194 



^^ Tlie mean bursting strain, corrected to a thickness of 0*1 milli- 

 {5'rams (= a substance of 84 grams per sq. metre), was 49 lbs. to the 

 sq. in., and tlie mean breaking length 6-35 kilometres. This may 

 be described as a strong paper, very much resembling that obtained 

 from i7. coTonarhiTn under similar circumstances/' 



Buchu. — Buclm is an important drug for which there is usually 

 a steady demand in the English market. The leaves of three 

 species of Barosmay viz., B, betulinay B. serrati folia, and B. 

 crenulata^ erect shrubs indigenous to South Africa, are generally 

 recognised in commerce, but the first-mentioned species is alone 

 officinal in the British Pharmacopoeia. They have a charac- 

 teristic penetrating odour, and a strongly aromatic taste, and 

 though the leaves of several allied genera are occasionally offered as 

 Buchu, the peculiar properties of tlie true drug render the detec- 

 tion of the substitute comparatively easy. 



The following particulars on the Production and Protection of 



Buchu, in the Union of South Africa, are taken from the '' Eeport 



of the Chief Conservator of Forests for the 15 months' period 

 ending 31st March, 1913,'^ a copy of which has recently been 

 received at Kew. The following figures show the Buchu exports 



s 



and value during the past six years : 



1907 291,334 lbs., valued at ... 



1903 243,472 



1909 .., ... 260,126 



1910 273,325 



1911 212,082 



1912 ... ... 223,021 



}} 99 



3 J }f 



35 >1 



3> 9t 



99 99 



V • ■ 



« ft ft 



• ft 



* ft 



« t 



* ft 



t ■ 



t « 



£9,201 



7,284 



9,666 



24,428 



29,647 



38,264 



and the highest price paid in London during 1912 was 6s. 6d. 

 per lb. for best selected clean green leaf of the Barosma hetulina 

 variety. It is understood that the demand for this medicinal herb, 

 which IS only found in the Western Districts of the Cape Province, 

 is steadily increasing. 



The following shows the ports of export for 1912, and the 

 declared value on export; 



Cape Town 221,338 lbs., valued at ... £38,166 



Port Elizabeth ... 51 



Mossel Bay ... ... 1,632 



J> 99 



9 9 9 9 



» « 



t ■ 



2 



96 



223,021 lbs. £38,204 



Based on the declared value the average price per lb. works out 

 to 3s. 5'18d, before leaving SoutJi Africa. 



The Department during 1912 raised the price of Buchu 

 (Barosma serratifolia) in Forest Eeserve and Crown land areas in 

 the Swellendam Division from 2d. to 6d. per lb., and at the same 

 time divided up the areas so as to enable close seasons to be main- 

 tained over some so as to allow the shrub to rest, recuperate, and 

 shed seed before plucking is next allowed on the area. 



On the Cedarberg, where the Barosma hetulinaj the most 

 valuable of the Buchu, grows, the price was raised from Is. 6d, to 

 l^s. 6d. per lb., and that reserve wag divided into four Buchu aieris^ 



