FOR VICTORIAN INDSTRIAL CULTURE. 



125 



part of the stem. The soil, destined for Cassava, must not 

 be wet. In warm countries the tubers are available in about 

 eight months, though they still continue to grow afterwards. 

 The growth of the plant upwards is checked hj breaking 

 off the buds. The Bitter Cassava is the more productive 

 of the two. The yellowish tubers attain sometimes a 

 weight of 301bs. They do not become soft by boiling like Aipi. 



Maoutia Puya, Weddell. 



India, on mountains up to 4000 feet. It is taller than 

 Boehmeria nivea, and furnishes a similar fibre. This shrub 

 belongs to a tribe of the Nettle order, not possessing burning 

 acridity. None of the true Nettles, such as the Girardinias, 

 nor allied stinging plants have been recommended in this 

 index, although from some an exquisite fibre is derived, as 

 the writer wishes to guard against the introduction of any 

 burning species, which possibly might disseminate itself in a 

 mischievous manner in our ranges^ and then probably could 

 not again be suppressed. 



Maranta arundinacea, Linne. 



The true Arrowroot-plant. West India, Florida, Mexico to 

 to Brazil. The plant is introduced into this list not without 

 hesitation, as it seems to require a warmer clime than ours 

 to attain perfection. It furnishes most of the West Indian 

 Arrowroot, although other species, such as M. nobilis, M. 

 AUouya, M. ramosissima, are also cultivated for a similar 

 starch of their tubers. Porcher observes that it still 

 flourishes as far north as Florida, producing even in the 

 pine-lands from 200 to 300 bushels of tubers to the acre. M. 

 Indica, Tuss,, is merely a variety. 



Marlea Vitiensis, Bentham. 



New South Wales and Queensland. A middle-sized tree, 

 generally with a gouty trunk ; wood bright yellow with fine 

 undulating rings, black towards the centre. Fruit edible 

 (P. O'Shanesy). 



Marliera glomerata, Bentham. {Ruhachia glomerata, Berg). 

 The Cambuca of sub-tropical Brazil. The fruits attain the 

 size of apricots, and are much used for food (Dr. Bosenthal), 



Marliera tomentosa, Cambessedes. 



Extra-tropical Brazil. The Guaparanga. The sweet berries 

 of this tall shrub are of the size of cherries. 



Matricaria Chamomilla, Linne. 



The annual Chamomile. Europe, North and Middle Asia. 

 A highly useful herb in medicine. In many parts of the 

 European continent it is much more extensi vely used than 

 the ordinary perennial Chamomile. The infusion of the 



