70 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Balsamodendrum Opobalsamumj Kunth. (B. Gileadense, Kunth; 

 Commiphora Opobalsamum, Engler.) 



Deserts of Arabia, Abyssinia and Nubia. A small tree. This 

 species furnishes Mekka- or Gilead- Balsam. B. Capense (Sonder) 

 is a closely allied congener from Extra-tropical South- Africa. Some 

 other Balsam-shrubs deserve introduction into warm dry regions. 



Bambusa Arnhemica, F. v. Mueller. 



North-Western Australia. Many bamboos, not producing flowers 

 except at long intervals under ordinary circumstances, could probably 

 be forced by strong manuring into flowering and seeding. 



Bambusa arundinacea, Willdenow. (Bambos arundinacea, Retzius.) 



The " Thorny Bamboo " of India. It likes rich, moist soil, and 

 delights on river-banks ; it is of less height than Bambusa vulgaris, 

 also sends up from the root numerous stems, but with bending 

 branches, thorny at the joints. Seeds frequently. Used in con- 

 tinental India for hedges. According to Kurz it will thrive in a 

 climate too dry for B. Tulda and B. vulgaris. This Bamboo and some 

 allied species, supplied by the writer, have under Mr. F. Abbott's 

 care, stood an open-air culture in coast-valleys of Tasmania as far 

 south as 43. The seeds of this and some other Bamboos are useful 

 as food for fowls. Whenever seeds of any Bamboos can be obtained 

 fresh and disseminated soon, large masses of these plants could easily 

 be raised in suitable forest-ground of other countries ; Bamboo-seeds, 

 moreover, like Palm-seeds, ought to become a very remunerative 

 article of commercial export for horticultural purposes under practical 

 and experienced hands. Bamboo-seeds, before they are sent out, 

 particularly to any distant places, should always be tested as to their 

 having retained their germinating power; moreover, they should be 

 gathered well matured and from the plants only, not from the ground, 

 and during dry weather. Mr. W. Grollan states that the seeds of the 

 generality of Indian Bamboos will retain their vitality for six to nine 

 months and germinate freely. All Bamboos intercept and decompose 

 sewage. 



Bambusa aspera, Poiret. 



Indian Archipelagus. Attains a height of 120 feet. Stems very 

 strong and thick. This species ascends to cool elevations of 4,000 

 feet. 



Bambusa Balcooa, Roxburgh.* 



From the Plains of Bengal to Assam. Proved hardy at the Cape 

 of Good Hope. Height reaching 70 feet. With B. Tulda the prin- 

 cipal Bamboo used by the natives for constructing large huts or sheds, 

 but, as Roxburgh has pointed out, in order to render the material 

 durable, it needs long previous immersion in water. Mr. Routledge 



