of the Himalayan Mountains and of Cashmere. 143 



of leather. The genus i?hus includes some true poisons, as R. venenata [i?. 

 vernix], i?. perniciosa, R. radicans, and R. Toxicodendron; and, though 

 most are inodorous, others, as R. suaveolens and R. aromatica, exhale a plea- 

 sant odour ; while some of the species have acid berries, as R. Coriaria, R. 

 BucJcu-Amela, and Echinus Molle, Thus, R. Cotinus, or the red sumach, has 

 M^ood, called young fustick, which is astringent, as well as the berries ; and R. 

 Coriaria, known in India by the same name as in Europe, is a powerful astrin- 

 gent, chiefly employed in tanning leather, but also in Indian medicine. The 

 seed of R. parviflora, tuntereek, is frequently substituted in India for that of 

 the sumach. R. glabra is considered a febrifuge. R. vernix, a Japanese tree, 

 exudes a whitish resinous juice, which soon becomes black in the air. R. 

 succedanea, and R. vernicifera, both common to the Himalayas and Japan, 

 are said, in the latter, to yield a similar product. Species of other genera, as 

 of ^Schinus, contain a resinous matter." (p. 179.) 



The Terebinthaceae, Mr. Royle concludes, are one of the 

 most important families in India, for the number and value of 

 their products. There appears to be a number of species of 

 iJhus in the Himalayan Mountains which have not yet been 

 introduced into Europe; and these, it is observed by Mr. Royle, 

 " being found at any elevation, might, no doubt, be introduced 

 into English shrubberies." By grafting and transplanting the 

 mango, its " ordinary growth is much impeded ; and shrubs of 

 less than 4 ft. in height have borne, in the Saharunpore Garden, 

 above a dozen mangoes. It would be necessary only to imitate 

 the climate, by giving a green-house cold in winter ; rapidly 

 raising the heat in February and March, and continuing it till 

 May or June, or about the time of the accession of the rains, 

 when the addition of moisture to the heat is indicated ; as the 

 mangoes only perfectly ripen after the atmosphere has become 

 moist in the rains." (p. 180.) 



MoringecE form an order consisting of a single genus, separated 

 from Leguminosae by Mr. Brown. Moringa pterygosperma is 

 common in most parts of India. From the seeds " an oil is 

 procured, which is described as not becoming rancid. Being 

 inodorous, it is now chiefly employed for retaining the aroma of 

 delicate flowers, and, though aperient, is seldom used as medi- 

 cine. The flowers, leaves, and tender seed-vessels are eaten by 

 the natives of India in their curries ; and the roots are uni- 

 versally known to European residents in India, as a substitute 

 for the horseradish. They are remarkable for their pungent and 

 stimulating nature, and are employed for the latter property, by 

 the natives, in medicine." (p. 180.) 



Leguminosce, — This order forms one of the most important of 

 the vegetable kingdom in point of number of species, diversity 

 of form, and important uses, as food, medicine, and in the arts. 

 Many of the species are also highly beautiful; and the Am- 

 herstz'a nobilis Mr. Royle characterises as "the most splendid of 

 the many magnificent objects of the vegetable kingdom." In 

 consequence of the irritability of the leaves of many of this 



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