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and nourishing. The seeds are also edible, and used extensively by 

 the Africans. The Hottentots are very partial to the fruit, and are 

 said to fatten when they feed upon them, as they do in localities 

 where they grow. The plants are wonderfully prolific, and over two 

 hundred fruits are said to have been counted upon a single bush. 

 Probably the Narras would be found a useful plant in the dry 

 interior districts of Australia, where the rainfall is limited, and it is 

 worth trying. It w r ill afford palatable fruit and nourishing food in 

 dry arid regions where but few other plants will exist, and it may 

 be used with advantage to bind shifting sands. On the other hand, 

 however, care must be taken to keep the Narras plant under control, 

 as it is of strong* growth and rambling* habit, and possesses great 

 vitality, so if allowed to spread it will probably become a noxious 

 weed like the Prickly Pear and Sweet Briar in some localities. 

 Propagation is easily effected by seeds, which should be planted an 

 inch and a-half deep. Plants are also readily obtained from layers 

 and cuttings. 



NATAL PLUM. 



This name has been given to the fruit of two species of Arduina, 

 handsome small evergreen shrubs, indigenous to South Africa, 

 belonging to the order ApocynaceaB. The fruit is also known as the 

 Matingola Plum. Arduina bispinosa, which is remarkable by the 

 stout twin spines upon its branches, hence the specific name, has 

 bright green foliage, and bears in profusion white highly perfumed 

 flowers, which are produced in succession for a long period. The 

 fruit is oval, the size of a small Plum, and has a pleasant refreshing 

 flavour. Arduina granditfora is somewhat similar, but is rather more 

 robust, and has larger flowers. Both species will thrive in most 

 parts of Australasia, excepting tropical regions and localities where 

 frosts are severe. They will thrive in any ordinary good soil, and 

 should be generally cultivated as garden shrubs. Propagation is 

 easily effected by seeds, which should be covered to the depth of 

 half-an-inch. Plants can be quickly obtained from layers, which 

 root readily, and more especially if put down late in the summer or 

 early in the spring. 



NEGRO PEACH. 



TKe fruit known under this name is produced by Sarcocephalus 

 esculentus, an evergreen shrub belonging to the order Rubiacese, 

 indigenous to the west coast of Africa. Its flowers are small, pro- 

 duced in terminal heads, and the fruit consists of a number of 

 one-celled berries, which are united together, and "assume a form 

 somewhat similar to a Peach, though more irregular, but widely 

 different in colour and quality. Its colour is brown of varying 



