Ib6 NOTES ON GALLS. 



astringent taste. The Kakrasinghee galls are found in Scinde, where they 

 find employment in the arts. 



"Woo-pei-tzse or China Galls. — Concerning the tree upon which 

 these galls are produced there has been much discussion, and some uncer- 

 tainty still remains. It is, however, extremely probable that they are the 

 leaf galls of Rhus semialata, caused by a little insect described as Pempliegus 

 sinensis. The China galls are now an established article of commerce, and 

 are imported in considerable quantities. They are hollow vesicles, pre- 

 senting great varieties in shape and size. Most of them are tuberculated, 

 some are rounded, others branched. Externally, they are smooth and 

 occasionally velvety, of a fawn grey colour, and brittle, with a resinous 

 fracture. Internally, they are occupied by a white powdery substance, 

 and insect remains. In the half year ending June, 1860, 203,600 cwts. of 

 China and Japan galls were exported from the port of Shanghai. 



Japan Galls present much of the external appearance of the Woo- 

 pei-tzse, with which some botanists consider 

 them identical. There are, however, some 

 points of difference worthy of note. The 

 Japan galls are more tuberculated and vel- 

 vety than those of China, and smaller in size. 

 They are also often clustered together in a 

 manner not yet observed in the other variety. 

 On the other hand, it must be conceded that, 

 upon microscopic examination, no specific dif- 

 ference can be detected in the insects pro- 

 ducing the two galls. There is just sufficient 

 difference in them to warrant a doubt as to 

 their being produced upon the same plant, although not sufficient to render 

 such a circumstance improbable. 



Souan-kio. — The Souan-kio— -literally, "Sour Horns"— are a kind of 

 gall very common at Sin-quan-fou, in Sunan. These galls are said to have 

 the qualities of the best vinegar. 



Ou-chi-tse. — These Chinese galls are said to be produced on a tall tree, 

 with a white flower tinged with red in the centre. The trees are often 

 covered with round galls, known in China by the above name. 



Kow-tou-tse. — These galls, called also You-sou-no-mi or] Ko-to-si, are 

 found on the leaves of a tree abundant in the islands of Sikok and Kion-sion, 

 and believed to be the tree known as Distylium racemosum. These galls 

 are known and used in China and Japan. 



Ko-tse. — These are a species of round gall, which are in frequent use in 

 Canton for dyeing black. 



Sumrut ool Use. — The galls of a species of tamarisk are used in tanning 

 in Lahore, under the above name. They have been referred both to 

 Taviarix articulata and T. Indica. 



Sakun Galls is a local name for the tamarisk galls of Scinde. Sir W. 

 Hooker refers to Tamarix articulata as the species upon which they are 

 found. 



