33 



104— A CURIOUS FREAK OF NATURE. 



URING the montli of December, 1894, Mr. J. Graham Taylor 

 called my attention to a curious growth of fruit on one of 

 the smaller varieties of Banana known locally as " Figue 

 The plant was growing in a small garden in the Belmont 

 district, and the bunch of fruit — much under ordinary size— was 

 produced from the side of the stem about six feet above the 

 ground; the plant itself being some twelve feet in height not 

 including length of leaf. "When the flower first appeared it grew in 

 an upright direction and the bunch developed with the younger 

 portion uppermost, contrary to the usual manner ; but when the 

 bunch approached the ripening period it gradually assumed the 

 natural pendant position. It was at first thought that the protrusion 

 of the flower from this point was due to some contraction or obstruction 

 existing in the stem above the point of issue, which prevented its 

 making its appearance in the usual way from the apex of the plant, 

 but after ripening, the stem was examined and it was found that no 

 obstruction was present, but that an open space existed of sufficient 

 size to allow the escape of the flower stem in a natural manner. 



It has therefore been concluded that the issue of the flower from 

 the stem of the tree was caused by some injury having occurred to 

 the stem at this particular point, and that the flowering parts appeared 

 from thence as the point of least resistance. 



A photograph was taken of the plant showing the position of the 

 fruit upon the stem of the plant. 



105.-CIRCULAR NOTES. 



Circular Note No. 15. 



For the past five years a regular account has been kept of the 

 daily yield of the nutmeg trees under cultivation in the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens. This was carried out for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 proportion of the crop which may be expected during the successive 

 months of the year. The following Table will, I believe, supply the 

 required information. The annual rainfall for each year is also 



