228 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



great favourite. It is a native of the East Indies. India- 

 rubber (see Caot(tchouc) is obtained from it, and its leaves are 

 greatly valued for skeletonising. 



Banyan tree {Ficus indica). In India this is an immense 

 spreading tree, with broad, oval, firm leaves ; it emits aerial 

 roots from the branches which descend like ropes, entering 

 firmly into the ground, according to age thickening and be- 

 coming like pillars, the branches continuing to extend and 

 cover a vast extent of ground. 



Pipel Tree {Ficus religiosa). Also a large aerial rooted 

 tree which is held sacred by the Hindoos. The leaves are 

 heart-shaped, terminating in a long point. 



Mulberry Tree {^Morus nigra). The common black mul- 

 berry is believed to be a native of Western Asia; it was early 

 introduced to Europe, its leaves being used for feeding silk- 

 worms. It appears to have been introduced to this country 

 more than three hundred years ago, but the climate not being 

 favourable for the production of silk, it is chiefly valued for 

 its fruit, which consists of a number of one-seeded ovaries 

 connected together by their enlarged pulpy calyxes. 



White Mulberry {Morus alba), said to be a native of 

 China, was early introduced to Europe, and has now almost 

 superseded M. nigra for the feeding of silk-worms. 



The first notice of mulberry trees in Scripture is in 2nd 

 Samuel, chap. v. ver. 23-24, and the first recorded use of 

 silk is in Ezekiel, chap. xvi. ver. 13, but it is probable that 

 the latter article was known in the time of Solomon. Silk 

 now forms one of the most valuable articles of commerce 

 throughout the world, the principal imports to this country 

 coming from China and India. It is also largely produced in 

 Western Asia and the South of Europe, especially in Italy 

 and the South of France. The mulberry tree is considered 

 by some to be the sycamore tree* of Scripture. 



Osage Orange (Madura aurantiaca). A native of North 

 America. It forms a straggling tree which, on account of 



* St. Luke, chap. xvii. ver. 6. 



