176 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Bacchus, of Ballarat, considered it nearly as valuable as Kangaroo- 

 grass, and in the cool season more so. He finds it to bear over- 

 stocking better than any other native grass, and to maintain a close 

 turf. Hence it is praised by Mr. O. Tepper as a lawn-grass. High 

 testimony of the value of this grass is also given by Mr. Rankin, of 

 Gippsland, after many years' experiments. However it does not 

 always seed copiously. The chemical analysis, made in spring, gave 

 the following results : Albumen 1*66, gluten 9'13, starch 1'64, gum 

 3*25, sugar 5'05 per cent. [F. v. Mueller and L. Hummel.] 



Elseagnus angustifolius, Linn& (E. hortensis, Bieberstein.) 



From South-Europe and North- Africa to Siberia and China, 

 ascending in the Himalayas up to 10,000 feet. The fruits of this 

 shrub, known under the name of Trebizonde-dates, are used in 

 Persia for dessert. Flowers highly fragrant [G-. W. Johnson]. The 

 fruit of E. latifolia (Linne) is also edible [Watt]. E. angustifolia 

 will thrive on saline soil, and attain to 30 feet. 



ElseagmiS multiflora, Thunberg. (E. longipes, A. Gray.*)- 



Japan. The " Goumi." The fruits of this species are edible, of 

 a particular and pleasant flavour, and especially adapted for con- 

 fectionery. This bush resists much frost as well as drought, and 

 bears in prodigious abundance almost throughout the year [Joseph 

 Clarte]. It can be struck from cuttings, and comes into bearing in 

 the third year. Of ornamental value. Content with almost any 

 soil. Flowers fragrant [Stephen Obbrich]. This or a closely allied 

 species passes under the name of E. edulis. 



Eleeagnus umbellata, Thunberg. 



From Japan to the Himalayas.^ This bush has been introduced 

 into North-America as a hedge-plant, and according to Professor 

 Meehan, promises great permanent success, as it has already achieved 

 a high popularity in this respect. In Norway hardy to lat. 59 55 

 [Schuebeler]. Several other species might well be experimented on 

 in the same manner. 



Elaeis Guineensis, Jacquin.* 



The " Oil-palm " of Western tropical Africa. Height to 40 feet ; 

 foliage superb, the leaves occasionally reaching 15 feet in length. 

 A well-developed fruit-spike may attain a weight of 40 Ibs., and on 

 it up to 800 fruits may be counted, each of the size of a walnut ; 

 the outer portion of the fruits almost of lardlike consistence ; through 

 boiling them the commercial oil fresh for food or for soap- and candle- 

 manufacture is yielded. This palm likes a coast-clime. At Port 

 Curtis ripens fruits [Edgar] ; how much farther outside the tropics 

 it will bear, remains here yet to be ascertained. For mere scenic 

 culture it would doubtless thus succeed in a comparatively cool clime. 



