M&Ott AND ddOftO, II?? 



Cultivation,— This is regulated by the presence 

 of deep soil, a cool atmosphere, and plenty of 

 moisture. The tree in the Lal^Bagh has never 

 borrie fertile seed, nor will it grow from cuttings. 

 Seed should bp procured direct from the Malnad, 

 as the species is desirable, for gai;den cultivation in 

 moist shady positions. 



355 Diospyro$ Ebenum, Kcbnig. Kan. Bale, Kare, 



Mallali. 



mg— Wight Ic. 1. 188. Badd. Fl. Syh, t. 65. 



References.— Z^ici. qf Econ. Prad. of Ind.; ^l. of 

 Brit. Ind.; Qarrib. MQ,n. Timh. 251. 



The ebony tree. This important species is con- 

 fined to certain tracts in the "Western Ghat forests. 

 In the Shimogah district, Lovery states that it is 

 "only found in parts of the Tirthahalli and Magar 

 Taluk Ghats." The greenishi white sap wood is 

 abundant in all but the oldest, trees, a-nd is not very 

 durable ; heartwood black, very hard, durable and 

 takes a fine polish ; but if hot carefully seasoned, it 

 is liable to split. Weight 78--80 lb. per cubic foot. , 

 Ebony is in great demand for cg,binet work, turnery, 

 inlaying, and musical instruraents. In Mysor^^,, it is 

 highly prized by musicians ' li^oth for stringed andt 

 wind instrument^ ; but disappointment is often 

 caused, by the use of a spurious ebony, which is, more, 

 accessible than the true kind. Z>. melmoxylon, which 

 is also indigenous to the Malnad, may be the sojirce 

 of this inferior product. Although so yalui^ble in 

 the fancy-wood market, the ebony tree is s^ill un- 

 reserved in the State forests. Is this due to its 

 scarcity or to its being practically inaccessible to 

 the local trade ? m. ^' 



356 DiQspyrQS tuicrophylla, Bbdd. 



A, large eyprgrep,];! tree with box-like leaves. Met 

 with on the hiUs and on the pl,ai]p.s : imnaieJiately 

 under the hills, tises unknown, but it is said to 



23 



