MTSOEK AND COOEG. 253 



the secretion of milk. The yellow oil expressed 

 from the seed is a powerful but unsafe purgative. 

 As cattle do not eat the plant, it is generally 

 employed to form a fence around gardens. 



Cultivation.— Readily propagated from layers 

 and cuttings. Growth vigorous in any loose soil of 

 ordinary quality. To obtain arborescent growth 

 large pits are needed, with occasional irrigation 

 during the dry season. Offsets from the rootstock 

 and lower trunk should be r.emoved as they appear, 

 otherwise the leader becomes exhausted and subsides 

 into the shrubby form. 



506 Jatropha multifida, Linn. 



An introduced garden bush commonly known as 

 the "coral shrub," from the resemblance of its 

 flowers and pedicels to pieces of red coral. The 

 showy yellow fruit contains a poisonous seed. 

 Cultivated in a few gardens for ornament. 



507 IVIanihot Glaziovii, Muell. 



Fig-— Bot. Plates Lal-Bagh Collection. 

 A deciduous tree recently introduced from South 

 America, where it is commercially known as the 

 " Ceara rubber tree." The species has readily 

 adapted itself to the climate of Southern India, and 

 being of a very hardy and productive nature, it may 

 be looked upon as one of the best vegetable coloni- 

 sers" of recent introduction. Having come to the 

 country with a great reputation for usefulness as a 

 producer of caoutchouc, it quickly obtained the 

 advantage of being domesticated in numerous centres 

 ranging from sea level to an altitude of 5,000 ft. In 

 some of the coffee districts it is already looked upon 

 as a nuisance, the reproductive growth being so 

 rapid. At Bangalore, where there are 4,000 trees, a 

 loose stony soil forms the best medium for quick 

 development. It is not improbable, therefore, but 

 this species will eventually outstrip the Babool in 



