86 SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



beams, girders, rafters, joists, &c., but not for flooring. One 

 of tlie few Chilian trees witb deciduous foliage (Dr. Philippi). 

 Its value as compared to that of the European Beech should 

 in our forest-j^lantations be tested. 



Fagus procera, Poeppig. 



Another deciduous Beech of Chili, where it passes by the 

 names of Keule or Bauli. Of still more colossal size than 

 the Roble. Wood fissile, but well adapted for staves ; it is 

 filler in grain than that of F. obliqua, and much used for 

 fui'niture (Dr. Philippi). 



Fagus silvatica, Linne. 



The deciduous Beech of Britain, of most other parts of Europe 

 and extra- tropical Asia, and as Fagus ferruginea. Ait., in a 

 particular variety, extending through North America. The 

 trunk has been measured in height 118 feet, the head 350 

 feet in diameter; the wood is hard, extensively used by 

 joiners and ship-builders and the manufacturers of various 

 implements ; the w^ood resists great pressure. Beech-tar con- 

 tains a considerable proportion of paraffine ; the ash from any 

 portion of this tree is rich in phosphate of lime. An allied 

 Beech, Fagus Sieboldii, EndL, occurs in Japan. All these 

 could here be grown to advantage only in our springy 

 mountain-forests. 



Fatsia papyrifera, Bentham. {Arabia papy^-i/era, Hooker; 

 Panax jxtpyrifer, F. v. Mueller.) 

 Island of Formosa. The Pice-paper plant, hardy in the low- 

 lands of Victoria, and of scenic effect in garden-plantations; 

 the pith furnishes the material for the so-called rice-paper. 



Ferula galbaniflua, Boissier. 



Persia; on mountains 4000 to 8000 feet high. This tall 

 perennial herb might be transferred to our Alps, for obtain- 

 ing locally from it the gum-resin Galbanum. 



Ferula longifolia, Fischer. 



South Pussia. The aromatic long roots furnish a pleasant 

 vegetable (Dr. Posenthal). 



Festuca coiron, Steudel. 



Chili. A valuable perennial fodder-grass, according to the 

 testimony of Dr. Philippi. 



Festuca distichopliylla, J. Hooker. 



Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales. 

 This dwarf, creeping gi^ass is of great value for binding soil, 

 forming rough lawns, edging garden-plots on arid places, and 

 covering coast-sand. 



