272 FOREST TEBBS. 



of these famous trees will be found in Dr. Greo. 

 King's splendid work on " the species of Ficus of 

 the Indo-Malayan and Chinese countries. " 



Wood of little value except under submersion, 

 when it is sufficiently durable to be used for the 

 curbs and planking of wells. Weight about 37 lb. 

 per cubic foot. The aerial root-drops afford an 

 elastic timber which is occasionally used for tent- 

 poles, cart yokes, and such like. In deep soil, the 

 tree is considered a good shade for coffee, and the 

 immense number of leaves which are annually shed 

 from large trees provide ample material for enrich- 

 ing the land. 



The milk-sap is extensively used in the prepara- 

 tion of birdhme. It is also applied, in the crude 

 state, to ulcers, sores, and bruises. Medicinal proper- 

 ties are attributed to the root also. The young 

 leaves are stitched together to serve food upon, in 

 lieu of plates. 



Cultivation. — Stake cuttings soon take root even 

 in poor soils, but the finest specimens, whether from 

 seed or cuttings, are found in good land. The rapid 

 development of aerial roots is undesirable in an 

 avenue or roadside tree, otherwise the banyan is 

 admirably adapted for the latter purpose and wiU 

 often succeed where other trees fail. Seedlings 

 are preferable for roadside planting as they grow 

 more rapidly and become finer trees than such as 

 are raised from cuttings- The species is popularly 

 planted near shrines and in village topes. Seeds 

 rarely germinate under artificial treatment, but seed- 

 lings are always plentiful in the clefts of trees, in old 

 waUs, and by the sides of nullahs. 

 540 Ficus mysorensis, Heyne. Kan. Goni mara 

 Khig iic. PI. 14, 15. 

 References.— J^Z. of Brit. Ind. ; Bkt of Econ. 

 Prod, of Ind. 

 Of indigenous fig trees, this is the largest grow- 

 ing sp,eoies in the Mysore country. In good situations 



