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cuttings of this plant, thongli it flourishes well here. In other 

 countries it is highly esteemed, for use in the family, food for 

 labourers and cattle, and it is said that animals of all kinds 

 will eat it with avidity, when they become accustomed to it. 



This plant is said to yield a large crop in suitable soil, 10 

 tons of roots per acre being only an ordinary yield. Cuttings 

 for propagation may be had on application by any person who 

 wishes to give it a trial, and will take ordinary care of it. 

 I may say there are two varieties or perhaps species of the 

 plant, both of which are used, they are known as the " Sweet " 

 and the " Bitter," the last named being the one used in the 

 West Indies as the preserving agent in the " Pepper Pot " well 

 known to all who have resided in the West Indies. 



Widdringtonia Whytei. M'langi Cedar. 



A good supply of seed of this valuable timber tree has been 

 received from Zomba, in return for a number of economic 

 plants which were supplied to Mr. Whyte the last time he 

 visited Natal. The seed has proved to be quite good, and the 

 young plants are now coming up thickly ; if we are fortunate 

 enough to get them over the early stage of their growth we 

 shall have a quantity of plants for distribution in the coming 

 spring. The tree so far is doing very well in ISTatal, especially 

 in the midlands ; it is said to be one of the most, valuable trees 

 we have in Africa, and it reaches a very large size. In the 

 Gardens the white ants seem to be very partial to it, and have 

 taken every plant that has been put out ; but on the ridge of 

 the Berea one gentleman has a very fine specimen obtained 

 from us, which is doing so far very well. This is another tree 

 which should have attention from our Forest Department, as 

 soon as it is established. 



Dioscorea sjop. " Yams." 



This food plant which is so common and popular in other and 

 similar countries does not appear to find much favour in T^atal, 

 at which I feel somewhat surprised. We have in the G-ardens 

 two species both of which yield abundantly, and when properly 

 cooked the tubers are very palatable ; one planter to whom I 

 mentioned the plant as likely to be suitable for cultivation on 

 his farm told me that " Sweet potatoes were good enough for 

 him;" but the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Trinadad, a country where the Sweet potato grows luxuriantly, 

 says of the Yams " The results obtained in our Gardens show 

 fully that the growth of the Yam as a garden crop, pays the 

 cultivator better than many that are more popular. The 

 returns published of the crop taken from a small piece of 

 ground, have, I learn, caused no little surprise to 



