(i7) 



and the yew family. The most conspicuous objects among 

 the former are the araucarias, which take the place in the 

 southern hemisphere of the pines in the north; Araucaria 

 brasiliana and A. Bidwillii are prominent among these; 

 the common Norfolk Island pine {Araucaria excelsa) is 

 shown in several large specimens. To the right of this, 

 across the path, will be found specimens of the New Zea- 

 land flax {Phormium tenax), and on one of the trellises in 

 the rear is a vigorous plant of the Cherokee rose. To the 

 left, a little beyond the pine family, is the myrtle family; 

 prominent in this is a group of the gum-trees of Australia 

 and Tasmania (Eucalyptus) ; these trees occur in large 

 forests, and sometimes attain a height of 200 to 400 feet. 

 A large specimen, some ten or twelve feet tall, of the bottle- 

 brush tree (Callistemon citrinus) will be found here; the 

 red flowers are borne in long cylindric clusters, much re- 

 sembling a common bottle-brush, whence the popular 

 name. In the corner to the right is a specimen of the 

 camphor tree (Cinnamomum Camphora), from which the 

 camphor of commerce is derived. Opposite the camphor 

 tree is a group containing the common garden camelia, 

 and the important commercial plant, Thea sinensis, from 

 which is obtained our beverage tea; black and green teas 

 are obtained from the same plant, the difference in color 

 being due to the method of preparation; the tea plant is 

 extensively cultivated in many warm and tropical countries, 

 tea as a beverage having been used by the Chinese from 

 time immemorial; its first introduction into Europe is said 

 to have been by the Dutch in 1610. Further along to the 

 left, beyond the group of Australian acacias, of which 

 there are many specimens, are several plants of the fig tree 

 (Ficus Carica), from which the edible figs are secured; 

 the leaves drop off in winter, and so for a short time the 

 plants are placed elsewhere. Here also is a group of ole- 

 anders; a poisonous principle occurs in the flowers and 

 leaves of these plants, and especially in the bark. A plant 

 of great economic importance in the olive family is the olive 



