CÆSALPINIA SAPPAN (L.), Sappan tree.

W. and A. pr. 1, p. 281; Grah. Cat. Bom. pl. p. 60; Voigt, Hort. Calc. p. 244; Roxb. Cor. pl. 1, t. 16; Rheede Hort. Mal. 6, t. 2. Patangha, Cing.; Chapenga-mara, Can.; Bukum, Beng.; Sapanhout, Dutch; Pao de Sapan, Port.; Sowa or Sobok, Japan.

A large scandent shrub or small tree, armed, indigenous in Ceylon, Malabar, and the Tenasserim provinces, where it is found in isolated patches near the sea. In habit, this tree resembles the Hæmatoxylon campechianum (logwood), which is cultivated in Jamaica as a hedge plant, and said by Macfadyen to make excellent fences. Sappan has been planted in the garden fences of the Dekkan and W. Mysore, chiefly for the sake of the wood, which, after ten or twelve years, becomes valuable for its red dye, and has long been an article of trade. "Red wood"

*

(Mad. Top. Rep. 1, p. 495, and Jour. Ind. Arch.) It is easily reared from seeds; but when introduced into a dry climate, it requires watering during the hot season.

AGAVE AMERICANA (L.), Great American Aloe.

A. vivipara, Buch. Jour. i. p. 36; A. Cantala, Roxb. Fl. Ind. ii. p. 167; Grah. Cat. Bom. pl. p. 222. Fourcroya Cantala, Voigt. Hort. Calc. p. 597. Aloe Americana, Rumph. 5, t. 94. Bilati ananas, i.e., English pine-apple. Kantala, Sans. ; Seubbara, Arab.

The Agaveæ are all natives of tropical America. This stately aloe-looking species was early taken eastward, and is now dispersed along the coasts of Africa and the shores of Southern Europe. The American Agave has also been imported from Holland to the Cape of Good Hope. (Thunberg's Travels, i. 283.) It is now so long established in many parts of India, as to form a striking feature in its scenery, and, as has been remarked, "stands isolated in the midst of dreary solitude, and imparts to the tropical landscape a peculiarly melancholy character."

* The process of dyeing cotton cloth, by dipping it in a decoction of chapenga wood with a little alum, is given by Buch. (Jour. i. 224).

This plant is so well known and generally diffused as scarcely to need description. Till lately, the flowering was considered to be of rare occurrence; this has been disproved. When inflorescence takes place, the cylindrical stem shoots forth with amazing rapidity and vigour from amidst a whorl of succulent, spinous-pointed leaves, by which its base is entirely surrounded. The plants which produce these stems are comparatively rare, and this circumstance perhaps enhances the effect produced by their magnificent panicle, which in some instances rises to the height of 15 feet, and is without a parallel in the vegetable kingdom.

The agave, like the prickly pear, thrives best in dry sandy soil; but is capable of enduring a great variety of climate, and has blossomed on the coast of Devon. The agave is propagated by means of suckers, which are found under the leaves of the old plants. When the seed-vessels are ripe, the seeds drop to the ground in a germinating state, and thus also young plants. are obtained. It may be added, they are in great demand. If, in the first instance, the plants be placed at regular distances, and care taken to preserve the fibrous roots from moisture by a ditch, an elegant and serviceable enclosure is formed.

The agave is said to harbour vermin, particularly snakes and Bandicoot rats; but, by keeping the lower leaves free and clean, this may be obviated.

The economic uses of the agave are various. The leaves and stem are employed in roofing; the decayed leaves are also used as fuel when firewood is scarce; the terminal spines serve instead of pins and nails; and an excellent cordage (Pita flax) is formed by separating the long fibres of the larger leaves by maceration, and beating them on a stone to get rid of the parenchyma. Specimens of this cordage, made at the Monegar Choultry, Madras, were sent to the Exhibition of 1851, by Dr Hunter.

CAPPARIS SEPIARIA (L.), Hedge caper.

