FOR VICTORIAN INDUSTRIAL CULTURE. 



267 



might be reared on barren sands of other countries for the 

 sake of its oil. According to Mr. Osborne's experiment, 

 Eucaljptus-oils dissolve the following among other substances 

 for select varnishes and other preparations : Camphor, Pine- 

 resins, Mastich, Elemi, Sandarac, Kauri, Dammar, Asphalt, 

 Xanthorrhcea-resin, Dragon's-blood, Benzoe, Copal, Amber, 

 Anime, Shellac, Caoutchouc, also Wax, but not Gutta-Percha. 

 These substances are arranged here in the order of their 

 greatest solubility. The potash obtainable from the ashes of 

 various Eucalypts varies from five to twenty-seven per cent. 

 One ton of the fresh foliage of E. globulus yields about 8-g- 

 lbs. of Pearl-ash, a ton of the green wood about 2^ lbs., of 

 dry wood about 4|- lbs. For resins, tar, acetic acid, tannin 

 and other products of many Eucalypts see various docu- 

 ments and reports of the writer, issued from the Melbourne 

 Botanic Garden. 



Ficus infectoria, Willdenow. 



India, ascending to 5000 feet. Probably hardy, and then 

 adapted for street-planting. Brandis and Stewart found its 

 growth quicker than that of Siris or Albizzia procera. 

 F. religiosa (L.) ascends to the same height, and is in moist 

 climates of quick growth. It is one of the trees on which 

 the Lac-insect largely exists. The fruits of some huge Hima- 

 layan species, for instance F. virgata (Boxb.), F. glomerata 

 (Koxb,), F. Boxburghii (Wallich), are edible. 



Fraxinus floribunda. 



Add: Himalaya, between 5000 and 11,000 feet. It attains 

 a height of 120 feet, and serves as a fine avenue-tree; girth 

 of stem sometimes fifteen feet. The wood much sought for 

 oars, ploughs and various implements (Stewart and Brandis). 

 For forest-plantations Ashes are best mixed with Beeches and 

 some other trees. 



Hardwickia binata, Boxburgh. 



India, up to elevations of nearly 4000 feet. Maximum height 

 of tree 120 feet. Wood from red-brown to nearly black, 

 close-grained, exceedingly hard, heavy and durable, valued 

 for underground work. The bark furnishes easily a valuable 

 material for cordage. The tree can readily be pollarded for 

 cattle-fodder (Brandis). 



Helianthus annuus. 



Add: Important also for raising quickly vegetation around 

 fever-morasses, the absorbing and exhaling power of this 

 plant being very large (Dr. v. Hamm). 



