Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 97 



Cannabis sativa, C. Bauhin.* 



The Hemp-plant, seemingly indigenous to various parts of Asia, as 

 far west as Turkey and as far east as Japan, recorded recently by Dr. A. 

 v. Regel as naturally also wild in Turkestan ; A. de Candolle gives 

 Dahuria and Siberia as the native country. Long cultivated for its 

 fibre. It exudes the churras or hasheesh, a medicinal resinous substance 

 of narcotic properties, particularly in hot climates. Spoken of by 

 Herodotus already as highly stimulating, and as indigenous in Scythia. 

 Gets to 18 feet high [Fraas]. According to Dr. G. Watt two similar 

 resinous substances are obtained from the Hemp-plant in India, known 

 as ganza and churras, both are smoked ; bhang consists of the mature 

 leaves, used in the preparation of the intoxicating beverage called 

 hashish. The foliage also contains a volatile oil, while the seeds yield 

 by pressure the well-known fixed hemp-oil, for which they are exten- 

 sively produced, particularly in Russia. Usually the plant is pulled 

 for obtaining fibre in its best state immediately after flowering ; the 

 seeding plant is gathered for fibre at a later stage of growth. Good 

 soil well-drained, never absolutely dry, is needed for successful hemp- 

 culture. Hemp is one of the plants yielding a full and quick return 

 within the season, the period of vegetation being from 90 to 105 days. 

 The return may be from 4 cwt. to 10 cwt. per acre. The average 

 summer-temperatures of St. Petersburg (67 F.) and of Moscow 

 (62 F.) admit still of the cultivation of this plant. The Hemp-plant 

 serves as a protection against insects on cultivated fields, if sown 

 along their boundaries. The seeds are sometimes used in medicine, 

 and are a favorite fodder for various cage-birds. The importations 

 of Hemp into the United Kingdom in 1884 were 1,335,000 cwt., 

 worth over two million pounds sterling. Victoria imported in 1887 

 about 1,000 tons. The annual production of Hemp in Russia 

 amounts to about 150,000 tons [Consul Crawford]. The total 

 annual production of Hemp is from seven to eight million cwt. The 

 Hemp-plant succeeds well also in the tropical coast-regions of Aus- 

 tralia. 



Cantharellus edulis, Persoon. (G. cibarius, Fries.) 



The Chantarelle. Various parts of Europe, occurring also in 

 South-Eastern Australia and some other parts of the globe. Dr. 

 Goeppert mentions this among the many mushrooms, admitted under 

 Government-supervision for sale in Silesia. 



Capparis sepiaria, Linne. 



From India to the Philippine-Islands, ascending to cool elevations 

 and living in arid soil. A prickly bush, excellent for edges. Dr. 

 Cleghorn mentions also as hedge-plants C. horrida (L. fil.), C. 

 aphylla (Roth), C. Roxburghii (D.C.), some of which also yield 

 capers. 



