96 



CASE No. 260. Gooseberries {Biles Grossularia, L.), 

 ' f'O. and Curra:nts (R. riihrum, L.), plants native of Britain, 

 and largely cultiTated for the sake of their edible fruits ; 

 numerous varieties both of the gooseberry and currant 

 have arisen by cultivation. The fruits are very whole- 

 some, and large quantities are bottled for winter use. 



Witch Hazel Order {Hamamelideae). A small group 

 of trees and shrubs widely distributed over the globe. 



Observe fruits of Altingia excelsa^ Noronha, a tree 

 growing from 60 to 100 feet high in Assam, Bhotan, 

 Pegu, Java, and Yunnan. The wood is used in Assam for 

 building and ordinary domestic purposes. Samples of oil 

 and balsam obtained from the tree in India are exhibited. 



No. 261. Liquid Storax a sofi: viscid resin the pro- 

 duce of Liquidambar orientalis^ Mill., a handsome branch- 

 ing tree, 30 or 40 ft. high forming forests on the extreme 

 south-west of Asia Minor. Liquid Storax is extracted 

 from the inner bark by boiling in water when the resin 

 is separated and skimmed off. The boiled bark is sub- 

 mitted to heavy pressure in hair bags, hot water being 

 added to cause the resin to flow more freely. The residue 

 forms the fragrant foliaceous cakes of bark known as 

 Cortex Thymiamatis^ a specimen of which is exhibited. 

 Liquid Storax is chiefly exported in barrels to Constanti- 

 nople, Smyrna, Syra and Alexandria. Some goes to 

 Smyrna packed in goat skins, and transferred to barrels 

 is shipped mostly to Trieste. It is also exported to 

 Bombay by way of the Red Sea, and from thence finds 

 its way in considerable quantities to China, which with 

 India are the principal markets. Liquid Storax, has 

 stimulant and expectorant properties, and is said to be 

 useful in chronic bronchial affections. It is little used in 

 this country except in perfumery. 



Observe also fruits and wood of Liquidambar for- 

 mosantty Hance, a tree of Formosa, upon the leaves of 

 which a silkworm feeds. Cocoons of this siJkworm are 

 exhibited. The wood is much used in China for tea 

 chests. 



On a lower shelf are specimens of wood, fruits, and 

 balsam of Sweet Gum (Liquidamhar styracifliia, L.), 

 a large American tree extending from Connecticut and 



