MTSOM km COORG. 119 



are iised as vegetables," but tbey do not appear to be 

 so used in Mysore althougli cattle are eiiceedingly 

 fond of theni and their consumption by sheep is 

 supposed to improve the quality of mutton. G-um, 

 dye, fibre and medicine, are additional products of 

 this well-known tree. 



Cultivation.— i5(i«/aii grows much faster thanZan 

 jali and is therefore more productive of fuel. Coppiced 

 trees repeat growth very rapidly and are therefore 

 invaluable for fuel plantations. Seeds also germinate 

 freely, but steeping in water, or fermenting for a 

 time in dung or litter, will facilitate the process. 

 Plant seedlings at 10 feet apart and thin out every 

 alternate sapling eventually. The softening of the 

 cuticle in hard seeds is a very important operation, 

 as otherwise such seeds are exposed to the attacks 

 of insects, and the vicissitudes of treatment or the 

 weather for a long period. 



246 Acacia Suma, Kue^;. Kan. Mugaji, MugH. 



'Fig.—Bot. Plates Lal-Bagh Golledion. Bedd. Fl. 

 Sylv. t. 49. 



References.— J5to%c^. For. Fl. ; Did. of Econ. 

 Prod, of Ind. 



A deciduous tree affecting moist land in the vicini- 

 ty of tanks, nullahs and- streams. Conspicuous by its 

 white bark and the whitish down covering the young 

 ;shoots and petioles. The above characters are most 

 projiounced at the olose of the hot season when the 

 tree bursts into leaf, and flower. Flowers spicate, 

 dull "vyliite. Common in central and east Mysore. 

 The Mugali is a good fuel tree, but is of minor 

 utility otherwise. The gum is not collected here in 

 lieu, of catechu. It is an excellent subject for scenic 

 planting abovit ponds and in ^et land as it Srtands 

 out in bright relief from the usu^l spmbre green of 

 other trees. 



