176 



marked taste or odour ; on burning it yielded 1 per cent, of ash. 

 There would be no prospect of selling it in this country (Govt. 

 Gaz. S. Nigeria, July 15th, 1908, Suppl. p. 3). 



The juicy fleshy pedicel may be eaten when ripe ; it makes a 

 good preserve, and according to Watt (Diet. Econ. Prod. India) is 

 a remedy for scurvy. From this part of the fruit a spirit may be 

 distilled which in some localities is an important beverage. The 

 Portuguese in Goa consider the spirit to be a valuable diuretic, and 

 they apply it externally in rheumatism (Dymock, in Pharm. Journ. 

 [3] vii. p. 731). In Mozambique, Portuguese East Africa, there 

 is an area of about 12,000 acres where the tree grows freely, and 

 the distillation of the spirit, subject to heavy taxation by the 

 Portuguese Government, is an industry of some importance. It is 

 stated that during the Cashew season (October, November, and 

 December) the natives give themselves up to their favourite 

 beverage, and during that time they become perfectly useless 

 (Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 1463, 1894, p. 14). It does not appear that 

 the distillation of Cashew spirit is anywhere more than of local 

 importance. In Brazil a wine is made from it, closely resembling 

 Madeira, with a reputation for use in so-called torpidity of the 

 liver (Nat. Stand. Disp. 1905, p. 174). 



The sap of the tree is a natural and indelible marking ink. 



The bark contains tannin. Christy calls it " diabetes bark," and 

 recommends an infusion in the treatment of " diabetes insipidus" 

 (New & Rare Drugs, May, 1888, p. 6). 



The wood is used for packing-cases in Ceylon and Burma ; for 

 boat-building and for making charcoal ; the weight is 30 to 38 lbs. 

 per cubic foot (Gamble, Man. Ind. Timb. p. 214). 



The tree can be propagated by seed (nuts), but does not trans- 

 plant readily ; the seeds may be sown in bamboo pots if raised in 

 the nursery, or sown at once in positions intended to be permanent. 

 It will nourish in comparatively dry soil and under an irregular 

 rainfall. In the Mozambique region above mentioned, the aridity 

 of the soil, irregularity of rains, as well as the absence of labour, 

 are the chief causes of failure with produce other than Cashew 

 trees, &c. (Cons. Rep. I.e.). In India it is established in the coast 

 forests, especially in sandy places, and in S. India it has been 

 found of value in coast-dune reclamation (Watt, Comm. Prod. 

 India, p. 65). It does well in Palmyra Groves (Gamble, I.e.). 



Eef. — " Anacardium occidentale, Pomme d'Acajou ou de Kasjoe," 

 in 111. Horticole, 1885, pp. 157-159.— Med. Pflan. Kohler, iii. 3^ pp. 

 — " La Pomme et la Noix de Cajou," De Bois et P. Maury, in Le 

 Jardin, 1889, pp. 33, 34,— Diet. Econ. Prod. India, i. 1889, pp. 232, 

 233.— Nuttige Indische Planten, Dr. Greshoff, pp. 5-8 (J. H. De 

 Bussy, Amsterdam, 1894). — " The Poisonous Plants of Bombay," 

 Surg.-Major Kirtikar, in Journ. Bomb. N.H. Soc. x. 1895, pp. 88- 

 107.— Dip. & Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 1463, 1894, Mozambique, pp. 14, 

 15 ; Reprint (" Cashew Spirit ") in Kew Bull. 1898, pp. 28, 29.— 

 " Anacardium occidentale," Dr. De Cordemoy, in Ann. Inst. Col. 

 Marseille, vi. fasc. 2, 1899, " Gommes Resines," pp. 49, 50. — 

 " Analysis of the Oil of Anacardium occidentale," in Tech. Rep. & 

 Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, p. 126. 



