134 l>OREST TUEES. 



<i 



wood for building, nor sHonld they sit under the 

 shade of this tree. In IS'orthern India the species | 

 is avoided by Hindus on the plea that it is infested I 

 by demons, an opinion which is not confined to the 

 north, as M. Venkatnarnappa writes from Shimoga- 

 that " the wood of the tree is not much used on 

 account of the superstitious idea that it is one of 

 the favourites of Saniswara" Young foliage 

 reddish-bronze in coloiir, subsequently changing-^i 

 to green and then very dense. "Wood yellow- 1 % 

 ish, soft but tolerably close-grained, made more 

 durable by steeping for a time in water. Weight 

 40 — 43 lb. per cubic foot. The trunk attains a large 

 size and is well adapted for making single-log canoes. 



The fruit is a favourite of monkeys, deer, sheep, ; 

 goats and cattle. It is one of the myrobalans of 

 commerce, and is used in dyeing cloth and leather, 

 and in tanning, and is exported to Europe. Native 

 ink is made of it and it is used in medicine. The 

 kernels are eaten, but are said to be intoxicating. Oil 

 is expressed from them. " Brandis. Graham An- 

 derson has also recorded that the kernels cause 

 giddiness when eaten. Myrobalans are a minor 

 product of the State forests. The gum which exudes 

 from the bark of the tree is occasionally utilised as 

 ' country gum. ' 



Cultivation,— Raise nursery stock from seed, lay- 

 ers, and Chinese grafts. Sturdy plants thus prepar- 

 ed in one season should be ready for planting out in 

 August of the following year, but it is immaterial if 

 the seedlings are one or two years old providing that 

 they are strong and movable. Plant in alluvial 

 soils or in sandy loam at 45 to 50 feet apart. 

 272 Terminal ia Chebula, Retz. Kan. Alale, Alalee, 



Arale. 



Fig-—Bedd. Fl Syh. t. 37. 



B.eferences.-Brmd. Fm; Fl. ; Plarm. Tnd.; Fl 

 of Bnt. Ind, 



