294 Remarks on the Culture of Exotic Vegetables. 



an early period. Several persons have considered it as an 

 indigenous production, and have called it " African oak :" 

 this appellation confounds it with another distinct Genus. 

 Some species of Quercus have been discovered in Northern 

 Africa, but none, as yet, in the southern parts. Much error 

 has also been propagated respecting- the growth and quality 

 of Cape-grown oak-timber ; but, although not equal to British, 

 the ship and boat-builders in Cape Town, do not hesitate to 

 use it in the way of their profession. 



CYTISUS laburnum. Laburnum. Diadelphia Decan- 

 dria of Linnseus, and Nat. Ord. Leguminosae, Jussieu. 



This tree has been successfully introduced to the colony 

 within these few years, and it is presumed that its extended 

 cultivation will prove valuable to the country at large. 



Its native station on the Alps of Europe, its affinity to 

 several South African shrubs of the same Genus, and its 

 known hardy nature, render it eligible, as a tree of moderate 

 height, for planting on the exposed mountainous districts of 

 the colony. It forms an excellent shelter for rearing other 

 trees under, and, for this purpose, may be treated in the 

 same manner as recommended in the culture of furze. 



Where the laburnum forms plantations for poles or timber, 

 the seeds should be sown thinly, where they are to remain; 

 it, however, bears transplanting well, and thrives either in 

 deep rich soil, or the more shallow and sandy earths. It 

 forms durable poles for various purposes ; and, where hard 

 woods are required for furniture, wedges, or pegs, &c. no 

 wood can be better adapted than this. In character and 

 appearance, it resembles green ebony. 



Goats are remarkably fond of its leaves ; and it has been 

 celebrated by naturalists and poets for ages, as augmenting 

 the milk of that animal. Hares and rabbits will not touch 

 the bark of other treej, while they can procure food from the 

 laburnum; the young shoots of which they eat down to the 

 grouud. The leaves are diuretic and resolvent ; the green 

 seeds of this tree are violently emetic : children should there- 

 fore be cautioned not to eat them. 



Having briefly noticed some of the more interesting trees 

 and shrubs adapted for fences, shelter, and timber; and, con- 

 sidering the rapid advance of the season for nursery opera- 

 tions, it will not be considered too abrupt to direct the 

 attention of individuals to the fruit department, and some 

 interesting and highly ornamental exotics of another descrip- 

 tion. 



MANGIFERA indica. Mangoe, Mangas. Pentandria 



Mongynia, Linnseus, and Cassuvise of Brown's Nat. Orders. 



This interesting tree is a native of the East Indies. The 



