22 About Trees, Shrubs and Climbing Plants for S.A. 



paratively warm districts, and the two last for colder areas. The 

 growth of mine timber is likely to give a handsome return for 

 many years to come. 



FOR BOXWOOK the best are Pinus insignis, P. longifolia, P 

 palustris, and P. pinaster. The danger from the fungus disease, 

 Diplodea pinea, seems now to be past, and more confidence may 

 be reposed in pine planting. Some of the Mexican pines are 

 promising well, but as young trees are very difficult to obtain as 

 yet, it is useless recommending them. Outside the Pine family 

 we have several Cypresses which are just as good for the pur- 

 pose, particularly C. lusitanica, C. lusitanica glauca, C. macro- 

 'earpa, C. torulosa, C. goveniana, and C. McNabiana. 



In the Natal mist belt another very promising tree is Crypto- 

 ineria japoriica (Japan Cedar), a good, straight timber, light and 

 durable, and of speedy growth. This tree will make excellent 

 box-wood, and is more used than any other timber in Japan. 



At the Natal Government Asylum, Cedrella toona (Indian Red 

 Cedar) is doing remarkably well, and promises to make first- 

 class timber in 25 years or less. " The timber is soft, red, dur- 

 able, not eaten by white ants, scented, and easily worked" 

 (Gamble). This tree will not stand any frost when young, and 

 its locality is, therefore, limited to warm Southern and South- 

 Eastern slopes in the Eastern Midlands. 



MATCHWOOD. in moist land and moist southern slopes a planta- 

 tion of poplars is a good payable proposition. These are propa- 

 gated by means of cuttings, preferably rooted in nursery ground 

 and then transplanted to the plantation. The white poplar is the 

 one now most commonly sold for matchwood, but there is a serious 

 objection to this in the multitude of suckers it throws up, which, 

 unless carefully suppressed, rob the main stems and delay 

 growth. The variety monolifera seldom throws suckers, and is 

 of better growth and equal value for sale. Populus macrophylla 

 will probably be found an excellent tree for the same purpose. 

 All the poplars are of quick growth, saleable in from 15 to 25 

 years, and the demand will increase. 



Other trees suitable for some districts and situations are Casu- 

 arinas, Pinus insignis. Pinus pinaster, and Callitris (Frenella) 



Of the varieties of Eucalypti we would choose E. saligna, 

 globulus, viminalis, and amygdalena for warm districts, and for 

 the cold areas, E. rudis. E. viminalis, E. stuartiana, and E. ros- 

 trata. Of the Cypresses the best are C. torulosa, C. lusitanica, 

 C. macroearpa, C. goveniana, and these are likely to do well all 

 over. 



The use of rails about a farm is often considerable. While, in 

 a sense, all the trees we have mentioned will make rails, it is 

 worth while to consider here which trees make the best. If 

 " Wattle '' is allowed to become dry it splits, and those who have 

 worked it know how difiicult it is to drive a nail or staple into 

 it. Most of the Gums also split up in drying, particularly at the 

 age when they are most suitable for rails. One trouble with both 



