FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



21 



Arachis hypogaea, Linne. 



Tlie Earth-nut, Pea-nut or Ground-nut. Brazil. The seeds 

 of this annual herb are consumed in a roasted state, or used 

 for pressing from them a palatable oil. The plant is a very- 

 productive one, and yields a very quick return. It ranks also 

 as a valuable fodder-herb ; the hay is very nutritious, much 

 increasing the milk of cows. A light somewhat calcareous 

 soil is best fitted for its growth. On such soil, 50 bushels 

 may be obtained from the acre. 



Aralia cordata, Thunberg. 



China. The yoimg shoots provide an excellent culinary 

 vegetable. 



Araucaria Bidwillij Hooker. 



Bunya Bunya. Southern Queensland. A tree 150 feet in 

 height, with a fine-grained, hard and durable wood, particu- 

 larly valuable for furniture ; the seeds are large and edible. 



Araucaria BrasLliensis, A. Eichard. 



Brazilian Pine. A tree 180 feet high, producing edible 

 seeds. Ought to be tried in oiu' fern-gullies. 



Araucaria Cookii, R. Brown. 



In New Caledonia; where it forms large forests. Height of 

 tree 200 feet. 



Araucaria Cunninghami, Alton. 



Moreton-Bay Pine. East Australia, between 14° and 32° S. 

 latitude. The tree gets 130 feet high. The timber is used 

 for ordinary furniture. 



Araucaria excelsa, R. Bro^vn. 



Norfolk-Island Pine. A magnificent tree, sometimes 220 

 feet high, with a stem attaining ten feet in diameter. The 

 timber is useful for ship-building and many other purposes. 



Araucaria imbricata, Pavon. 



Chili and Patagonia. The male tree attains only a height of 

 50 feet, but the female reaches 150 feet. It furnishes a hard 

 and durable timber, as well as an abundance of edible seeds, 

 which constitute a main article of food of the natives. 

 Eighteen good trees will yield enough for a man's sustenance 

 all the year round. In our lowlands of comparative slow 

 growth, but likely of far more raj)id development, if planted 

 in our ranges. 



Araucaria Rulei, F. v. Mueller. 



New Caledonia. A magnificent tree with large shining 

 foliage, doubtless not merely of decorative but also of 

 utilitarian value. A closely-allied species, A. Muelleri 

 (Brogniart), comes ^vith A. Balansse and A. montana from 



