December 29, 1898] 



NA TURE 



would complete what he believed would be the most unique 

 s;roup of buildings in the world. It was intended for 

 the higher technical education — for educating the captains 

 of labour, and not merely the artisans, in a way that would 

 enable them to meet the competition of Germany. The 

 Germans had had these superior schools for years, and had been 

 turning out a large number of expert and scientific men such as 

 did not exist in England. They, however, hoped to make them 

 exist in Liverpool, and he also hoped that this building would 

 enable them to start in Liverpool many new industries that 

 would give employment to the surplus population, and especially 

 to females. 



Speaking of the accommodation which would be afforded to 

 the museum, Sir William reminded them that it had been 

 founded by a bequest by the Xlllth Earl of Derby, some sixty 

 years ago, and had been strengthened year by year by purchase. 

 They were able to display only about one-half of their collections, 

 and even that was so crowded that it was impossible to attemjit 

 any classification. This building would enable them to unpack 

 and arrange scientifically the whole of their treasures, and in a 

 short time they would have a museum unequalled out of London. 

 When visiting Rome, Florence, Venice, and Athens, they were 

 attracted there, not by what the Csesars and Doges had done, 

 not by the spoils of war, but by the monuments of art and the 

 stores of literature which were left behind in these cities. In 

 the same way he hoped that these buildings would tell future 

 gener.ations that, while they had been strenuously engaged in 

 commerce, they had not been forgetful of the intellectual 

 welfare of the citizens, knowing that by doing so they were 

 promoting public morality as well as the material prosperity of 

 the people. 



ECONOMIC BOTANY /N NYASALAND. 

 nnHE following interesting notes on some of the exotic 

 economic trees and shrubs cultivated in the Residency 

 Grounds, Zomba, British Central Africa, are given by Mr. John 

 Mabon, Government Botanist, in the annual report on the 

 Protectorate for the year 1S97-98 (c-9048). Accompanying 

 the notes in the report is a complete list of exotic trees and 

 shrubs growing at Zomba. 



The collection of exotic plants grown at Zomba possessing 

 economic value is not at present very extensive, but it is being 

 steadily added to. The Coffee-disease Regulations in force 

 prevent plants or seeds being imported from several tropical 

 centres where we could obtain many valuable things, and the 

 long journey from England hinders us from obtaining plants in 

 Wardian cases from the Kew establishment or any of the large 

 nurseries, except the consignment is taken in hand by .some 

 officer of the Protectorate, or the like, who is making the voyage 

 out and sees it safely through. The authorities dt Kew, having 

 such unusual opportunities for distributing seeds, frequently for- 

 ward valuable material to us, and many of the items mentioned 

 emanated from Kew, either as seeds or plants. The list forms 

 an interesting record of the cultural possibilities in the climate 

 of the Shire Highlands. There are but few countries where one 

 can see such an essentially cool and northern type of vegetation 

 as the Lawson cypress (which bears seed in enormous quantities) 

 growing alongside such an essentially tropical type as the gutta- 

 percha of Malaya {Dichopsis giilta). Although it is true the 

 latter does not reach its proper degree of development, yet it is 

 perfectly healthy, and it points to the fact that in the lower and 

 warmer region on the Shire River it would be a valuable 

 culture. 



Many of the items mentioned are only represented by one 

 plant, and many of them are not old enough to have reached 

 the fruiting period. Some of the introductions grow with sur- 

 prising vigour. For instance, eucalyptus, the seeds of which 

 were .sown about six years ago, are now over sixty feet high, and 

 would yield very capable timber if required. The well-known 

 blue gum is not, however, a success here, but it seldom is in 

 these latitudes below the 5000 feet level. Still there remains 

 numerous equally good, and even better, members of this useful 

 genus which we can cultivate with success. 



Mauritius hemp (Furcrifa gii^anlea) and sisal hemp {Agave 

 rigidn, var. sisalatia) grow with great freedom, and while it 

 would scarcely pay to cultivate these valuable fibres at present 

 for the European market, yet if any textile industries arise 



locally there can soon be plenty of raw material at hand to 

 supply them. 



