646 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[March i, 1884. 



quired. The liardiest shoot is subsequently selected and 

 may be permanently planted in three years. The OUve is 

 also raised from seed. In the districts of Siena, when a 

 tree is about to be cut down, the ovoli, or eyes, on the 

 roots are detached and placed in a separate plot of 

 ground, plants being ol)tained from them in three years, 

 which can then be transplanted. In the wooded districts 

 where the wild Olive is plentiful, grafting is commonly 

 employed. The trees are usually planted in holes or ditches 

 of more than two yards square, and a yard deep, drained 

 with a layer of stones. 



•20. " M^hen the olives are planted in row iu the fields, 

 they are generally pruned a jmneirii, nearly all the inner 

 branches being cut away from tlie centre to enable air 

 and light to penetrate freely. The trees are pruned every 

 two or three years. The most careful cultivators apply a 

 special manure, when the trees are between five aad eiglit 

 years old, composed of straw, mixed with wollen rags, the 

 "whole saturated and moistened with sewage, but this is not 

 general, as the trees profit by the manure laid on the fields. 

 It is estimated that in the province of Siena one acre of 

 vines will produce 115 gallons of wine, and an acre of 

 olives 20 gallons of oil; the quantity of the former actually 

 produced in 1882 amounting to 10,898,000 gallons, and of 

 the latter 780,000 gallons." 



31. Scotia tamarimlifulin or Ooral Tree.— A shrubby or- 

 namental tree ten or twelve feet high, with crimson flowers 

 somewhat resembling Fuchsia; but bearing sliort legumes 

 and large rounded seeds about one inch in diameter. Ac- 

 cording to Dr. Atherstone, the beans from the pods ot this 

 plant are roasted and eaten in the Albany districts where 

 they are called Boerboom, and the powerfully astringent 

 bark is used medicinally, as well as in tanning. 



22. roclocai-pus elomjatus or Cape Yew. — A handsome 

 timber and shade tree allied totheYacca (P. coriacetis) oi 

 Jamaica. A fast growing tree, suitable for the higher 

 lands, and yielding excellent timber known at the Cape as 

 Yellow AN^ood. 



23. Melhaniii erythroxiflon or Bed-Wood ot St, Helena. 

 A tree of twenty feet high, with handsome slender foliage 

 of a pale green colour ; the large bright flowers first ap- 

 pear pure white, changiug after a day to pink, and finally 

 to a brownish red. Flowers of all three colours are seen 

 on the tree at one time, giving it a singular appearance. 

 The wood is hard and of a rich brown colour. As one ot 

 the fast disappearing mdigeuous plants of St. Helena, this 

 is a very intr.-resting tree, and its naturalization in Jamaica 

 would be an event of considerable botanic and economic 

 interest. 



24. nttosponim unilulatum or Tree Pittosporum. — One of 

 the handsomest flowering trees of Australia, growing to a 

 height of thirty or forty feet. The rich perfume ol its 

 white blossoms extends over a considerable area. 



2.5. FiitosporuM vindifiorum or Green-flowered Pitto- 

 sporum.— A shrub which' attains a height of ten or twelve 

 feet. Though the flowers are not so handsome as in the 

 • last species, they possess an equally delicious perfume. 



2G. Leuceiiua i/!ouca or Seed-work Acacia. — From the 

 seeds of ( his shrub beautiful ornamental work is made at 

 St. Helena which is largely sold to visitors. The tree is 

 very common in the Liguanea plains and other places in 

 •famaica, and with taste and judsment ladies ot small means 

 might utilize the seeds for the manufacture ol brooches, 

 necklaces, etc. The seeds are coloured black by means of 

 a little copperas (sulphate of iron). 



27. Acacia I oni/ifolia or Port .lackson Willow. — This is 

 one ot the hardiest and most easily grown of all Australian 

 plants. It is admirably adapted for clothing the bare bar- 

 ren slopes of the Port Royal Mountains, and through the 

 kind oliices of His Excellency the Governor of St. Helena, I 

 have made arrangements to procure regular and large snp- 

 pHes of seed of this useful tree. The timber is elo-se-grained 

 and hard, something between "Walnut and Salmwood and 

 takes a fine polish. The bark, which contains a large 

 quantity of tannin, is admirably adapted for the jireparation 

 of leather. 



28, Acacia {Alhizzia) lophantha or Black Boy. — One of 

 the most rapifl-growing trees in exposed sittations: it pro- 

 duces seed rdnuidantly w'bich germinate easily. For e-x- 

 pesed hill sides, steep b.arren liinds and desolate places, gen- 

 erally, this tree is invaluable to create shade and so induce 

 shelter and a copious vegetation (Mueller). 



