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their adopted land for several generations deteriorate in size 

 and the crop falls off considerably. In parts of India the 

 authorities are endeavouring to import fresh seed .supplies at 

 regular intervals. In anticipation of this possible deterioration 

 in the potentiality of the seeds, a series of manurial experiments 

 have been commenced, and proper selection work is being 

 attended to. In choosing seeds for supplies I have first of all 

 selected the largest plants, then the largest nuts on each plant, 

 and finally the heaviest seed in the nuts. These heavy seeds 

 from the best yielding plants are being cultivated in soil which 

 has been properly manured, and there is no doubt that such 

 methods will prevent our seed supplies from deteriorating in 

 the way they have done in other countries. Selection on 

 similar lines will be necessary throughout the Island if the 

 cultivation is to be a success In connection with this work I 

 may mention that a curious character has been found in con- 

 nection with the colour of the seeds in the Brazil variety. I 

 have been able to separate this variety into three groups, 

 having purple, red, and white seeds respectively. All the seeds 

 on one plant are at present always of one colour only, so that 

 should a particular market be created, one could make certain 

 of supplying it with seeds of a definite colour, even in the 

 undecorticated condition. This result may prove to be of con- 

 siderable importance, and for this reason the different coloured 

 seeds are being cultivated on separated plots. Buyers are 

 accustomed to the pinkish -brown variety, and it is not certain 

 whether a change in colour would be in special favour for 

 dessert purposes. 



The plant is also being experimented with for green manur- 

 ing, for which purpose the variety imported from Pondicherry 

 was found to be the most suitable. 



Bicinus communis. " Castor oil plant." — The growth of this 

 plant has been experimented with in Ceylon and the results 

 are given in the same repor t, but they appear to me to be very 

 disappointing, and certainly not such as to induce any person 

 to commence its cultivation in Natal. It will be sufficient to 

 say that four varieties were experimented with, and the seeds 

 were valued in London at from £6 17s. 6d. to £7 5s. per ton, 

 but as the maximum yield of seeds was only 4J and 5 cwt. per 

 acre, it is not surprising that the writer says : — " It is obvious 

 that a product like castor, which does not give more than Rs. 

 25 per acre gross returns, is not likely to be taken up as a 

 single product in districts which are suitable for tea, cacao or 

 cocoanuts. 



Arenga saccharifera, Labill. This Palm was alluded to in 

 my last Annual Report as follows : — " A handsome Palm from 

 the Indian Archipelago. Yields a fibre ; toddy is obtained from 



