15 



Furcraea Lliideni. 



Two plants bearing this name have been in the Gardens for 

 more than 12 years; the species is closely related to F. gio^antea, 

 which is the plant yielding what is known as " Maiii-itius 

 Hemp," and the leaves of our plants contain a fibre which can- 

 not I think be distinguished from the Mauritius Hemp of 

 commerce, and in as largo a quantity; our plants have attained 

 a large size, each of them having at least 150 leaves, but what 

 is most singular is the manner of inflorescence ; instead of what 

 is called "polling," that is sending up a large flowering stem 

 from the centre of the rosette of leaves, onr plants have thrown 

 out a numboL' of small, but long flowering stems from the axils 

 of the lower leaves, and from them produced flowers and see<ls 

 in abundance ; the growth of the plants being therefore not 

 stopped by " polling," it will be interesting to know how long 

 they will continue to bear leaves fit for cutting, and how high 

 the trunk will reach. 1 had photos of these plants taken by Mr. 

 Middlebrook, and have sent a short account of the plants to the 

 Grardeners' Chronicle, and also to Kew Gardens, in each case 

 accompanied with photos ; the Director of Kew Gardens asks 

 for botanical specimens to be sent, and this request will be 

 complied with as soon as possible. Though this plant yields 

 fibi'e as previously noted, it has the disadvantage of bearing a 

 few prickles on the edge of leaves, which would perhaps render 

 them difficult to handle. Mr. Watt of the Umgeni Fibre works 

 kindly offered to put some of the leaves through the machine, 

 so as to test the yield, but we have been so busy, and so short 

 of labour that we have not yet been able to send them. 



Forage Plants. 



Atriplex canesens. 



In my last Report I stated that the seeds of this plant had 

 been received from the United States Agrostologist. It is a 

 native of Western Texas, and Arizona, biit has in consequence 

 of over grazing and neglect become almost extinct. One half 

 of the seed was sown, but unfortunately the young plants 

 " damped off " when quite young ; the second portion was then 

 sown, and the plants are coming on fairly well, more than that 

 I cannot say at present; so far none of the genus Atriplex have 

 succeeded here ; we have reared the plants and had them 

 planted out, but after a time they have all damped off' ; those 

 hitherto tried, have, however, been Australian species, 

 but the present one having a very different habitat is at any 

 rate worth a trial, as these plants are excellent for stock. The 

 whole of them prefer I think a saline soil, and there is for that 

 reason some doubt as to their chance of success in Natal ; of 

 several of the Australian species we have for several years past 



