25 



Humex hymenosepalus, Torr. " Canaigre."— -This plaut lias 

 been alluded to several times in my Annual Reports, and I 

 have only now to say about it that it continues to thrive, and 

 bears seeds every year 1 . The loots are used for tanning purposes, 

 and it has been estimated that its cultivation would pay as well 

 as " Wattle Bark." The annual yield would not be so great, 

 but it would give a crop in a much shorter time. The roots 

 could be lifted every year, or they could be left in the ground 

 without deterioration, and would increase correspondingly in 

 weight. 



Sarcocephalus cordata, Miq. — This tree is a native of India, 

 where the wood is used for various purposes, chiefly in house 

 building, but also for cabinet work and gunstocks. Our tree is 

 about 20 feet high and is now in fruit ; it was planted in 1894. 



Sapium sebifenmi, Roxb. — This tree was formerly known as 

 Stillinga sebifera. It is cultivated in China for the sake of its 

 seeds, which supply an oil of which candles are made, and 

 which is also used in medicinal preparations as a substitute for 

 lard. Some parts of the tree are also used medicinally. Our 

 tree was planted in 1894 and is now 20 to 30 feet high, and 

 bears seed in abundance, but it is doubtful whether the collec- 

 tion of the seeds would be remunerative. 



Smilax sarsaparilla, Linn., and S. macrophylla, Roxb. — These 

 two plants, both of which yield the " Sarsaparilla " of 

 commerce, thrive well in the Gardens, where they have been 

 for many years. Several other species of the genus are simi- 

 larly used, but I am not aware that our indigenous species, 8. 

 Kraussiana, Meisn., has ever been chemically tested to ascertain 

 the proportion of " smilacin " that it contains, though I under- 

 stand that its roots have been used medicinally by some 

 colonists. 



Sivietenia mahogani, Jacq. " Mahogany Tree." — This tree 

 was put out in the Garden in 1887, and is now about 25 feet 

 high, with circumference of stem at 4 feet from the ground 

 of about 21 inches. It is quite healthy. 



Swietenia macrophylla, King. — This tree is a native of 

 Honduras, and yields mahogany, but the wood is lighter in 

 colour than that of 8. Mahogani ; it also flowers earlier and 

 seeds more freely. Both of these trees attain a great age. Our 

 tree was planted in 1886 and is now about 18 feet high, with a 

 diameter of 3 feet 4 inches from base. 



Sapota achras, Mill. — This tree appears in the k ' Guide to the 

 trees and shrubs in the Gardens " as Sapota sideroxylon, under 



