17 



" Coffea, and as these species are shown to be parasitic on 

 " several other Rubiaceous plants belonging to different 

 " genera, which have an extended geographical range, 

 " their distribution should be carefully studied by those 

 " interested in the culture of coffee. The establishment of 

 " a coffee plantation in a district where those species of 

 " Hemileia capable of infecting coffee are at present on 

 " indigenous vegetation, would be tempting providence, and 

 11 probably result in disaster." 



The note " often on the same plant, sometimes on the same 

 leaves as Hemileia Woodii. K. & C." was sent by myself to 

 Kew, and copied by Cooke in Grevillea. Vol. 10, page 124, 



Cinnamomum cassia, Blume. (Cassia lignea). In a previous 

 part of this report I gave an account of the damage done to 

 this tree in the Gardens by some unknown person or persons, 

 but as a specimen of it is in Maritzburg Gardens, succeeding 

 much better than our tree has done, and is, I understand, 

 bearing seed regularly, it will not be without interest if I give a 

 short account of its introduction into the Colony, and especially 

 as it appears likely to succeed well in the midland districts. In 

 May, 1881, Mr. Chas. Ford, the Director of the Botanic Gardens 

 at Hong Kong, was, at the instance of Sir J. D. Hooker, per- 

 mitted to visit the Cassia growing districts in China, as the 

 origin of the Cassia bark was involved in some " mystery and 

 uncertainty ; " he was quite successful in identifying the tree, 

 and published a useful report of his work from which I make 

 some extracts. He brought back with him a number of young 

 plants, a few of which he kindly sent to us, and in my report 

 for 1885, I stated that " When the plants arrived from Hong 

 Kong many of them were dead, but by the care and attention 

 of the head Gardener the remainder survived." Two of them 

 were planted in the gardens, one of which did not survive, two 

 were sent to the Botanic Gardens at Maritzburg, one of which 

 has done well, the other was 1 understand cut down by mis- 

 take, as by changes of Curators the name had been lost, and so 

 far as known to me this is the only tree now left in the Colony, 

 unless plants have been distributed from Maritzburg. 



Mr. Ford says that it is a medium sized stiff ornamental 

 tree, and the largest seen was about 40 feet high with a trunk 

 about 3 feet in circumference, which was said to be 50 years 

 old, and that this is the only species from which the Cassia 

 bark, buds and leaves of commerce are obtained. The tree 

 was not met with anywhere in a wild state, nor could any 

 native be found who knew where it did grow wild, though 

 Dr. Thorel states, that it grows in a wild state in the forests 

 of Cochin China, about 19 deg. North latitude. The yield of 

 the trees are as follows : — 