29. Curtisia fayinea or Assegai Tree. — A hardy hand- 

 some shrub from the Oape of Good Hope. The natives 

 of the region where it abounds employ it to form shafts for 

 their javelins or assegai. 



30. Psiadia rotu ml i folia or Bastard Gum Wood. — The 

 chief characteristics of the indigenous Flora of .St. Helena 

 is the existence of tree-like plants allied to the English 

 daisy, dandelion and the common aster. As once described 

 by Sir Joseph Hooker '* it is wonderfully curious Flora, a 

 fragment from the wreck ot an ancient world, resembling 

 none other iu the rarity ot the plants ot other countries, or 

 in the number ot species that have actually disappeared 

 within the memory ot living men." Of these plants the 

 Bastard Gum Wood is the most interesting as, at the 

 present time, only one tree is known to exist in the world, 

 and th.at grows in a field near Longwooil, formerly the 

 residence of Napoleon I; I have gathered and distributed 

 seed of this tree in the hope it may be naturalized iu other 

 countries. The seed brought to Jamaica is apparently good, 

 and hopes are entertained that plants will be established 

 here. 



31. Alieria Caffra or Kei Apple. — A native of the Oape 

 of Good Hope, belonging to the same uatural order as the 

 Annatto of the West Indies, but yielding an edible fruit of 

 a golden yellow colour about ihe size of a small apple. 

 The plant is admirably adapted tor hedges as it is densely 

 clothed with strong dry spines, terming an impenetrable 

 fence. The fruit is chiefly used for making preserves. 



32. Harjieplii/lluiii Cajf'rum or Oaftre Red Date. — A hardy 

 and free-growing tree adapted for dry rocky and barren 

 spots where it thrives abundantly. The foliage appears to 

 be not liked by stock, and even goats do not touch it. The 

 bright-red fruit, shaped like a date, is very acid, hut of a 

 pleasant flavour. 



33. OaluiJciuh-on Oapcnse or Cape Chestnut. —A _ very 

 handsome tree with clusters of pale pink flowers. .Suitable 

 for the hills. 



Zi. llakea r/ililiom or Snail Tree. — A small fir-like tree, 

 native of Australia, bearing fine needle-like leaves of a 

 leathery texture. The woody fruit is in shape resembling 

 the head of bird or land snail. 



35. LcitcadendroH argeiitemn or Cape Silver Tree. — This 

 is a handsome tree or shrub, whose leaves are covered 

 with white silky hairs. 



3(). Qiiecciis Nuliir or Cork Oak. — A few acorns from 

 this oak were obtained, which .are likely to grow. The 

 Cork Oak, on the higher hill skqjes, should become a com- 

 mon tree in Jamaica. It is both ornamental and useful. 



37. CasaaritHi rr/Hisetifolio or Beef Wood. A handsome 

 tall growing tree. Splendid for fuel, giving great h(«t. 

 The timber is tough and nicely marked. The tree will 

 grow either in sand near the sea or at high altitudes 

 (Mueller. ) 



38. At/are lurida or Fence Aloe.— A h.andsome plant much 

 used for fencing lands. 



39. Xep/irodtiim J\'npulconis, a small handsome fern, 

 found abundantly along the side of road from Lougwood 

 to Napoleon's tomb. 



40. From Madeira, by courtesy of Dr. Grahham, I ob- 

 tained seed of : Ccraietiia iiUqua or Carob Tree. This tree 

 is extensively cultivated in countries bordering on the Me- 

 diterranean, and especially in such as sufii^r from period- 

 ical drought, its loug roots penetrating to a great depth 

 in search ot water. It is called Algarotja by the Sp.aniards, 

 and Karoub by the Arabs, whence comes our English name 

 of Carob or Cai'oub, the pods being called Carob-potls or 

 Carob-beans, or sometimes Sugar-pods. These ])ods con- 

 tain a largo quantity of agreeably flavoured mucilage and 

 saccharine matter, and are commonly employed iu the 

 South of Europe (as the Quango is in Jamnica) forfeed- 

 ing horses, mules, pigs, kc.^ and occasionally in times of 

 scarcity for human food. Two plants of the Carob were 

 presented to the Botanical Department by Mr. William 

 Lee, Aduiiuistrator-General, a short time ago. One is 

 growing near the Bungalow at King's House and the 

 other at the Hope. Both are doing so well tb.it there 

 is no doubt the tree is well adapted tor the climate of 

 Jamaica ; and further effort will be made to introduce and 

 import largo quantities of seed for general distribution. 

 The gross exp..rt v.alue of Carob-pods shipped from Cyprus 

 during the last year, according to the Jiuiopeaii Ma, I, was 

 over £100,000. 



41. Dracmna Draco or Dragon Tree.— The famous Dragon 



