21 



cultivators. The question of the Yam crop is one of no little 

 importance, as these tubers "are well known to furnish a major 

 " portion of the food sii})p1y to the lab 'U.-ini^' population, an I 

 " also to be an important article in the diet of the "well-to-do." 



I can say from experience that the plant succeeds well hei-e, 

 the largest tuber dag- having weighed 34 lbs. ; cuttings and 

 tubers have been supplied to a few 'applicants, but I have no 

 report on the results. 



Moringa jpterygosperma. " Horse-Radish tree." 



This tree has long been in cultivation in the Gardens, but is I 

 am afraid now dead. Many years ago I tried it as an oil beaiing 

 tree, but the pods were only sparingly produced, but I left the 

 farm directly after it came into bearing, and have not heard of it 

 since that time, though I think that several trees are in existence 

 on private lands in the colony. It seems now that a new 

 variety of it has been produced whose in mature seed pods yield 

 a very palatable vegetable, and as in India the pods are said to 

 be produced all the year round, it may be worth while, and an 

 attempt will certainly be made to obtain seed of this variety. 

 Baron F. v. Mueller says of this species " Fruits in Eastern 

 sub-tropic Australia copiously." .... "The long pods 

 " are of culinary use ; the seeds are somewhat almond like, and 

 "rich in oil which has no perceptible smell, and is esteemed by 

 watchmakers particularly." The succulent roots are also used 

 as a substitute for " Horseradish," hence the popular name. 



Ferennial Cabbage. 



We have received from Baron Mueller a few seeds bearing 

 this name, but reared one plant only. The last Report of the 

 Botanic Gardens, Saharunpur, says of it " Plants of a perennial 

 variety of cabbage were received from the Superintendent State 

 Gardens, Gwalior. It is of unknown origin, but it was first 

 noticed in the district of Darhanga, from whence it has spread 

 to other parts of the country. It has the habit of throwing out 

 offshoots ®r sprouts which, if separated from the old plants and 

 planted out as cuttings yield small but compact heads of 

 cabbage. As this goes on all the year round, cabbage may 

 always be had in season by means of this variety, if attention 

 is paid to the separation and planting of the offshoots as they 

 appear," Our plant has not done very well, and has suffered 

 much from attacks of insect pests ; we shall, however, try to 

 propagate it though it scarcely looks promising. 



' Mo7isonia biflora. 



In March last I received a letter from Mr. Thos. Christy, 

 F.L.S., asking me to try to obtain for trial at Home leaves of 

 this plant, which has been very favourably reported on by Dr. 



