FOR VICTORIAM INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



37 



Butea frondosa, Eoxburgh. 



The Dhak or Pulas of India. This magnificent tree extends 

 to the Himalaya mountains, and therefore might here be a 

 proper one for acclimatisation. It is very rich in a peculiar 

 kind of kino. The Lac-insect is also nourished by this tree, 

 and might be transferred to us with it. 



Butomus umbellatus, Linne. 



The Flowering Hush. Europe, North and Middle Asia. 

 This elegant perennial water-plant is mentioned here more 

 for its value in embellishing our lakes and watercourses than 

 for the sake of its roots. The latter, when roasted, are 

 edible. The plant would live in our sub-alpine rivulets. 



Buxus sempervirens, Linne. 



The Turkey Box-tree. South Europe, North Africa, South- 

 West Asia. This slow-growing tree should timely be planted, 

 to provide the indispensable box- wood for wood engravers 

 and musical instrument makers, as yet no good substitute for 

 it having been discovered. The box-tree needs calcareous 

 soil for its best development. Among allied species B. 

 Balearica attains a height of 80 feet. Other congeners are 

 B. subcolumellaris, B. Cubana, B. Purdieana, B. citrifolia, 

 B. acuminata, B. Isevigata, B. Yahlii, B. gonoclada, B. 

 retusa, B, glomerata, B. Wrightii, all from West India; 

 further, B. Madagascarica, B. longifolia from Turkey, B. 

 Wallichiana from the Himalayas and B. micropliylla from 

 J apan, but neither of any of these, nor of the various species 

 of the allied Indian genus Sarcococca, nor of several species 

 of the Andine genus Styloceras, does it appear to be known 

 what relation their wood may hold to that of the true box- 

 tree, and whether they are more rapid in growth. 



-Csesalpinia brevifolia, Bentham. 



Chili. The pods of this shrub are extraordinarily rich in 

 tannic acid, and hence valuable for tanneries (Philippi). 



Caesalpinia coriaria, Willdenow. 



Wet sea-shores of Central America. Might be naturalised 

 in our salt marshes. Colonel Drury states, that each full- 

 grown tree produces annually about 100 lbs. of pods, the husk 

 of which, commercially known as Divi-Divi, is regarded as 

 the most powerful and quickly acting tanning material in 

 India. The mercantile price of the pods is from .£8 to .£13 

 per ton. 



Caesalpinia Gilliesii, Wallich. {Poinciana Gilliesii, Hooker.) 

 La Plata States. This beautiful hardy bush can be utilized 

 for hedges. 



