Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/169

 especially the fruit of Microchleena, which is highly mucilaginous, he converted here to a similar useful purpose, and affect a great saving in the process adopted in India for that object. The inner bark of some species, which in all is very tough and pliable, is employed for making cordage, that of Sterculia guttata, Microchlœna spectabilis, and Abroma augusta, are particularly specified by Mr. Royle as being so employed, of the latter it is said, it " abounds with strong white fibres which make a good substitute for hemp, and as the plant succeeds well in every part of India, grows quickly, and yields annually two, three, or even four, crops of cuttings fit for peeling it is particularly recommended by Dr. Roxburgh for cultivation." The seed of several species of Sterculia are roasted and eat by the natives of this country ; but by far the most important plant of the order, at least in a dietetic point of view, is the Cacoa tree. This is a native of America, and has been introduced into India. Hitherto our attempts at culture have not been very successful, but I saw several very thriving young trees at Courtallum, and there is one at Palatncottah which annually bears a crop of fruit, and gives promise that it might be increased. I attempted to take grafts from that tree, and also to propagate it by slips and gooties, but failed in both attempts. It seems very desirable to extend the cultivation of this tree in India, not only on account of the commercial advantages that might accrue from its produce, but for the benefit we might ourselves derive from it. In the former point of view it may be mentioned, that upwards of twenty million of pounds are annually consumed in Europe. The elevated table-land of Mexico being the native country of the Cacoa, where it enjoys a cool and humid climate, I presume the most probable tracts of country in India for commencing its cultivation, on a considerable scale, would be the high and cool table-land of Mysore, in plantations well sheltered, and still further kept cool and damp by being made in only partially cleared forests. Wherever such localities are to be found, the Cacoa may be expected to thrive, and might be introduced with effect and at little charge, On the Malabar coast too, where forest lands abound, the humid and insular-like climate would, as in the West Indies where it is very extensively cultivated, counteract the injurious effect of excessive heat, and render the chances of success, fully equal to those of Mysore. The only drawback to its extended cultivation is the slowness of its growth in the first instance, which however is well compensated for, by its after duration and productiveness. The fresh virgin soil, the shade, and humid atmosphere, of forests recently cleared of their brushwood only, are all dwelt upon by Humboldt as peculiarly favourable for Cacoa plantations, and in such of course they ought to be tried in the first instance, until we get the tree acclimated.

The genus Sterculia, as mentioned above, has been completely broken down, and no fewer than nine genera formed from the apparently heterogeneous materials which were formerly combined under that name. The characters of these as given by Professor Endlicher, will be given below, and figures of several published in the early numbers of my Icones. Heriteria is a genus nearly allied to Sterculia — of which one species is found in Malabar, and another in Ava. Guazuma is said to have been introduced from America, whether correctly may be difficult to ascertain, but whether or not it is certainly very widely diffused over India now, and affords a proof, if introduced, that it has found a most congenial climate, and holds out the prospect of equal success attending the introduction of the Cacoa tree. The wood which is generally known under the English name of bastard cedar, though a light and rather loose grained timber, is much employed in making furniture. Ranking next this large umbragious tree is Byttneria, a humble herb, only found in dry gravelly soil, usually seeking the support and shelter afforded by the few stunted bushes growing in such situations. The Abroma I have never met with, but as above stated, it merits being better known on account of the valuable purposes to which its bark may be applied. Waltheria is a very common herbaceous plant, but of a most variable description, in so far as external appearance goes, being sometimes glabrous, at others hairy, and at others again covered with a thick coat of whitish down or shag, thus appearing as if there were several species. This genus is remarkable in the order for having a one-seeded coccus.

Pentapetes another of the few herbaceous genera of this order are principally marsh plants. P. phœnicia, which is met with in marshy grounds all over India during the cool season, is also found in the Tenaserim provinces, and I may here mention as an instance of how little things common about our own doors, however beautiful, attract attention, that I once had spe-