INDUSTRIAL USES OF FOREST FRUITS. 571 



substitute for coffee, aucl fruits of different species of Pyrus 

 and Sorhiis, and wild cherries, for the distillation of alcohol. 

 Edible chestnuts are also a valuable article of minor produce 

 wherever the climate will allow the fruit to ripen and attain 

 the flavour they possess in vine-districts of the Rhine valley 

 and in southern Europe. [The larger kinds of chestnuts 

 exported from Spain and other South European countries are 

 from cultivated fruit-trees which are grafted on to wild stocks. 

 Sweet chestnut trees are now found on the lower hills of the 

 N. W. Himalayas, where they have been introduced from Europe 

 and their fruit is regularly sold in some of the Indian bazaars. 

 It is doubtful whether the grafted variety of chestnut has yet 

 been introduced into India. — Tr.] 



[The fruits or flowers of many Indian forest trees are utilized in 

 various ways ; those of the Mahua or Mowra {Bassia latifolia) are 

 very valuable. A kind of edible butter or oil is made from the 

 kernels of the seeds, from which also candles and soap are made. 

 The succulent coroUte of the flowers are also eaten raw or cooked, 

 and resemble inferior figs in flavour ; from them sugar is also made. 

 The dried flowers are, however, chiefly used in the manufacture of 

 spirit, resembling Irish whiskey. Dried Mahua flowers form a 

 considerable article of trade, bxit are now prohibited in France, where 

 they were imported for making brandy. 



Fruits of TerminaUa Chehula and other Terminalias, termed 

 Myrabolans are largely used as black dyes, and in fixing other 

 dyes. In 1889—90, 678,502 cwt., worth about £140,000, were 

 exported from India, chiefly to the United Kingdom. — Watt. Ind. 

 Economic Dictionarv.l 



