24 



Myroxylon peruiferum, H. B. and K. — A native of South 

 America. Yields what is known as "Balsam of Tolu," which 

 is obtained by making incisions in the bark during the hot 

 season. The balsam is at first liquid, afterwards forming solid, 

 yellow, brittle masses, which are used medicinally and also in 

 perfumery. Our plant was put out in 1892, and is now about 

 10 feet high. 



Oxalis crenata, Jacq., " Oka " of the Peruvians. — Tubers of 

 this plant were received from Kew and were planted. At the 

 close of the season they were found to have increased, but not 

 sufficiently so to admit of their being distributed ; they were 

 therefore re-planted, but the plant was found to be unsuitable 

 to the coast districts. In the summer months it grows well, 

 but does not produce many tubers, in the winter it bears rather 

 more plentifully, but the tubers were difficult to keep, and we 

 eventually lost them all. The tubers are used as a vegetable, 

 and the leaves and steins are useful with salad. (See Report 

 1898, p. 17 : 1899, p. 26). 



Paulownia imperialis, Siebold. — A quickly growing tree, 

 native of Japan, more ornamental than useful, does not succeed 

 with us, keeps alive but does not make any growth. 1 under- 

 stand that it succeeds much better in the midlands. 



Vimenta acris, Kostel. — A shrub or small tree, cultivated for 

 its aromatic leaves which are used in the manufacture of " Bay 

 Rum." Planted in 1891, and succeeds fairly well. 



Pimenta vulgaris, Ldl. " Allspice." — A small tree which 

 yields the "Allspice" of commerce; succeeds well. The 

 young saplings are imported into Europe for walking-sticks, 

 umbrella handle^, etc. (For fuller account of this see Annual 

 Report Jan. to June, 1901, p. 14.) 



Polygonum sacchalinense, F. Schm. " Sacaline." — This plant 

 has been highly extolled as a forage plant, but was not a 

 success here : that is, the plant lived, but did not yield 

 sufficiently well to make it worth growing. In the higher parts 

 of the Colony, and in the Transvaal, I believe it has done 

 better. (See Annual Report 1897, p. 16.) 



Rheum officinale, Baill. — This is the plant yielding the 

 officinal " Turkey Rhubarb." Seeds of it were obtained in 

 1893, part of them were sent to the Botanic Gardens at Maritz- 

 burg, and plants were reared there as in our Gardens, but they 

 soon died ; it is scarcely suitable to our soil and climate. 



