298 



POPULAE ECONOMIC BOTxiNY. 



the shell is thick and extremely hard and brittle^ taking a 

 very fine polish ; they are used chiefly in the manner indi- 

 cated by fig. 52^ and for making the small knob-handles of 

 cabinet drawers. About 300^000 nuts were imported in 

 1852. 



Aeeca Nuts. — The fruit of another palm. They are 

 inclining slightly to pear-shape^ about the size of a large 

 cherry^ very hard^ and externally not mauch unlike some of 

 the inferior nutmegs ; the only use to which they are ap- 

 plied in this country^ is for making tooth-powder^ for which 

 purpose they are first converted into charcoal and then 

 powdered ; only a very small number is imported. They 

 are the seed of Areca Catechu (JPahnaceas), and constitute 

 the celebrated Betel jN^uts of India. 



JuNiPEE Beheies. — The fruit of the common Juniper 

 {Juniper 118 commwiis, Nat. Ord. ComfercB). (Plate XIX. 

 fig. 101.) These berries are imported in considerable quanti- 

 ties from the North of Germany^ Holland^ and other places, 

 for flavouring the gin of this country. More than 200 tons 

 per annum are usually imported. 



ToNQUiN, Tonga, or Tonga Bean. — The seeds of Di/p- 

 teryx odorata (Nat. Ord. LeguminoscB) . The pods of this 

 plant only produce one seed in each : this seed or bean is 



