65 



very well on tropical mountains ; but is out of place in the 

 cold, dry situations, where it has often been planted in 

 8. Africa. In cold localities it is a partial leaf-shedder. 

 The wood commands a ready sale, and is a favourite one 

 with cabinet-makers, on account of its easy working and 

 its scent of camphor. Camphor wood is durable for some 

 years, but as the camphor evaporates the wood is liable to 

 be attacked by insects. Camphor may be distilled from 

 all parts of the tree. There are some fine old Camphor 

 trees at Somerset West, Dear Cape Town. It seems also to 

 succeed at Knysna. The seed will not keep long, and 

 should be preserved by being mixed with sand. Its 

 extended culture is desirable in those parts of the Colony 

 where it thrives. The key to the successful cultivation of 

 the Camphor tree lies in a fact which I have recently 

 observed. The Camphor tree is strongly shade-bearing. 

 It is the most shade-bearing of all the Exotic timber trees 

 hitherto introduced to S. Africa. It is as shade-bearing as 

 Stinkwood, Sneezewood, Assegai, and others of the very 

 shade- bearing species found in the indigenous evergreen 

 forest of the southern coast of Cape Colony. The Camphor 

 tree is probably thus destined to play an important part 

 in the restoration and improvement of the indigenous 

 forests. 



Leptospermum laevigatum. AUSTRALIAN MTETLE. 



The favourite hedge for garden purposes in the Cape 

 Peninsula. None other is so neat or so graceful when not 

 kept closely dipt, though it never forms an impenetrable 

 fence like Hakea or Pomegranate or Kei- apple. It is seen 

 at its best clipt into a low triangular hedge. It is perfectly 

 hardy on the poorest sandy soil. As will be seen from the 

 botanical name, this tree has no connection with the real 

 Myrtle. Easily raised from seed like a Gum. If left 

 to itself it runs into a small straggling tree 25 to 30 ft. 

 high. It seeds profusely and is completely naturalized in 

 the old Government plantations on the Cape Flats. 1 oz. 

 of clean seed averages 96,000 grains. 



F 2 



