tannic 

 acid [Prof. Hieronymus]. 



Alchemilla vulgaris, C. Bauhin. 



Europe, West-Asia, Arctic North-America, Alpine Australia ; 

 extending in Norway to 71 10' N. [Schuebeler]. This perennial 

 herb is important for moist dairy-pastures. The same can be said of 

 other congeners ; for instance, A. alpina (L.) from the coldest parts 

 of Europe, North-Asia and North- America ; A. Capensis (Thunberg) 

 and A. elongata (Ecklon and Zeyher) of South-Africa, some Abys- 

 sinian species, as well as A. pinnata (Ruiz and Pavon) and other 

 congeners of the Andes. 



Aletris farinosa, Linne\ 



The " Colic-root " of the woodlands of Eastern North-America. 

 This pretty herb is of extreme bitterness, and is employed medicinally 

 as a tonic ; inaptly called also " Star-grass." 



