CHAP. C.

ZTETICA'CE*. MACLU'RA.

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woody fibres, terminating in a tuberculated surface,and contains numerous seeds (or nuts, as they arebotanically termed), and a considerable quantity osweetish milky fluid, which, when exposed to theaction of the air, coagulates like milk. The sap ofthe young wood and leaves is also milky, and soondries on exposure to the air. It is insoluble inwater, and contains a large proportion of caout-chouc. This tree is found on the banks of theRed River , and in deep and fertile soil in the adja-cent valley. The Arkansa appears to form itsnorthern boundary. It was first introduced intothe gardens of St. Louis , on the Mississippi , froma village of the Osage Indians ; whence it obtainedits popular name of the Osage orange. It wasafterwards planted in the nursery of Mr. M'Mahonat Philadelphia , whose widow now carries on thebusiness, and still possesses the original tree. About1818, seeds were sent to England by M. Correade Serra (See Gard. Mag., i. p. 356.) ; and, subsequently, plants of both sexeswere imported by the London nurserymen.

Properties and Uses. The fruit, when ripe, is of a golden colour, and onthe tree has a splendid appearance ; but, though eatable, it does not appear tobe any where used for human food. M. Le Roy, nurseryman at Angers, in-formed us, in June, 1836, that he had tasted some of the fruit which had ripenedat Lyons; and that it was scarcely so good as that of the Arbutus I/'nedo.Fruit has also been ripened at Clairvaux, near Chatellerault (Recueil Indust.,2d ser., tom. ii. 1836, p. 50.); and at Montpelier . (See Algcmeine Gartcn-Zeitung, Nos. 36. and 37., for September, 1836.) An Osage orange sentto us by Dr. Mease of Philadelphia , from Mrs. M‘Mahon’s Nursery, in Jan.1830, (of which Jig. 1227. is a view, and Jig. 1228. a section; both of the natural

1226

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s “ e ;) measured 9 in. round one way, and 9Jin. the other. It weighed 15 oz.when gathered. The colour was of a greenish yellow, and the taste insipid,

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