Seeds of the celebrated China grass (Boehmeria nivea), a fibre 

 very much in demand now, have been ordered, and it is 

 intended to demonstrate that it is a profitable culture that might 

 be grown in Nyasaland with the object of exportation to the 

 European markets. Arnatto {Bi.xa orellaiia) fruits with great 

 profusion ; the seeds are used in the arts as a dye, and as 

 colouring agent for butter ; the supply at present, however, from 

 Colonies like the West African, exceeds the demand. 



Fruits are a very important culture in all tropical countries, 

 and the indications point to the Shire Highlands being suitable 

 for raising the fruits of many diverse countries. The mango 

 {Mangifera iiuiica) grows with much luxuriance, but as all the 

 existing plants at Zomba have been introduced recently they 

 have not yet reached the fruiting stage. One tree is expected 

 to yield some fruit this year. The same applies to oranges, 

 avocado pear, and guavas, although at present one tree of the 

 latter is maturing fruits. (On the Buchanan estate, close to the 

 Residency, oranges bear with great profusion, and up till 

 recently peaches were a great success there.) The granadilla 

 (Passiflora <iiiadrangnlaris) fruits freely, and the fig {Ficiis 

 carica) seems quite at home. The grape vine grows well, and 

 is a recent introduction; w-e expect to see it fruiting next year. 

 Bananas, it need hardly be remarked, bear with great abund- 

 ance. Up to the present this is practically the only fruit the 

 native grows. 



Exotic timber trees are very promising. , The red cedar 

 (Tiiniperus virginiana) and West Indian ceAax (Cedrela odorata) 

 do extremely well, and are important in view of the expected 

 development of the tobacco industry, as they supply material 

 from which first-rate cigar boxes can be manufactured. Kauri 

 pine (Dammaia Aiistra/is), a timber of great value and utility, 

 promises to become a great success here, tor seedlings planted a 

 year ago have reached over three feet in height. Mahogany 

 does very well. The good offices of Kew have been requested 

 in obtaining for us a large quantity of seeds in order that we can 

 grow it on a considerable scale and distribute it over the Pro- 

 tectorate. The splendid Mlanje cedar ( IViddriitglonia ivhytci) 

 ^rows with unexampled vigour at Zomba, which is at least 3000 

 feet lower than its native habitat. It is very interesting to find 

 it doing so well here, and points to the fact that in time the 

 hills of Nyasaland above the 3000 feet level can be successfully 

 forested with this excellent timber. Seeds from the trees at 

 Mlanje have been widely distributed amongst Government 

 officers, missionaries, and planters in the Protectorate, as well 

 as to various parts of Southern Africa. 



Perhaps enough has been said to indicate the diversity of 

 cultures possible in the Protectorate. The Botanical Depart- 

 ment at Zomba is very young yet, but endeavours are being 

 made to render it of service to the country. As it is, it can 

 demonstrate that many plants of commercial importance find a 

 suitable home in the soil and climate of Nyasaland. 



NO. 1522, VOL. 59] 



THE IRON ORE DEPOSITS OF NORTHERN 

 SWEDEN. 



C\^ the excursions in connection with the last meeting of 

 ^^ the Iron and Steel Institute in Sweden, none was of 

 greater interest than the visit to the vast mountains of iron ore 

 at Kiirunavaara and Luossavaara within the Arctic Circle. The 

 party of members invited by the owners of the mines was 

 necessarily limited, and the journey was long and arduous. 

 Alter travelling 820 miles by railway, the party proceeded in 

 carriages for forty miles over a loose shingle road, then for forty 

 miles more up the Ivalix river in boats poled against the stream, 

 and lastly for ten miles on foot. The visit to the mines was 

 made under the guidance of Mr. H. Lundbohm, of the Geological 

 .Survey of Sweden, who contributed to the meeting an interesting 

 paper describing the deposits. From this the following details 

 are derived : — 



The character of the country is very remarkable. The 

 Kiirunavaara mountain consists of a steep ridge extending for 

 about 24 miles, divided into a series of peaks varying in height 

 from 270 to 2450 feet above the lake Luossajarvi, which 

 separates it from the gently sloping conically shaped Luossavaara. 

 On the tops of these mountains the ore lies almost entirely 

 uncovered by soil ; on the sides it is covered by morainic 

 material and beds of gravel and sand ; while the mountains are 



