MTSOEE AND COORa. 297 



cular names of Billaru and Buchay. The first- 

 named, -wliicli possibly corresponds to the wild 

 form, is dense and rapid of growth, but bearing 

 a worthless fruit and easily injured by the 

 wind, the branches often breaking by their own 

 weight. It is also stated that although even-grained 

 and easily worked, the wood of this variety is apt 

 to spht. The Buokay, on the other hand, although 

 slower of growth, is superior in the production of 

 fruit, timber, and as a shade for coffee. The jack 

 tree dislikes and resents much lopping. Laden from 

 the trunk and main limbs with full sized fruit, it 

 is a grand object worthy of the highest admiration. 

 It has also a growing repvitation as a timber tree, 

 although not yet included in the forest reserve of 

 that class. Sapwood white, heartwood yellow 

 when newly exposed, but eventually changing to 

 reddish-brown or light mahogany ; close-grained, 

 easily worked and taking a good polish, but requir- 

 ing matured growth and careful seasoning to pre- 

 vent warping or sphtting. Used in Mysore for boat- 

 building, planking, furniture, and dyeing. Said to 

 be imported into England for cabinet and fancy 

 work. "Weight 43 — 45 lb. per cubic foot. A sticky 

 milk-sap copiously produced from all the herbaceous 

 parts of the tree, is utilised to some extent in the 

 preparation of birdlime ; heated over the fire, it 

 becpmes a good cement for domestic use. In the 

 maidan districts, the jack tree is exclusively culti- 

 vated for its popular fruit. The fruits growing on 

 the root-stock are highly prized as a rulie. 



Cultivation.— This tree is easily propagated from 

 seed, the latter being placed in a pit containing pre- 

 pared soil where the seedling is intended to grow per- 

 manently. Transplanting should be avoided, as 

 seedlings having broken or twisted tap-roots never 

 succeed well, and the main root attains length so 

 rapidly after germination that the operatidn of re- 



38 



