COMPOSITION OF VARIOUS TREES 115 



country in 1854. It thrives well in a compost of 

 etjual parts of peat and sandy loam. 



The ashes of the wood contain in 100 parts : — 



One ton of lUicium extracts 19*5 lbs. of mineral 

 matter from the soil. 



The star anise fruit contains 2 to 3 per cent, of 

 volatile oil, 3 per cent, of fat, and 10 per cent, of 

 resin ; and the seeds contain 1 '75 per cent, of volatile 

 oil, 20 per cent, of fixed oil and some resin. The 

 fruit, on distillation, yields the oil of aniseed — the 

 chief constituent of which is anethol. The leaves 

 of lUicium also contain a volatile oil to the extent 

 of 0"75 per cent. 



India-Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica, Natural 

 Order, Urticaceee) is a greenhouse and dwelling- 

 room evergreen shrub, cultivated for its ornamental 

 foliage. It requires for proper growth 3 parts of 

 loam, 1 part of peat and 1 part of silver sand, and 

 pays well when properly attended to — e.g., sponging 



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