MYSORE AND OOOEO. 261 



assumes the conical form. Wood yellow, smooth, 

 even-grained, and exceptionally strong, said to be 

 suitable for h.ou.se-biiilding. 



Cultivation.— It is difl&cult to procure good seed 

 of this tree, and the hard nature of the wood 

 is inimical to the customary modes of propagation 

 by division. The best course is to obtain seed or 

 seedlings direct from the Malnad where the species 

 grows rather abundantly. When the seedhngs are 

 a foot or more in height, plant in rows at 25 feet 

 apart. A somewhat moist situation having a rainfall 

 of 70 to 100 inches produces the best growth. In 

 drier localities, irrigation would be needed occasion- 

 ally during rainless months. Propagate from 

 layers if seed cannot be had. 

 520 Sapium sebiferum, Roxb. 



The Chinese tallow tree. Cultivated in the Bota- 

 nical Grardens and in the Hebbal plantation. For 

 the introduction of this important species we are 

 indebted to the Agri Horticultural Society of Lahore, 

 from whom seeds were received in the year 1877. 

 It is a small deciduous tree of quick growth and 

 simple requirements. Each.fruit — capsule' — contains 

 3 — 4 seeds each the size of a small haricot bean, and 

 invested by a whitish sebaceous substance which is 

 said to be a pure vegetable tallow. The Chinese 

 manufacture candles out of this substance and hence 

 the vulgar designation ' talloW tree.' 



" The tallow is separated by steaming the seeds 

 in tubs with convex open — wicker bottoms, placed 

 over cauldrons of boilmg water* With trifling ex* 

 ception, the candles used by the Chinese in their 

 religious ceremonies are made by dipping of the 

 tallow of the Stillingia." Official Guide to the Moyal 

 Gardens Kew. 



Cultivation.— Local trees ' produce seed which 

 germinates readily. When the seedlings are large 



