1 June, 1899.] . QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 457 
DILLENTA SPECIOSA, Thunb., or TIVDICA, Linn. 
By LEWIS A. BERNAYS. 
Tue subject of these notes will be new to your readers of the present day, 
uthough brought to public notice by me some fifteen years ago. I cannot, how- 
ever, discover that there is any other specimen to be seen other than that 
growing successfully in the Acclimatisation Society’s Gardens. It is a medium- 
sized evergreen tree, ordinarily attaining a height of about 40 feet, but, under 
favourable conditions, growing considerably higher. The trunk is straight, but 
of no great height; branches numerous, spreading, then ascending so as to form 
a regular, round, dense, shady head. ‘The leaves are oblong, regularly serrated, 
very firm, with many large elevated parallel veins corresponding in numbers with 
and ending in the points of the serratures, about 9 inches long by 4broad. The 
rough, old leaves are used to polish ivory, horn, furniture, tinware, &c. The 
flowers are very large, white, and fragrant; the bright yellow anthers, which are 
very numerous, forming alarge globe in the centre, crowned by white lanceolate, 
spreading stigmas. The fruit is from 8 to 4 inches in diameter. The fleshy 
leaves of the calyx, when the fruit is filly matured, have an agreeable acid taste, 
and are eaten raw, cooked in curries, or made into sherbet. Inside are numerous 
reniform seeds, surrounded by a pellucid glutinous matter, used for making a 
palatable jelly, for a cough mixture, or a cooling drink in fevers, and otherwise. 
The bark and leaves are both astringent, and are used medicinally. The timber 
is light-brown, close and smooth grained, and is much used for gun-stocks, 
handles, &c., and is specially valuable for its durability under water. The tree 
is found in dense forests, at no great elevation, in all parts of tropical India, 
in the Peninsula, and in the Malayan Islands ; and it is commonly cultivated in 
India for its ornamental appearance, and for its shade, as well as for its economie 
uses. The specimen from which the fruit examples in the Plate have been 
taken shows its capabilities under circumstances byno means favourable as to 
soil or climate. 
Mr. Mitchell, the Curator of the Acclimatisation Society’s Garden, informs 
me that he has a stock of plants on hand for distribution—I presume under the 
regulations in that behalf, whatever those may be. 
From the same informant, who had jelly made in his own household from 
last season’s crop, I learn that the product is delicious, the flavour being some- 
thing between apple and rhubarb. As the gelatinous matter is very stiff, a good 
deal of water is required in the cooking. he fruit is better treated when quite 
young. 4 
koxburgh, speaking of this tree, says :—‘* When in flower it is one of the 
most beautiful trees I have ever seen.” 
The ripe fruit is slightly laxative, and must therefore be used with caution ; 
but it is otherwise quite innocuous. Cleghorn gives “ Peddakelinga” as the 
Indian native name. 
There are other species of Dillenia, all handsome trees. One of these, D. 
seabrella, has similar qualities to. D. speciosa ; and a decoction of the leaves of 
another species, D. #etusa, is reputed to have value for cleansing ulcers. 
Viticulture. 
FEDERATION AND THE QUEENSLAND WINE INDUSTRY. 
By E. H. RAINKORD, Viticultural Expert. 
“‘Wuar will be the effect of Federation on our wine industry 2” is doubtless 
a question that many Queensland vignerons have asked themselves and each 
other—a question not easy to answer, but of considerable interest to those 
engaged in the industry; and a consideration of the subject, with some 
suggestions, will not be out of place in the Jgricultural Journal. 
