[77] 



The wood is firm, compact, and very supple. It's highly valued for shafts of chairs 

 and for binding-hoops for vats, which are very long-lasting. The leaves never are attacked 

 by insects. Its wood is not at all affected by woodworm. After ebony and boxwood, it's 

 preferable to all others in durability and strength. Young shoots of the tree provide whip 

 handles, said to be from Perpignan. that are widely used, especially in southern France. 



CULTIVATION. In the south of France the tree propagates on its own. Around 

 Paris it's grown from seeds obtained from its native region that are planted in small 

 frames or in deep trays. Some seeds come up in the first year, others in the second. They 

 can be placed in a nursery in the autumn of the second or third year. But until they've 

 reached a height of five or six feet, they should be covered with straw to protect them 

 from severe frost. 



KEY TO PLATE. 

 1. European nettle tree. 2. Green fruit. 3. Cross-section of fruit. 