W. and A., pr. i. p. 26; Grah. Cat. Bot. pl. p. 9; Voigt. Hort. Calc. p. 75.

The genus Capparis comprises a large number of fruticose

plants, many of them climbers with spinous stipules. One species, the Common Caper (Capparis spinosa), is found in S. Europe; the others abound in the tropics. They are attractive from the great beauty of their polyandrous blossoms, and in some cases from their fragrance.

C. sepiaria is a thick ramous shrub, from 4 to 6 feet in height, and armed with strong, sharp recurved thorns. The flowers are white interminal umbles; the berries black, about the size of a pea. It is common in the uncultivated parts of the Carnatic and Table-land, where, with another species (C. incanescens), it forms a low impervious jungle. We observed fine hedges of the C. sepiaria around villages in Mysore, and consider it one of the best indigenous hedge plants with which we are acquainted. Buchanan, referring to it in his Herb. Cat., says, "Habitat ubique in India dumetis solo aridiore." It is easily grown from seeds, or by means of cuttings, and only requires occasional trimming. There are several other species of this genus worthy of trial as fences, though they may not be equal to C. sepiaria, being less compact. Of these, C. horrida and Roxburghii are common in Mysore, and are handsome climbers. We have also met with C. aphylla, and sought for its berries, which make an agreeable pickle. It is found in the barren land of the Dekkan and Scinde.

I. PLANTS ADAPTED FOR FIELD ENCLOSURES.

III. PLANTS USED FOR EDGING GARDEN WALKS.

Pedilanthus tithymaloides, * Heliotropium curassavicum, * Rosa semperflorens, Cur

MADRAS EXHIBITION-1855.

CLASS IV. SECTION VI.

Timber and Ornamental Woods.*

SUB-JURY.-Lieut.-Col. G. Balfour, C.B.-Chairman; Lieut.-Col. T. T. Pears, C.B.; J. D. Sim, Esq.; H. Cleghorn, Esq., M.D.-Reporter. ASSOCIATES.-John Rohde, Esq.; Lieut. French; Mr Deschamps; Mr G. Williams.

The importance of this section of the Exhibition can scarcely be overrated in a country like this; for it must be remembered that the value of wood and timber here is not to be measured by the estimation in which they are held in temperate climates. Here, they are not only applied to those economic uses with which we are all familiar, but they also furnish fuel to all classes, supplying the place of that valuable mineral coal, which has not yet been found in any quantity within the limits of the Presidency. Besides this, the influence of trees on climate is very considerable, tending as they do to prevent the too rapid withdrawal of moisture from the soil-a point of great importance in a country where the heat of the sun is intense-and the supply of water is dependent only upon periodical falls of rain.

The value of timber would be best shown by the vast extent to which it is employed in the various purposes of life. It is impossible to ascertain the amount used in this country; but the quantity of firewood alone imported by sea into Madras during five years, is given below; that for 1849-50 being estimated by the military board to be equal to 12,000 tons.

* The list of woods furnished in this Report is alphabetically arranged according to the botanical names; in 1850, Dr Wight prepared a similar list alphabetically arranged also, but according to Tamil nomenclature; it is of great value, and is referred to here.

The above is exclusive of imports by Cochrane's Canal, and the trunk roads, which the military board estimated at upwards of 85,000 tons per annum.

The trade reports of this presidency show that the exports of the following five woods alone amounted in value to Rs. 384,000 in 1854, viz.

These returns are all the jury have at command; but they may mention that the imports of timber into Great Britain alone in 1850 amounted to ten millions of cubic feet. From these facts may be deduced the great importance of endeavouring to ascertain, 1st, which is the best kind of timber for each particular purpose; and, 2d, whence the supply can be obtained with the greatest certainty and economy.

The number of individual contributors in this division is, as might be expected, small; but the specimens sent are numerous, and include many objects of great value and interest. It is evidently impossible for the jury in their report to remark in detail on each specimen which has come under their consideration. They have therefore referred to the lists of the different collections published in the general catalogue, and for facility of reference they have drawn up a classified list of 155 woods, containing, in a condensed form, all the information within their reach. To this, therefore, the jury solicit the attention of those who, either for practical purposes, or as a branch of scientific inquiry, feel an interest in this important subject. The jury limit themselves to a few general observations on each collection, to a statement of the grounds on which they have adjudged the