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of China. 17 



Art. IV.— Uses of the Stillingia sehifera or Talloio Tree, with 

 a notice of the Pe4a^ an ^Insect-wax of China ;* By J. D. 

 Macgovvan, M.D. 



The botanical characters of this member of the EuphorbiacEe 

 are too well ktiown to require description ; but hitherto no accu- 

 rate account has been published of^ its varied uses, and although 

 it has become a common tree in some parts of India and America, 

 its value is appreciated only in China, where alone its products 

 are properly elaborated. In the American Encyclopedia it is 

 stated that this tree is almost naturalized in the maritime parts of 

 South Carolina, and that its capsules and seeds are crushed to- 

 gether and boiledj the fatty matter being skimmed as it rises, hard- 

 ening when cool. 



Dr. Roxburgh in his excellent Flora Indica, says: "It is now 



very common about Calcutta, where in the course of a few years, 



* it has become one of the most common trees. It is in flower and 



fruit most pans of the yean In Bengal, it is considered only an 

 ornamental tree; the sebaceous produce of its seeds is not sufficient 

 in quantity, nor its qualities so valuable, as to render it an object 

 worthy of cultiv^ation. It is only in very cold weather that this 

 substance becomes firm ; at all other times it is in a thick brown- 

 ish fluid state, and soon becomes rancid: such is my opinion of 

 the famous vegetable tallow of China." 



Dr. Roxburgh was evidently misled in his experiments by pur- 

 suing a course similar to that which is described in the Encyclo- 

 pedia Americana, (and in many other works,) or he would have 

 formed a very different opinion of this curious material- 

 Analytical chemistry shows animal tallow to consist of two 

 proximate principles — stearine and elaine. Now what renders the 

 fruit of this tree peculiarly interesting is the fact that both these 

 principles exist in it separately, in nearly a pure state. By the 

 above named process, stearine and elaine are obtained in a mixed 

 state, and consequently presents the appearance described by Dr. 

 Roxburgh. 



Nor is the tree prized merely for the stearine^ and elaine it 

 yields, though these products constitute its chief value ; its leaves 

 are employed as a black dye ; its wood being hard and durable 

 may be easily used for printing blocks and various other articles, 

 and finally, the refuse of the nut is employed as fuel and manure. 

 The Siillivgia sebifera is chiefly cultivated in the provinces 

 of Kiangsi, Kougnam, and Chehkiang. In one district, near 



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Haiigthan, the inhabitants defray aJl iheir taxes with its produce. 

 It grows alike on low alkivial p'lairR and op granite hills, on the 



* Drawn up for tije Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India, 



Second Skrtes, Vol. XII, Xq. 34.— Julj, 1851. 8 





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