Naturalisation in Extra/Tropical Countries. 467 



from vegetable sources, briefly alluded to in this present enumerative 

 treatise. The seeds contain also a peculiar alkaloid ricinin. The 

 solid chemical compound of castor-oil is the crystalline isocetic acid 

 (a glycerid). The oil contains also a non-crystalline acid, peculiar 

 to it (ricinoleic acid). For the production of a particular kind of silk 

 the Ricinus-plant is also important, inasmuch as the hardy Bombyx 

 Arrindi requires the leaves of this bush for food. It also helps to 

 drive mosquitoes away. Pastoral animals must strenuously be kept 

 away from the Ricinus. Even a few of the seeds, if swallowed, will 

 produce poisonous effects. The import of castor-oil in 1886 into 

 Britain was 175,813 cwt, worth 244,675. Into Victoria were 

 during 1887 imported medicinal oil to the value of 3,710, and lubri- 

 cation-oil worth 33,883. In the "Chemist and Druggist" it is 

 stated, that Britain latterly used 900,000 gallons a year, worth crudely 

 160,000. India exported in 1889-90 as much as 2,665,000 gallons 

 of Castor-oil and 45,000 tons of seed [Dr. Gr. Watt]. In countries 

 with a high labour-rate the competition with India also as regards the 

 castor-oil industry will be difficult. But if ruralists can be induced, 

 to rear the plant extensively and to offer the seeds cheaply, manufac- 

 turers would readily set up oil-mills. 



Bobinia Pseudacacia, Linn6. 



The North- American Locust- Acacia, ranging from Alleghany to 

 Arkansas. Height reaching 90 feet. Hardy to lat. 63 26' in Nor- 

 way. The hard and durable wood is in use for a variety of purposes, 

 and particularly eligible for treenails, axletrees and turnery; strength 

 greater than that of the British oak, weight lighter [D. J. Browne], 

 The natives used the wood for their bows. The tree is of rapid 

 growth, and attains an age of several hundred years. A tree raised 

 in 1635, in the Paris Jardin des Plantes, is still alive. One planted 

 in 1721 at Britz near Berlin is still in a very flourishing state. It 

 may be planted closely for timber-belts and hedge-shelter on farm- 

 lands. It is one of the best trees for renovating exhausted land and 

 for improving poor soil. Also a bee-plant. Recommended as one of 

 the easiest grown of all trees on bare sand, though standing in need 

 of twice as much mineral aliment as Pinus silvestris and nearly as 

 much as poplars. It pushes through shifting sand its spreading 

 roots, which may attain a length of seventy feet. It will maintain 

 its hold in hollows of drifts, where even poplars fail [Wessely]. 

 Will succeed on somewhat saline soil [Th. Kessall]. One of the few 

 among introduced kinds of trees which have thriven on the outer 

 barren hills of the Punjab [W. Gollan]. The roots are poisonous. 

 The allied R. viscosa (Ventenat) attains a height of 40 feet. 



Eoccella tinctoria, De Candolle. 



Canary-Islands, Azores, also in Western and Southern Europe 

 and North-America. This lichen furnishes the litmus, orseille or 

 orchil for dyes and chemical tests. It is a question of interest, 



2H2 



