520 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



[W. Fawcett]. Prospers in Natal [J. M. Wood]. At Port Curtis 

 the tree grows perfectly well [Edgar]. Requires rich soil. It reaches 

 a considerable height, and the stem a diameter of 6 or 7 feet, indicating 

 a very great age. Sir William Hooker counted 200 wood-rings in a 

 block of 4 feet width, which may not however indicate as many years 

 of age. The importation of Mahogany-wood into the United King- 

 dom in 1884 amounted to 62,000 tons at a value of 562,000. S. 

 macrophylla (King) of Honduras has the wood not so dark as the 

 genuine mahogany, flowers earlier and seeds more copiously [J. S. 

 Gamble]. Degree of climatic endurance not yet ascertained. 



Symphytum officinale, Linn6. 



The Comfrey. Europe, Western Asia. A perennial herb. The 

 root is utilised chiefly in veterinary practice. 



Symphytum peregrinum, Ledebour.* 



The prickly Comfrey. Caucasus and Persia. The growth of this 

 hardy plant may be recommended as an adjunct to lupine-culture. 

 The Hon. Arthur Holroyd of Sydney has recently devoted a special 

 publication to this plant. He quotes on seemingly good authority 

 the return of foliage even in the first year as 20 tons to the acre, in 



: the second year 50 tons, and every year after the astonishing quan- 

 tity of 80 to even 120 tons on richly manured land. Anyhow -this 

 herb yields a nutritive and relished foliage in rapid and continuous 

 reproduction. It is likewise recommended for green manure. Dr. 

 Curl observed it to grow well in the moist climate of New Zealand 



. during the hottest and driest as well as coldest weather. Fit 

 especially for sub-alpine country. Dr. Voelcker found much mucilage 

 but little sugar in this plant. The massive root, known to penetrate 

 to a great depth, sometimes to fully 9 feet, sustains the plant in 

 vigor, allowing it to be cut almost throughout the year. The propa- 



i gation is easy from root-cuttings, difficult from seeds ; 4,000 of the 



, former to an acre ; it will thrive even in sand and tough clay, but 

 prefers moist and even boggy land. It ought to be naturalised along 

 swamps, lagoons, and river-banks. It can be dried for hay. Finally 

 .it is recommended as a plant for game. It ought to suit well for 

 ensilage. In tropical countries cattle have a predilection for it ; 

 there it likes shade. The plant has not satisfied the expectations set 



i on it in Victoria. The likewise borragineous Cynoglossum Morrisonii 

 (De Candolle), of North-America, yields three cuttings annually. 



. Horses and cattle relish it. Cattle are very fond also of the ordinary 



Borage of Europe, Borago officinalis (Linne). 



Symplocos ramosissima, Wallich. 



Himalayas, up to 7,500 feet. In Sikkim, according to Dr. 

 . Stewart, the yellow silkworm is reared on the leaves of this tree. 



Two allied species occur spontaneously in the forests of East- 

 Australia far south, many in Southern Asia, several in tropical 

 America. 



