266 



SELECT PLANTS READILY ELIGIBLE 



Chlorogalum pomeridianum. 



Add : The bulb contains Saponin. 



Cupressus torulosa. 



Add : Dr. Brandis thinks that it may attain an age of 1000 

 years. 



Dalbergia Sissoo, Roxburgh. 



The Indian Sissoo-tree, ascending to elevations of 5000 feet, 

 attaining a height of 60 feet. It may be worthy of test 

 whether in localities free of frost, particularly along sandy 

 river-banks, this important timber-tree could be naturalised. 

 Brandis found the transverse strength of the wood greater 

 than that of teak and of sal ; it is very elastic, seasons well, 

 does not warp or split and takes a fine polish. It is also 

 durable as a wood for boats. The tree is easily raised from seeds 

 or cuttings, is of quick growth and resists slight frosts. The 

 supply of its wood has fallen short of the demand in India. 



Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni, Nees. 



Himalayas, between 2000 and 6000 feet. Height up to 60 

 feet. The young shoots of this stately Bamboo are edible in 

 a boiled state (Brandis). D. strictus attains a height of 100 

 feet and occasionally forms forests of its own. 



Eucalyptus amygdalina. 



Add: It is this species which yields more volatile oil than 

 any other hitherto tested, and which therefore is largely 

 chosen for distillation; thus it is also one of the best for 

 subduing malarian efflu^da in fever-regions, although it does 

 not grow with quite the same ease and celerity as E. globu- 

 lus. The respective hygienic value of various Eucalypts 

 may to some extent be judged from the percentage of oil in 

 their foliage, as stated below and as ascertained by Mr. 

 Bosisto, at the author's instance, for the exliibition of 1862: 

 E. amygdalina ... 3 '31 3 per cent, volatile oil. 

 E. oleosa .. ... 1*250 „ „ 

 E. leucoxylon ... 1*060 „ „ 

 E. goniocalyx ... 0*914 „ 

 E. globulus ... 0*719 „ 



E. obliqua 0*500 „ „ 



The lesser quantity of oil of E. globulus is however compen- 

 sated for by the vigour of its gi'owth and the early copious- 

 ness of its foliage. The proportion of oil varies also some- 

 what according to locality and season. E. rostrata, though 

 one of the poorest in oil, is nevertheless important for mala- 

 rian regions, as it will grow well on periodically inundated 

 places, and even in stagnant water not saline. E. oleosa (F. 

 V. M.), from the desert regions of extra-tropic Australia, 



