BY J. H. MAIDEN. 115 



Kei Apple (Aberia Caffra) and the Tall Bamboo {Bamhusa 

 arundinacea) have been tried. 



I have recently despatched plants of Pittosponim undulatum 

 and of Olive to the island. They should flourish, making 

 excellent wind-breaks, while the Olive should be a useful addition 

 to the economic plants. 



Some Minor Notes. 



There is only one road (the coast road), mainly following the 

 coast- line on the western side of the island; it is really only a 

 beaten track, and it has short branches to the various houses and 

 gardens. It is difficult to travel in the island except on these 

 tracks, as the vegetation is so dense, hence one collector has 

 largely followed the footsteps of another in most parts of the 

 island. 



There is no wheeled vehicle on the island, sleighs being used, 

 drawn by one horse. They are shod with Sin. iron runners, and 

 one can move rapidly along the coast road b}' their use. By the 

 way, our horse (Norfolk Island bred) was so unlike Australian 

 horses in that he would not eat corn, but he was ravenous for 

 bananas and sweet potatoes. 



We saw no wild pigs, although we were informed that there 

 are still a few on the tops of Mt. Lidgbird and Mt. Gower. The 

 same remarks apply to the goats, a few of which are also to be 

 found on Goat or Rabbit Island. These animals largely feed on 

 Palm seeds and on the tubers of Elatostemma. The islanders 

 now keep the pigs in styes, as their destructiveness to the vegeta- 

 tion in the past is now well known to them. This is a matter of 

 great congratulation to those interested in the preservation of the 

 flora of the island. 



Cockroaches are veiy abundant and damaged my herbarium 

 specimens in spite of all my care. 



The oranges and bananas are apparently quite free from pests. 

 The field crops are, however, much injured by both fungus and 

 insect pests I was assured that at one time it was a common 

 practice of the islanders to use a dead shark as an insecticide. 



