Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 347 



1892 the import amounted to fully 4,000 tons at a value of about 

 860,000, of which quantity this Palaquium must have supplied a 

 large proportion. According to a recent article in the "Revue des 

 Eaux et Forets " Gutta-percha can also be obtained from the foliage 

 of the trees by a simple and not very costly process to the extent of 

 9 per cent. Pierre, after the indications of Bentham, adopts the 

 generic name Palaquium, and adds as Gutta-Percha yielding : Pala- 

 quium Malaccense, P. Oxleyanum, P. formosum, P. princeps and P. 

 Borneense, all previously undescribed species, either from Malacca or 

 Sumatra or Borneo (see " Bulletin mens. de la Soc. Lin. de Paris," 

 Juin, 1885). Dr. Burck admits among Sunda-Island Gutta-Percha 

 trees as really valuable only Palaquium oblongifolium (the most 

 frequent and the best), P. Borneense, P. Treubei, the original P. 

 Gutta being as a native plant almost annihilated. P. ellipticum 

 (Bassia elliptica, Dalzell) ascends to the almost temperate elevations 

 of 4,000 feet, and is tapped for Pala, a substance allied to Gutta- 

 Percha [General Cullen]. Besides for the isolation of electric 

 currents, Gutta-Percha is used for water-pipes, fire-buckets, shoe- 

 soles, driving belts in machinery, surgical instruments, knife-handles, 

 picture-frames, also for the multiplication of woodcuts, by dentists for 

 filling hollow teeth, for covering rollers of presses, for statues, for 

 varnish to cover documents ; for waterproof cloth one part of Gutta- 

 Percha is added to ten parts of linseed-oil. The substance was first 

 made known by Dr. Montgomery in India (1842) and in London by 

 Jose d'Almeida (1843). 



Paliurus ramosissimus, Poiret. (P. Aubletia, Schultes.) 



China and Japan. A thorny tree, which could be utilised for 

 hedging. 



Paliurus Spina Ctiristi, Miller. (P. aculeaius, Lambert.) 



The Christ-Thorn. From the Mediterranean Sea to Nepal. A 

 deciduous bush or finally tree, which can be trimmed into hedges. 



Panax fruticosa, Linne". 



Southern Asia, New Guinea, Polynesia. This odorous shrub is 

 used in some countries like Parsley and Celery [Miquel]. 



Pandanus furcatus, Roxburgh. 



This Screw-Pine occurs in India, up to heights of 4,000 feet, 

 according to Dr. S. Kurz ; hence it will be likely to bear a temperate 

 clime, and give a stately plant for scenic group-planting. P. pedun- 

 culatus, R. Br., occurs in East-Australia as far south as 32, and an 

 allied tall species (P. Forsteri, Moore and Mueller) luxuriates in 

 Howe's Island. 



