22 



J. Maberlj, M.R.C.S., as a remedy for diarrhaea and dysentery. 

 The plant is not found near Durban, and I was quite unable to 

 meet with anyone who knew it. I therefore went with my native 

 attendant to the vicinity of Charlestown, where I felt sure I 

 could get it ill quantity, and I was fortunate enough to meet 

 with it in good order, and to secure both the plant for drying, 

 and also seeds for sowing. The greater portion of the dried 

 plant was sent to Mr. Christy, but several small parcels have 

 been given to medical men both in Natal and also in the 

 Transvaal for trial. A large number of packets of the seed 

 have been sent to correspondents in different parts of the world, 

 and from one or two of them I have since heard that the seed 

 has germinattid, but i have no report of the trial of the drug at 

 Home, in due course I shall no doubt hear more of it. It is 

 somewhat singular that though the plant is uudoubtly indigen- 

 ous, the natives do not appear to have any specific name for it, 

 nor do they use it in any way, so far as I have been able to 

 learn. My first information as to its virtues came to me many 

 years ago from Mr. Rushby, of Estcourt, who had formerly re- 

 sided in the Free State, and he pointed out M. biflora as the plant 

 which was used by the Boers, with as he said much success; 

 but the one mentioned by Dr. Maberly is M. ovata, which is not 

 I think found in Xatal, but we have a variety which is said at 

 Kew to be intermediate between the two ; it is quite likely 

 therefore that both species are similarly used, and very pro- 

 bably M. attenuata, our only other species, may have similar 

 properties. In Natal M. biflora is the most common, and is the 

 one whi(;h has been pointed out to me by two persons as the one 

 used in the Transvaal and Free State. 



Sweet Potatoes. 



The three varieties which were imported from Florida as 

 stated in last year's Report, have done very well, and a large 

 number of cuttings have been given to applicants, some of 

 whom have expressed themselves as very much pleased with 

 them. 



Zeea mays. Mealies. 



The four plants reared from seed received from Mr. Tho«. 

 Christy as stated in last year's Report, grew to about 16 feet in 

 height, but as this variety evidently requires a long time to 

 mature, and was planted rather late in the season, only one 

 cob was produced, and that but a small one ; we have, however, 

 several plants reared from the seed, which were sown earlier 

 than in last year, and so will have a fairer trial. In consequence 

 of the time that this variety takes to mature seeds, it will 

 I fear not be fitted for the higher distr'icts of the colony. 



