50 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Arachis hypogsea, Linn<$.* 



Peru and Brazil. The "Earth-nut, Pea-nut or Ground-nut." The 

 seeds of this annual herb are consumed in a roasted state, or used 

 for the expression of a palatable oil, which does not readily become 

 rancid, the percentage ranging to 45. Of all oil-plants one of the 

 most important and lucrative. Where an oil-mill is not accessible, 

 the seeds, shelled out, could be pounded and put into a cauldron of 

 boiling water, when the oil will rise to the surface and could easily 

 be skimmed off, the residue serving as a fattening food for fowls [R. 

 L. Holmes]. The import of this fruit into Victoria during 1887 was 

 2,166 centals, valued at 2,129. The plant is a very productive one, 

 and yields a very quick return. It ranks also as a valuable fodder- 

 herb ; the hay is very nutritious, much increasing the milk of cows. 

 A light somewhat calcareous soil is best fitted for its growth. On 

 such soil 50 bushels may be obtained from the acre, but Mr. Bernays 

 notes the return up to 120 bushels, the weight of which ranges from 

 from 25 to 32 Ibs. Mr. Holtze harvested at. Port Darwin 27 cwt. 

 from an acre, the product being saleable at 20 per ton there. In 

 1880 the peanut-crop in the Southern United States came to 

 2,820,000 bushels, representing a value of 517,000. The export 

 of Peanuts from India amounts to from 30,000 to 60,000 tons 

 annually [Probodh Chandra De]. Professor Wittmack recorded 

 fruits from ancient graves of Ancon in Peru. As a coffee-surrogate 

 not very recommendable. 



Aralia COrdata, Thunberg. {A. edulis, Siebold.) 



Japan. A perennial herb. The young shoots and foliage provide 

 an excellent culinary vegetable there. 



Aralia Ginseng, Decaisne and Planchon. (Panax Ginseng, Meyer. ) 



China and Upper India, ascending to 12,000 feet. This herb 

 furnishes the celebrated Ginseng-root, so much esteemed as a stimu- 

 lant by the Chinese, the value of which however may be overrated. 

 The root, to be particularly powerful, needs probably to be obtained 

 from high mountain-elevations. The species is closely related to the 

 2sorth- American A. quinquefolia (Decaisne and Planchon). 



Araucaria Bidwilli, Hooker.* 



Queensland. Bunya-bunya. A tree, attaining 250 feet in height, 

 with a fine-grained, hard and durable wood, particularly valuable for 

 furniture ; it shows its beautiful streaks best when polished. The 

 . seeds are large and edible. Growth in height at Port Phillip 30-40 

 feet in 20 years, the big strobiles ripening there. 



Araucaria Brasiliana, A. Richard.* 



Southern Brazil. A tree to 180 feet high, producing edible seeds. 

 Dr. Saldanha da Gama reports, that the wood makes splendid boards, 

 masts and spars, and that the tree also yields a good deal of turpentine. 



