35 



Casuarina leptoclada. STRAIGHT BEEFWOOD, 



A handsome, hardy tree, the best Beef wood for planting 

 purposes in South Africa. It grows well (except on very 

 poor soils, such as Knysna sour veldt), and prospers in the 

 severe climates of Cradock and Kimberley, where many 

 other trees fail. Its leaf droppings form a clean carpet r 

 lying more closely than Pine needles. This property is- 

 valuable in certain situations for fire protection, tne clean 

 soil preventing the spread of fire, while the branches are 

 less inflammable than those of Pines. In the lower Karoo y 

 the Leptoclada Casuarina is one of the best trees to plant. 

 There is a handsome avenue of it at Cradock. But it will 

 not stand excessive drought nor frost and hence in the 

 upper Karoo should be planted with care. 23 of frost 

 at Hanover in 1898, killed all the young Beefwoods in the 

 Government plantation. At Kenil worth, Kirnberley, it 

 grows to perfection but is said to require more water than 

 some of the trees there. 37,000 seeds go to the ounce. 



Casuarina quaclrivalvis. BUSHY BEEFWOOD. 



An old-fashioned bushy tree, sometimes grown for the 

 sake of its pretty drooping foliage. In the male tree the 

 minute flowers appear at the tips of the branches in mid- 

 winter, and throw a yellowish brown colouring over the 

 dark foliage. This tree will grow on pure sand : there are 

 one or two fine old trees on the Cape Fiats. It has also 

 been found to stand brack in both water and soil better 

 than any other tree tried in the Government plantation at 

 Bobertson. The wood is red colored with large handsome 

 medullary rays. 1,626 seeds go to the ounce 



Casuarina tenuissima. TENUISSIMA BEEFWOOD. 



Scarcely distinguishable from 0. leptoclada except by i 

 somewhat less vigorous growth. 



Casuarina toruiosa. TORULOSA BEEFWOOD. 



Only distinguishable when young from Casuarina lepto- 

 clada by corky tissue on the stem. Seems to grow nearly 



