50 



CASE In this case are numerous illustrations of the progress 



26. of the Phylloxera and other diseases to which the Vine is 

 subject. 



Soapwort Order {Scqylndaceae). Trees or climbing 

 plants, chiefly of tropical countries. The fruits of several 

 are edible ; others possess a saponaceous principle, and 

 lather freely in water. Those belonging to the sub-order 

 Acerineae are trees principally of temperate Europe, Asia, 

 and America, having opposite and mostly lobed leaves, 

 with the veins radiating from the leaf -stalk. The Syca- 

 more {Acer Pseudo-platanus^ L.), extensively planted in 

 Britain, is an example of this group. 



Observe stems and seeds of Cardios])ermu?n Hali- 

 cacahum, L., a climber found throughout India and in 

 most tropical and sub-tropical countries. The roots are 

 employed in India in rheumatic and nervous diseases. 

 The seeds and leaves are used in medicine and the latter 

 are also cooked as a vegetable in the Moluccas. 



No. 149. GUARANA Bread of Brazil, made from 

 the pounded seeds of Paullinia Ciipana, H. B. and K. 

 [P. sorhilis, Mart.]. The powder is kneaded with a little 

 water and the paste made into rolls or sticks and more 

 recently into ornamental figures. These are dried in the 

 sun. A cooling drink is made from this product in the 

 interior provinces of North Brazil by grating into water 

 the hard paste on the rough tongue of a fish, the Piraruca 

 {see specimen), sugar being sometimes added. Guarana 

 contains Caffeine to the extent of 4*3 per cent., and has 

 been used medicinally in nervous headache. It is 

 occasionally imported into this country. 



Near these specimens are shown stems of Paullinia 

 curassavicaj Jacq., and P. s^jhaerocarpa, Rich., of the 

 West Indies, used as walking sticks, and known as 

 Supple Jacks in consequence of their flexibility. 



CASE No. 150. Wood of the Horse Chestnut (Aesculus 



27. Eippocastanum, L.). A Turkish tree, long planted for 

 shade and ornament on the Continent and in England. 

 The wood, which is soft, and not durable, is turned to 

 little account. The fruits are used in Switzerland and 

 Turkey for feeding sheep, horses, &c. 



