318 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
in which, its grannies were originally generated.— 
Bot., Beg., v. 26, p. 14, Miscell. 
The Mume Plum op Japan. The Mume of 
Japan, is a yellow-fruited plum (. Prunus Mume) 
called by Thunberg in his Flora of that country, 
a Japan Apricot, is very common, and thrives in 
the most northern parts, where it grows 15 or 20 
feet high, and is very like an apricot-tree. It is, 
however, in its wild state, or when made into 
hedges, only a thick bush, very much branched, 
and 8 or 12 feet high. It is commonly cultivated 
for its beautiful flowers, as well as for its fruit. 
The Mume is much spoken of in the Chinese and 
Japanese legends of their saints, and in the history 
of great men and celebrated poets : it is even 
looked upon as something holy. Pilgrims are 
shown ancient trunks of this tree under which 
deified princes have rested, and celebrated priests, 
or inspired poets composed their psalms and sub- 
lime canticles. For this reason young plants 
struck from cuttings of such holy trees have a 
great value throughout the empire of Japan. The 
fruit ripens in June. When ripe it is insipid, and 
therefore it is salted in a green state like cucum- 
bers, and then is eaten as a vegetable, with rice and 
fish. Europeans, however, do not admire the 
sharp and bitter taste. When salted, the plums 
are often mixed with the leaves of Ocymum 
crispum, which give them a red tint. The juice 
of the green fruit is used as a refreshing drink in 
fevers, and is also indispensable in preparing a beau- 
tiful light pink colour with Carthamus or Safflower. 
In good seasons, the tree is in full flower in 
February, when the altars of idols and dwelling- 
houses are everywhere decorated with its branches, 
which the Japanese regard as a symbol of the 
return of spring. The blossom of the wild plant is 
white, but there are cultivated varieties with vari- 
ous shades of colour between white and red ; and 
some are even green or slightly yellow. Double 
varieties are in most request, and dwarfed trees of 
that description are planted everywhere near dwel- 
lings and round temples. The largest collections 
of these varieties, said to amount to several hun- 
dreds, is in the possession of the Prince of Tsikusen. 
— Bot. Reg., v. 31, p. 45, Miscell. 
Frankincense Tree op Sierra Leone. The 
“ Bungo,” or Frankincense Tree, is an evergreen, 
and one of the most graceful in an African forest ; 
it grows in great abundance in the colony and in 
the neighbourhood, and is generally found in rather 
elevated situations ; its foliage is a very dark green, 
the leaf smooth and pointed, and not large ; the 
trunk, which is rather smooth at first, is then 
curiously marked with white patches, which make 
the tree very remarkable at a distance. The lower 
stem is almost invariably perfectly straight, and at 
the height of 20 or 25 feet usually branches off ; the 
range of height of the trees may be from 40 to 60 
feet ; when aged the bark becomes rugged, very 
thick, and the white patches disappear ; the flower 
is very simple, white and small. The tree is sub- 
ject to the ravages of an insect which bores holes 
in every direction, half an inch in diameter ; the 
operations of this insect occasion the production of 
the “ Bungo ” in very considerable quantities ; 
sometimes, no doubt, the gum drops pure from the 
tree, but the chief supply is mixed up with woody 
particles resembling sawdust, and is forced from the 
holes by the insect, and gathered from the grass 
and ground by the natives. When fresh, the gum 
is of a high reddish colour, translucent, and very 
fragrant, soft and adhesive. Tbe native Timmanee 
women use the gum, powdered and mixed with 
palm oil, as a kind of perfume, and it is commonly 
sold in the market of Freetown for this purpose. 
The gum, when burnt on a red hot plate of iron, 
gives forth a very grateful and highly aromatic 
odour; by some it is supposed to be the true 
“ Thus.” The wood makes excellent fuel ; the per- 
fume it diffuses whilst burning, is extremely 
agreeable to most persons. M. S. Melville, Esq., 
Bot. Reg., v. 25. p. 30, Miscell. 
The Pisonai Tree. This is one of the most mag- 
nificant trees, both in foliage and flower, perhaps 
that exists. It appears to have been introduced 
during the Inca dynasty, into the valleys of Cusco, 
where, in a climate, the mean temperature of which 
is 60° Fahr., it attains such a size as is never 
witnessed in the largest of our European forest 
trees. It was generally planted about villages, in 
that of Yucay, the country residence of the latter 
Incas : eight leagues from Cusco, there exist speci- 
mens of it 5 fathoms in circumference, and nearly 
70 feet high ; the foliage, of a deep green, is thick 
and spreading, and the leaf is in shape something 
like the Cinchonas ; it flowers in December, and is 
then one mass of carnation colour. J. B. Pentland, 
Esq.. Bot. Reg. v. 25, p. 18, Miscell. 
Horticultural Gardens of Bhaugulpore. 
The most interesting object in Bhaugulpore, 
was the Horticultural Gardens, whose origin and 
flourishing condition are due to the activity and 
enterprise of Major Napleton, commanding the 
Hill-rangers. The site is remarkably good, con- 
sisting of fifteen acres, that were, four years ago, 
an indigo-field, but now a really smiling garden. 
About fifty men are employed ; and the number of 
seeds and vegetables annually distributed is very 
great. Of the trees, used for shade and for 
ornament, the most conspicuous are the Tamarind, 
(of which one superb specimen stands conspicuous 
near the seed-room), Tecoma, Jasminoides, Ery- 
thrinas, Adansonia, Bombax, Teak, Banyan, Peepul- 
Sisso, Casuarina, Terminalia, Melia, Bauhinia. 
Of introduced species for ornament or use, English 
and Chinese flat Peaches (pruned to the centre to 
let the sun in), Mangos of various sorts, Eugenia 
Jambos, various Anonas, Litchi, Loquat, and 
Longan, Oranges, Sapodilla ; Apple, Pear, both 
succeeding tolerably ; various Cabul and Persian 
varieties of fruit-trees ; Figs, Grapes, Guavas, 
Apricots, and Jujubes. The Grapes look extremely 
well, but require great skill and care in the 
management. They form a long covered walk, 
with a row of Plantains on the west side, to 
diminish the effects of the hot winds, but even 
with this screen, it is inferior to the opposite trellis 
of grapes. Easterly winds, again, blight them and 
other plants, by favouring the abundant increase of 
insects, and causing the leaf to curl and fall of; 
and against this evil there'|is no remedy. With a 
clear sky the mischief is not great, under a clouded 
one the prevalence of such winds is fatal to the 
