298 POPULAR ECONOMIC BOTANY. 



the shell is thick and extremely hard and brittle, taking a 

 very fine polish ; they are used chiefly in the manner indi- 

 cated by fig. 52, and for making the small knob-handles of 

 cabinet drawers. About 300,000 nuts were imported in 

 1852. 



Areca Nuts. — The fruit of another palm. They are 

 inclining slightly to pear-shape, about the size of a large 

 cherry, very hard, and externally not much unlike some of 

 the inferior nutmegs ; the only use to which they are ap- 

 plied in this country, is for making tooth-powder, for which 

 purpose they are first converter! into charcoal and then 

 powdered j only a very small number is imported. They 

 are the seed of Areca Catechu (Palmacere), and constitute 

 the celebrated Betel Nuts of India. 



Juniper Berries. — The fruit of the common Juniper 

 (Juniper ns communis, Nat. Ord. Conifer a). (Plate XIX. 

 fig. 101.) These berries are imported in considerable quanti- 

 ties from the North of Germany, Holland, and other places, 

 for flavouring the gin of this country. More than 200 tons 

 per annum are usually imported. 



Tonquin, Tonga, or Tonca Bean. — The seeds of Dip- 

 beryx odorata (Nat. Ord. Leguminosa). The pods of this 

 plant only produce one seed in each : this seed or bean is 



