Remarks on the Culture of Exotic legetahles. 303 



If those plants are propagated by cutting's, these must be 

 taken from the last year's wood, and before the buds beg-in to 

 burst ; they will sometimes remain in, an apparently quiescent 

 state for a long period, during which they must be sparingly 

 watered, and kept shaded from the sun: glasses placed over 

 them will hasten their growth ; on removing' these care should 

 be taken not to injure the roots ; they must not, on any ac- 

 count, be transported while forming- new wood. 



The method of procuring the oil from the seeds is this : — 

 the seeds are reduced to a course powder in a mortar, by 

 manual labour, or by such machinery as can be moved by 

 water ; the powder is stewed or boiled in bags, and then 

 pressed ; when the oil is yielded. 



For instructive and amusing accounts of the camellicse, and 

 other Chinese plants, the reader may refer to Barrow, Abel, 

 and other scientific travellers who have published accounts of 

 their visits to China, &c. 



There is no doubt but that tea might be cultivated in many 

 parts of this colony, even in the coldest districts; but it is 

 very doubtful, even if the population were sufficient to spare 

 hands for its preparation, whether the growth of it to any 

 extent would be advisable. 



RIBES htjbrum. Currant. Aalbezie, Pentandria Mo- 

 nogynia, Linnaeus. Nat. Ord. Grossularise, Decandolle. 



There are two principal varieties of this species, distinguish- 

 ed by the colour of the fruit — the white and the red. They 

 were introduced to the colony previous to the year 1695, and 

 several times since that period, but hitherto without beneficial 

 results. 



The heat and droughts prevalent at the Cape are not fa- 

 vorable to the cultivation of this shrub, and the production of 

 its fruit, as, in these circumstances, it continues in leaf 

 throughout the year; but there is little doubt that, should it 

 meet with proper treatment, and be planted in the colder dis- 

 tricts, its berries will become a useful and acceptable addition 

 to the other fruits grown here. 



The plant is most readily increased by cuttings of the 

 young ripened wood, which strike root quickly. These may 

 be planted in the months of June and July. It may also be 

 reared from seeds, which should be sown as soon after they 

 arrive at perfection as possible. There is little chance of pro- 

 curing a superior variety of fruit by this method, but one 

 more suitable to the climate of South Africa may be produced. 

 , This plant should be planted in a southern exposure, to 

 avoid as much as possible the solar rays ; which, in this coun- 

 try, are too powerful for it. The plantations may be formed 

 and treated in a similar manner as practised with the vine in 



