s for making the
handles of doors, umbrellas, etc. The fiber derived from the
decaying of the cellular matter at the base of the leaf-stalks is
much used in Brazil for making ropes. It is largely used in
England and other places for making coarse brooms, chiefly used in
cleaning streets.

52. AVERRHOA BILIMBI.--This is called the blimbing, and is cultivated
to some extent in the East Indies. The fruit is oblong,
obtuse-angled, somewhat resembling a short, thick cucumber, with a
thin, smooth, green rind, filled with a pleasant, acid juice.

53. AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA.--The caramba of Ceylon and Bengal. The fruit of
this tree is about the size of a large orange, and, when ripe, is
of a rich yellow color, with a very decided and agreeable
fragrance. The pulp contains a large portion of acid, and is
generally used as a pickle or preserve. In Java it is used both in
the ripe and unripe state in pies; a sirup is also made of the
juice, and a conserve of the flowers. These preparations are
highly valued as remedies in fevers and bilious disorders.

54. BACTRIS MAJOR.--The Marajah palm, of Brazil, which grows upon the
banks of the Amazon River. It has a succulent, rather acid fruit,
from which a vinous beverage is prepared. _B. minor_ has a stem
about 14 feet high and about an inch in diameter. These stems are
used for walking canes, and are sometimes called Tobago canes.

55. BALSAMOCARPON BREVIFOLIUM.--This shrub is the algarrobo of the
Chilians. It belongs to the pea family. Its pods are short and
thick, and when unripe contain about 80 per cent of tannic acid;
the ripe pods become transformed into a cracked resinous
substance, when their tanning value is much impaired; this
resinous matter is astringent, and is used for dyeing black and
for making ink.

56. BALSAMODENDRON MYRRHA.--A native of Arabia Felix, producing a gum
resin, sometimes called Opobalsamum, which was considered by the
ancients as a panacea for almost all the ills that flesh is heir
to. _B. mukul_ yields a resin of this name, and is considered
identical with the Bdellium of Dioscorides and of the Scriptures.
The resin has cordial and stimulating properties, and is burnt as
an incense. In ancient times it was used as an embalming
ingredient.

57. BAMBUSA ARUNDI