202 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



already in tlie cooler parts of Victoria, but also particularly- 

 fit to be dispersed through our forests and over our alps. 



Ribes niveum, Lindl. 



One of the Oregon Gooseberry-bushes. Berries small, blacky 

 of a somewhat acid taste and rich vinous flavour. 



Ribes rotundifolium, Michaux. 



North America. Yields part of the smooth Gooseberries of 

 the United States. The fruit is small, but of delicious taste. 

 Unlike the ordinary Gooseberry, not subject to mildew. 



Ribes rubrum, Linne. 



The ordinary E-ed Currant. Europe, North America, North 

 and Middle Asia, in the Himalayan mountains ceasing where 

 E,. Griflithi commences to appear. One of the best fruit- 

 plants for jellies and preserves that could be chosen for the 

 colder mountain altitudes of our colony. The root-bark 

 contains Phlorrhizin. Perhaps other species than those 

 recorded here, among them some from the Andes, may yet 

 deserve introduction, irrespective of their showiness, for their 

 fruits. 



Ricinus communis, Linne. ^ 



The Castor-oil plant. Indigenous to the tropical and sub- 

 tropical zones of Asia and Africa. A shrubby very decora- 

 tive plant, attaining the size of a small tree. It was well 

 known to the Egyptians 4000 years ago, and is also men- 

 tioned already in the writings of Herodotus, Hippocrates, 

 Dioscorides, Theoplirastos, Plinius and other ancient physi- 

 cians, philosophers and naturalists. The easy and rapid 

 growth, the copious seeding and the early return of produce 

 render this important plant of high value in a clime like 

 ours, more particularly as it will thrive on almost any soil, 

 and can thus be raised even on arid places, without being 

 scorched by hot winds. It may thus become an important 

 plant also for culture in our desert-tracts, and is evidently 

 destined to be one of our most eligible oil-plants for tech- 

 nical uses, particularly for lubricating machinery, irrespective 

 of the value of its oil for medicinal purpose. The seeds con- 

 tain about 50 per cenfc. oil. To obtain the best medicinal oil, 

 hydraulic pressure should be employed, and the seeds not be 

 subjected to heat; the seed-coat should also be removed prior 

 to the extracting process being proceeded with. A screw- 

 press suffices however for ordinary supply to obtain the oil. 

 By decantation and some process of filtration it is purified. Eor 

 obtaining oil to be used for lubrication of machinery or other 

 technological purposes, the seeds may be pressed and prepared 

 by various methods undei' application of heat and access of 



