456 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



year round. In Norway it can be raised northward to lat. 70 20' 

 [Prof. Schuebeler]. R. caudatus, L., the radish with long edible 

 pods, which exceptionally grow to a length of 3 or 4 feet [J. R. 

 Jackson], is regarded by Dr. Th. Anderson as a mere variety, and he 

 thinks, that all have sprung from the ordinary R. Raphanistrum, L., 

 of Europe. Indeed, R. maritimus seems also a primitive form of the 

 coast, with a root of fine quality and great pungency [Chambers]. All 

 radishes succeed best in a calcareous soil, or their culture must be aided 

 by manure rich in lime. The root of the black radish is comparatively 

 rich in starch, yet very acrid ; it may attain the size of a Cocos-nut 

 and is of dietetic and even medicinal importance. The roots of a par- 

 ticular Turkestan Radish attain a weight of fully 3 Ibs. [Ed. Blanc]. 

 The seeds, according to Vilmorin, will keep about five years. 



Raphia Ruffia, Martins. 



Madagascar. The leaves of this very high Palm supply the Raffia- 

 fibre which is used for strong native cloth and for mats. According 

 to Bory de St. Vincent the leaves attain a length of 50 to 60 feet 

 (probably including the stalks). R. spinosa from the west-coast of 

 Africa yields a similar fibre, though hardly as good. Both are only 



1 suited for moist frostless regions. 



Remirea maritima, Aublet. 



Intra-tropical coast-regions around the globe. A perennial creeping 

 sedge for binding sand. Hardy a considerable distance beyond the 

 tropics. 



Beseda Luteola, 



The Weld. Middle and Southern Europe, Middle Asia, North- 

 Africa. An herb of one or two years' duration. Likes calcareous 

 soil. A yellow dye (luteolin) pervades the whole plant. The plant 



> must be cut before the fruit commences to develop, otherwise the 

 pigment will much diminish. Seeds underground may retain their 

 power of germination for half a dozen years [Dr. W. O. Focke]. 



Reseda odorata, 



The true Mignonette. North-Africa and Syria. A favorite 

 garden-herb of one or very few years' duration. Ripens in West- 

 Europe ; seeds still in lat. 69 18'. About 40,000 Ibs. are annually 

 gathered at Grasse for distillation, the price being about lOd. a Ib. 

 The delicate long enduring scent can be concentrated and removed by 

 enfleurage, or better still in Blogg's process by methyl chloride, fixed 

 as so-called " concrete oil." Schimmel has produced through low- 

 temperature distillation the volatile odorous principle unimpaired ; it 

 is almost solid ; one part of this to 500 parts of alcohol is sufficient 

 for scent-fluid. To be counted also among the honey-plants. Mess. 

 Dippe in Quedlinburg devote regularly about 50 acres to rearing of 

 mignonette-seeds. 



