143 



The genus is the type of the very large order Myrtaceae, and embraces 

 .-a great many species, the majority being evergreen shrubs, while a 

 few are small trees, and, in one or two exceptional cases, large ones. 

 The fruits are somewhat similar to Guavas and Eugenias, which are 

 closely allied. One of the finest kinds is Myrtus ediilis, a handsome 

 tree growing to the height of twenty-five feet, indigenous to Uruguay, 

 which yields pleasantly flavoured fruit as large as a small Apricot. 

 Myrttis inciuKt, a dwarf shrub from the River Plate, yields small -but 

 pleasantly flavoured berries, which are eaten raw, and make a 

 palatable jelly. Myrtus mucronata, a rather dwarf species from the 

 same region, yields fruit the size of small Grapes, which has a pleasant 

 flavour. Myrtus tomentosa, a medium-sized shrub indigenous to India 

 and China, produces dark purple berries the size of Cherries, which 

 have a sweet aromatic flavour. Myrtus nummularia, a trailing plant 

 indigenous to South America from Chili to Patagonia, is the Cran- 

 berry Myrtle. It bears small fleshy fruit that has a sweet and 

 agreeable flavour. Myrtus Ugni is a hardy shrubby species indigenous 

 to Chili, whose small but pleasantly flavoured fruit is known as the 

 Chilian Guava. Other species of Myrtle also yield edible fruits, and 

 are, therefore, worthy of attention. 



CULTIVATION A\D PROPAGATION*. 



All the Myrtles are compact ornamental plants, and very 

 desirable for gardens and shrubberies. The greater number of the 

 species are fairly hardy, and will adapt themselves to a great variety 

 of soils and climate. Some kinds again are specially well adapted for 

 the colder regions of Australasia. Propagation can be effected by 

 .seeds, which should be covered an inch and a-half deep. Plants can 

 be readily obtained from layers, which should be put down late in the 

 summer or early in the spring. Cuttings of the fairly ripened wood 

 of the current season's growth will strike in sand if protected from 

 sun and wind. 



NARRAS. 



This is the aboriginal African name for the fruit of Acanthosicyos 

 horrida, a curious, erect, thorny shrub belonging to the order Cucur-/ 

 bitacese, or Cucumber family. It is indigenous to Angola, Benguel^/ 

 Dammerland, and other parts of South Africa. The plant grows ;^>d 

 thrives in barren sandy wastes, and seems to be quite independent of 

 rainfall. 'flu's is owing to its wonderfully strong roots, which 

 penetrate many feet deep into the soil in search of moisture. The 

 plant has no leaves but is plentifully supplied with formidable double 

 spines, and the bushes when growing together, soon make an 

 impenetrable thicket or hedge. The fiuit is the size and colour of 

 a large Orange, and is thickly covered with short bristles. The pulp 

 has a pleasant acidulous flavour, and is said to be very wholesome 



