THE AFRICAN CYCADS 51 



Mr. George Rattray, principal of Selborne College, and to 

 their son, the collector of customs, who relieved me of 

 any annoyance which the unusual and rather extensive- 

 baggage necessary in such an expedition sometimes occa- 

 sions. But I have no complaints to make about tariff 

 regulations, for throughout the British colonies the cus- 

 toms officials were always gentlemanly and considerate. 



There are four cycads at East London, Stangeria, 

 Encephalartos Altensteinii, E. villosus, and E, cycadi- 

 folius, all within easy distance from the city. 



I had already studied Stangeria, but I made photo- 

 graphs and spent some time in comparing the specimens 

 growing on the exposed grass veldt and in the shaded 

 bush veldt. Several specimens were dug up and sent 

 by parcel post to Chicago, where they are now growing 

 luxuriantly. 



Encephalartos Altensteinii, one of the most popular 

 cycads in botanical gardens throughout the British 

 colonies, is abundant along the rocky banks of the 

 Buffalo and Nahoon rivers. 



Very few specimens reach a height of six feet, and 

 they seldom measure more than a foot in diameter; but 

 the crown is large and vigorous, making the plant so 

 attractive that it is in great demand for lawns and parks. 

 It grows in the open and consequently is not hard to 

 find. I saw only one specimen growing in the deep, 

 shady bush, and Mr. Rattray told me that the bush was 

 a recent growth of not more than fifty years' standing. 

 The cycad was about six feet in height and certainly 

 as much as a hundred years old. It had become estab- 

 lished before the trees appeared and had continued to 

 grow as the shade developed. 



