sawn from the tree is noted for keeping off white ants. A valu 

 able and particularly clear gum exudes from the bark, naturally 

 in small quantities, but when bruised in large sheets, and yellow 

 drops like icicles. Books bound with this gum are never bored 

 or eaten by worms, and painted on an abrasion or skin wound 

 will take "off all pain. The yield of the tree in the shape or 

 fruit is marvellous, and these furnish food to goats, crows, and 

 hundreds of the smaller of the feathered tribe, and the ground 

 under Margosa in fruit is daily and nightly carpeted with fruit. 

 The leaf or seed of the Margosa contains a valuable, rich and 

 clear oil, sometimes burnt in earthen lamps, but specially valu 

 able for fly-blow sores in horses, elephants, and cattle. It is 

 also used medicinally in very minute doses. It smells atro- 

 ciously, but is very valuable as a lubricant for steel, iron, &c, 

 from which it keeps rust." 



This plant belongs to the same genus as our common " Syringa," 

 which is Melia azederach. 



Rheum officinale. — This is the medicinal " Turkey Rhubarb " 

 plant, and in my last report I stated that it was scarcely likely to 

 succeed on the coast, and that I had forwarded seed to the Maritzburg 

 Botanic Gardens for trial there. We have, however, several plants, 

 which appear to be quite healthy, and the Curator of the Gardens at 

 Maritzburg informs me that he also has several plants, which, from 

 his description, would appear to be about the same size as ours. Their 

 further progress we shall therefore watch with interest. 



Rub us trivialis, " American Dewberry." — This plant has borne 

 fruit during the year, and is worthy of extended cultivation. Of its 

 near relative R. phocnicolasius, the much- vaunted "Japanese Wine- 

 berry," we have a plant or two, which have not yet borne fruit. 



Rumex hyme?iosepalus, " Canaigre." — These seeds germinated 

 well, and several plants were reared and formed small tubers, which 

 are now dormant. It is expected that plants reared from them will 

 form tubers of larger size, so that before long we shall be able to say 

 with certainty whether the plant is adapted to the soil and climate of 

 the Colony. Small quantities of the seed were sent to three appli- 

 cants for trial in other parts of the Colony. Two of them have been 

 unfortunate enough to lose nearly all their plants from unforeseen 

 causes, while from the third I have no report. If this plant should be 

 found to succeed, it will be a valuable addition to the exportable 

 products of the Colony. My first knowledge of it was derived from 

 the " Kew Bulletin " of April, 1890. Since that time a full account 

 of it from the pen of Mr. W. Tyson, of the Cape Agricultural Depart- 

 ment, was published in a Cape paper, which I have unfortunately mis- 

 laid. It is, however, reported on very favourably as a tanning material. 



Polygonum sacchalinense. — This plant was reported at some length 

 last year. The plants still continue to do well, and it will, I think, 

 prove suited to the Colony. The U.S. America Experiment Station 

 Record says of it : — 



" It seems perfectly acclimatised, and grows vigorously on 

 any kind of soil, and as a green fodder is well liked by stock, 

 especially by cattle. It produces six or more cuttings after the 



