IN EXTRA-TttOPICAL COUNTRIES. 209 



Oryza latifolia, Humboldt and Bonplaud. 



Central America. This species is said to be perennial and to 

 attain a height of 18 feet. It deserves trial culture, and may- 

 prove a good fodder grass on wet land in warm localities. O. 

 perennis (Moench) seems closely allied. 



Oryza sativa, Linne.* 



The Rice Plant. South Asia and North Australia. Annual 

 like most cereals. The many rivulets in our ranges afford 

 ample opportunities for irrigating rice-fields ; but these can be 

 formed with full advantage only in the warmer parts of the 

 colony^ where rice will ripen as well as in Italy, China, or the 

 Southern States of the American Union. Among the numer- 

 , ous varieties of Indian rice may be noted as prominent sorts : 

 The Early Rice, which ripens in four months and is not injured 

 by saline inimdations. The hardier Mountain Rice, which can 

 be raised on comparatively dry ground, and which actually 

 perishes under lengthened inundation, but which is less pro- 

 ductive. The Glutinous Rice, which succeeds as well in wet 

 as in almost dry places, and produces black or reddish grains. 

 In the rich plains of Lombardy, irrigated from the Alps, the 

 average crop is estimated at 48 bushels for the acre annu- 

 ally. According to General Capron the average yield in 

 Japan is 50 bushels per acre. The spirit distilled from rice 

 and molasses is known as arrack. (These notes were written 

 for the colony of Victoria.) 



Osmanthus fragans, Loureiro. 



China and Japan. The flowers of this bush serve for oil dis- 

 tillation like those of the Jasmine. The scent of one plant 

 wiU perfume a whole conservatory (G. W. Johnson), 



Osmitopsis asteriscoides, Cassini. 



South Africa. A camphor-scented shrub, much in use there 

 for medicinal purposes (Dr. Pappe). 



Ostrya carpinifolia, Scopoli. 



South Europe and Orient.- The Hop Hornbeam. A decidu- 

 ous tree, 60 feet high. 



Ostrya Virginica, Willdenow. 



Lever- wood Tree of North America, also called Iron-wood, 40 

 feet high, in rich woodlands. Wood singularly hard, close- 

 grained, and heavy, in use for levers, mallets, wedges, and 



