FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



73 



Diospyros Kaki, Linn^ fil. 



The Date-plum of Cliina and Japan. A slow-growing not 

 very productive tree, here recorded for completeness. The 

 fruit is yellow or pink or dark purple, variable in size, but 

 never larger than an ordinary apple; it can readily be dried 

 on strings. A hard and soft variety occur. It has ripened 

 at Sydney. 



Diospyros Lotus, Linne. 



From Northern China to the Caucasus. The ordinary Date- 

 plum. The sweet fruits of this tree, resembling black 

 cherries, are edible, and also used for the preparation of syrup. 

 The wood, like that of D. chloroxylon, is known in some 

 places as green Ebony ; it must however not be confounded 

 Avith other kinds, such as are furnished by some species of 

 Excoecaria, Nectandra and Jacaranda. 



Diospyros Virginiana, Linne. 



The North American Ebony or Parsimon. A tree 60 feet 

 high. Wood very hard and blackish. The sweet variety 

 yields a good table fruit. 



Diposis Bulbocastanunij Candolle. * 



Chili. The tubers of this perennial herb are edible (Pliilippi). ' 



Dipsacus fullonum, Linne. 



Fuller's Teazel. Middle and South Europe and Middle 

 Asia. A tall biennial herb. The thorny fruit-heads in use 

 for fulling in cloth factories. The import during one of the 

 last years into England was valued at X5000. The plant is 

 most easily raised. The use of these Teazels has not yet 

 been superseded by any adequate machinery. 



Dolichos Lablab, Linne. 



Warmer parts of Africa; probably thence spread widely 

 through the tropics. An annual herb, sometimes lasting 

 through several years. The young pods as well as the ripe 

 seeds available for culinary use, but not of all varieties. It 

 delights in rich soil, and ripens in hot countries within 

 three months ; its yield is about fortyfold according to Rox- 

 burgh. The whole j^lant forms excellent stable-feed for cattle. 



Dolichos uniflorus, Lamarck. 



Tropical and sub-tropical Africa and Asia. An annual herb, 

 well adapted for stable pulse. 



Dorema Ammoniacum, Don. 



Persia, on mountains up to 4000 feet. A tall perennial herb 

 yielding the Gum-resin Ammoniacum, which might be 

 obtained from plants to be introduced into our snowy 

 mountains. 



