175 



observed hundreds of seedlings from one trifoliate tree, which, stands in 

 the midst of a large Orange grove, isolated from all other trees of this 

 species. It is surrounded Dy sweet Orange, sour Orange, Lemon, Grrape- 

 fruit, and Mandarin trees, all bearing, and yet every seedling observed 

 had the characteristic foliage and twigs of the trifoliate Orange. The 

 seedlings have not yet fruited, so I can only speak as to the foliage 

 and twig characters ; but if hybridisation had occurred in any instance, 

 it could not be observed in these. As many of the surrounding Citrus 

 trees are always in bloom at the time this tree blooms, there would seem 

 to be every possible chance for hybridisation to occur. 



Variegated Oranges. 

 While the reproduction of variegation through seeds introduces an 

 entirely different question, it will yet be interesting in this connection 

 to state that variegation is apparently invariably reproduced through 

 the seed. I have twice sown a quantity of seeds from fruits of variega- 

 ted Oranges taken from two different trees of Citrus bigaradia, and every 

 seedling produced, about twenty in each case, was entirely white 

 throughout. With the utmost care I was unable to rear any of these. 

 The majority of them formed three leaves, reaching a height of from 2 

 to 3 inches, but all finally died. A few formed a fourth leaf. The va- 

 riegated sour Orange trees, from which the seeds were taken, had the 

 leaves beautifully mottled with white, about half of the leaf usually be- 

 ing discoloured. The rind of the fruit and the branches also showed the 

 variegation very plainly. — ( Gardener' 's Chronicle.) 



TEAK. 



The Produce of India, Siam, and Burmah. 



Of all the timber trees of the Indian Peninsula, teak is, perhaps, the 

 most useful. Its strength and durability is well known. For house- 

 building it is the best of woods, owing to its resisting the attacks of 

 white ants from the oily nature of the wood. It is, however, an expen- 

 sive kind of timber, and, except in those countries where it is plentiful, 

 the price is too high to allow of its being used for ordinary purposes. 

 Great quantities are employed on the western coast for shipbuilding, 

 for which it is superior to any other kind of wood. 



The Teak tree is the Tectona grandis of Linnaeus, belonging to the 

 natural order Verbenaceae, and to the class of hard, leafy, non-resinous 

 and non-coniferous woods. It is a deciduous tree, found principally in 

 India, stretching across Hindustan and through Burmah, almost to the 

 frontier of China. Extensive forests of teak are found in Pegu and on 

 the banks of the Irrawaddy. The most extensive, and probably the 

 best, forests of teak at present existing are those of Burmah, where they 

 exte; d along the banks of the Sal ween and other rivers, as such posi- 

 tions favour its growth ; here it is found in detached clumps, rather 

 than scattered among other trees In India the tree is of great value. 

 It produces a good oil, which is used with paint as a substitute for lin- 

 seed ; it also makes a good varnish for paint and wood, and is known 

 generally by the name of wo»d oil. The leaf of the tree is large and 

 round, somewhat resembling in shape a cabbage leaf, and is about ten 

 inches in diameter, but very thin, although its fibres are strong. These 



