A DICTIONARY OF THE ECONOMIC PRODUCTS OF INDIA. BY GEORGE WATT, M.B., C.M., C.I.E. REPORTER ON ECONOMIC PRODUCTS WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA. OFFICIER D'ACADEMIE; FELLOW OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY; CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE (ASSISTED BY NUMEROUS CONTRIBUTORS.) IN SIX VOLUMES. VOLUME III., Dacrydium to Gordonia. Published under the Authority of the Government of Endia,_ LONDON: W. H. ALLEN & Co., 13 WATERLOO PLACE, S.W., Publishers to THE CALCUTTA : OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, INDIA, 8, HASTINGS Street. HE69 +No34 590753 5 PREFACE TO VOL. III. SUBSEQUENT to the appearance of the first volume of this work, the Editor was engaged, for nearly two years, in connection with the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. On his return to India in April 1887, he resumed the Dictionary work, and the second volume was published in little more than a year from that date. During the course of preparation of that volume, however, the Government of India considered it desirable to modify materially the scope and character of the work, enlarging it in some directions and abbreviating it in others. It was, for example, deemed unnecessary to give botanical descriptions of the plants dealt with, and thought advisable to practically omit all imported articles of Indian trade, > to discontinue reference to Ceylon products, when not directly connected with India, and also to reduce the number of tables given in statistical accounts of trade. A minor departure was, at the same time, enjoined in the adoption of the third person, in preference to the first, but that would, in any case, have been necessitated, for, shortly after the second volume had been completed, the Government of India was enabled to render invaluable aid by the deputation as collaborateurs of Mr. J. F. Duthie, Director of the Botanical Department, Northern India, and shortly afterwards of Dr. J. Murray, of the Indian Medical Service. The Editor has now to exE press his warmest thanks to these gentlemen for the able assistance they ∞ have rendered. He need only add that the respective share taken by each contributor is indicated by the appearance of his name on the right hand top corner of the pages. During the preparation of the third volume the Editor's task was indeed a pleasant one, for, the entire material of the Dictionary having been brought together and arranged by him some years ago, his editorial work consisted in seeing that the elaboration of the portions entrusted to his collaborateurs was on the plan laid down by the Government of India. It may perhaps be admitted that the third (and perhaps also the second) volume manifests a considerable improvement on the first. This was to be expected, since the co-operation of Mr. Duthie and Dr. Murray ensured greater accuracy, through doubtful points having invariably been decided in consultation. A numerous circle of correspondents have also been consulted, amongst whom may be specially mentioned Dr. George King, Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Dr. D. Prain, Curator of 60622 API. 20 163 1.D the Herbarium, Calcutta; Mr. H. Medlicott (and his successor Dr. W. King), Superintendent of the Geological Survey; and the authorities of the Imperial Museum. The Directors of Land Records and Agriculture in the various provinces, by official requisitions through the Revenue and Agricultural Department of the Government of India, have given the Editor much useful information on various subjects. On trade questions invaluable assistance has been rendered by Mr. J. E. O'Conor, Assistant Secretary to the Government of India, Finance and Commerce Department, by the Chambers of Commerce, and by many mercantile experts and planters throughout the country, to all of whom the Dictionary is indebted for many of its most useful features. The official correspondence of the Government of India has also continued to be placed under free contribution, and the various branches of the Secretariat have uniformly and graciously responded to applications for assistance by placing their files on Economic Products at the disposal of the Editor. DACRYDIUM, Soland.; Gen. Pl., III., 433. A genus of coniferous trees, mostly natives of the Eastern Archipelago and the Malay Peninsula, of Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. They yield very beautiful woods and are highly ornamental, on account of which their cultivation is being largely prosecuted in most countries. Perhaps the species in greatest demand is D. Franklinii, Hooker, which yields the celebrated Huon Pine. Dacrydium elatum, Wall; Fl. Br. Ind., V., 648; CONIFERE. References.--Kurs, Forest Flora, Burma, II., 499; Gamble, Man. Timb., 394; Indian Forester, 111., 178-9; VII., 362; XI., 106; XII., 282; Smith, Econ. Dict., 217, 353; Trans. Agri.-Hort. Soc. Ind., V., 110. Habitat.-Burma, probably Tenasserim. A tree, 30 to 60 feet in height, with dimorphous leaves. Very little is known regarding it, and it is, therefore, alluded to here more on account of the high value placed on its congeners than of any special properties reputed to be possessed by the Indian representative. DACTYLIS, Linn.; Gen. Pl., III., 1193. Dactylis glomerata, Linn.; GRAMINEÆ. Cock's FOOT GRASS. Syn.-D. HISPANICA, Roth.; D. glaucescens, Willd. References.-Roxb., Fl. Ind., Ed. C.B.C., 114; Voigt, Hort. Sub. Cal., Habitat. A tall, perennial grass, said to be common on the Himálaya of the N.-W. Provinces and the Panjáb. It receives its English name from the fancied resemblance of its flowering spikes to a fowl's foot. Fodder.- Highly valued in Europe as a fodder grass for cattle. It forms a portion of most good pastures, especially on chalky or loamy soils. In Morton's Cyclopædia of Agriculture a full account of the grass is given. It is there said to be "one of the most widely distributed and valuable of hay and pasture grasses, being common in all countries of Europe south of the Arctic circle, as well as in the north of Africa, and in the corresponding latitudes of Asia and America. In Britain it forms a principal constituent of all the best natural pastures and meadows." The soil required is said to be "of a deep, rich, and moist but not saturated I 2 FODDER. 3 |