242 



that the seeds were selected for sowing-, and were therefore plumper 

 and, no dou])t, heavier than averaire seeds would be. 

 As a conclusion to this pai)cr, it may be stated: — 

 1st. That the Lima l)ean. Small Sieva. locally orrown, shows a 

 fallino: oflp in Aveisrht of 20 per cent, from the original parent seed 

 received from Philadelphia. 



2nd. That a fallinsf-off in weight has taken place in the later 

 crops, but that the adverse conditions under which the latter were 

 grown, and probable loss of vitality from disease, make it unsafe 

 to conclude tliat this falling-off would be continuous under normal 

 conditions. 



3rd. It may be pointed out that the Lima Bean is cultivated 

 on a very extensive scale in the different countries surrounding us^ 

 and figures largely in their exports. Burmah has its Eangoon bean ; 

 Java its Java I)ean ; Cochinchina its Haricot de J3aria, the self — 

 same " Small Sieva " which is under trial at the Economic Gar- 

 dens, and all belonging to the species lunaius. In the face of this 

 fact it vnW need very strong evidence to prove that it cannot be 

 cultivated and acclimatised in this country, under normal con- 

 ditions. 



Roselle (Hibiscus Sabdariffa.) 



The Eoselle bush known also in tlie West Indies as " Jamai- 

 can '" or " Ked Sorrel," is a member of the Natural Order Mal- 

 vaceae and is allied to the Bandikai or Lady's Fingers, and the 

 Cotton ])lant. It was first planted, in the Economic Gardens by 

 Professor Baker who introduced it from the Philippines, and both 

 the red, and the white "Vicior" variety have ])een kejit under culti- 

 vation there. Both plants develop into handsome bushes 5 to 6 

 feet in height with an abund'ance of almost horizontal branches 

 spreading to a circumference erf 4 to 5 feet in the lower part of 

 the tree, which assumes a well defined pyramidal shape. 



The so-called " WJiife " Roselle is green in its wood, in its 

 ]:)ranches, and its leaves, but the calyces of the fruit are whitish 

 green or straw coloured. The Eed' Eoselle has a reddish bark and 

 is quite distinginshable from the white type by the brilliant deep 

 red colour of its calyces, which gives the jelly and jam made of it 

 a very attractive red colour whereas the jelly made of the White 

 Eoselle takes the colour of amber. 



This year, a consignment was received of seeds of the variety 

 " alfisxlDin," new to the garden, and also of two distinct red and 

 white types. Five beds were sown at the end of April, 1919, and 

 on the loth November, the first crop of fruit was plucked. 



It is quite distinct in growth and habit from the Eoselle of 

 the ■' Victor " variety, the only one which had hitherto been culti- 

 vated in the (lardens. It is a much taller ])lant, attaining 10 to 

 13 feet in lieight, and the brandies, instead of spreading horizontal- 

 ly as those of the " Victor " variety, grow at an acute angle to the 

 stem, giving it a more slender appearance. 



