Notes. - 293 



Weeds of South Africa. 



Like other countries, South Africa has awakened to the menace 

 which the occurrence of noxious weeds presents, and the problem of 

 their control and eradication is receiving close attention. During 

 the past ten years the appearance and spread of harmful weeds have 

 alarmingly increased, and correspondingly there is the growing danger 

 to our pasturage and wool and other agricultural pursuits which the 

 unchecked presence of these weeds engenders. Recognizing that every 

 farmer of South Africa should be acquainted with the nature of the 

 weeds likely to be found on his farm so as to be able to distinguish 

 them and cope with the danger, this Department has published from 

 time 10 time articles on certain of these plants. But the problem is 

 becoming increasingly serious and the time has arrived for publishing 

 all available information on the subject of our noxious weeds, and to 

 gather it into one publication which will be of use to the farmer, 

 the student, and the general public. This work has now been under- 

 taken by Miss X. A. Lansdell, of the Division of Botany, and the 

 opening contribution to the series, the first publication of its kind in 

 South Africa, appears in this issue of the Journal. The work will 

 appear in instalments in the Journal and eventually be issued under 

 one cover in bulletin form. 



The author has compiled an illustrated glossary of tlie terms used 

 in describing the weeds and has drawn all examples from the weeds 

 found in this country. For some time past Miss Lansdell has been 

 studying the life-history of local weeds from the germination of the 

 seed to the adult plant, a phase of the subject which has hitherto 

 received little or no attention in South Africa. The publication of 

 this information, therefore, will be of great interest and value to 

 farmers, and in placing it before them we would ask for the co-opera- 

 tion of all in assisting to complete our knowledge of South Africa's 

 noxious weeds by sending, O.H.M.S., to the Chief, Division of Botany, 

 Pretoria, specimens of suspected weeds with full particulars regard- 

 ing them, as in this manner much valuable knowledge will be obtained 

 and serve to add to our information on this very important subject. 



New Zealand Hemp or Flax : Possibilities in the Union. 



Mr. W. G. Mason, Director of Training Farms, who has recently 

 returned from St. Helena, visited by him for the purpose of advising 

 the Imperial Government on the agricultural potentialities of the 

 island, is impressed with the success obtained there by cultivators of 

 hemp, which has proved a highly remunerative enterprise. He is 

 convinced that the same success awaits the cultivator in the IJnion . 

 in those parts where climatic and economic conditions are suitable, 

 particularly throughout the whole coastal area. The prospect appears 

 bright for New Zealand hemp, with its high yield of fibre as compared 

 with other varieties (a most important and, indeed, deciding factor 

 in the proposition), which can be cultivated in a part of the country 

 where land at present of little agricultural value is available. The 

 introduction of the crop, moreover, in parts such as Knysna, where 

 the poor- white problem is serious, would create a demand for labour 



