23 



of which should be ensured. Serious as has been the spread of 

 this weed already, it is still spreading, and to permit this to go 

 on unchecked is simply unpardonable. I am quite aware that 

 times are hard, and that farmers and pastoralists have not, as 

 a rule, the funds with which to employ sufficient labour for its 

 extirpation ; but, even under present conditions, much more 

 can be done to combat this terrible pest. I would still remind 

 those in charge of Government and municipal roads of the 

 amount of good they can do to the country by insisting on keep- 

 ing the roadsides free from the worst weeds. In this connec- 

 tion the roads are the arteries of the country along them 

 course, things good and bad, and bad weeds allowed to estab- 

 lish themselves along the roads will as assuredly contaminate 

 the surrounding country, as impure blood will induce disorders 

 throughout the animal system. ... I would again invite 

 attention to the great length of time the seeds of the cockle- 

 burr maintain their vitality, thus necessitating constant 

 vigilance." 



I do not find that this plant increases here with the rapidity 

 that it is reported to do in Australia ; still it is certainly on the 

 increase, and as its burrs are quite as injuiious to wool as those 

 of X. spinosum, I think that some organised effort should be 

 made to keep it in check. I may say that though 1 have not 

 yet seen it in the upper districts, I have met with it at least 

 2,000 feet above sea level. 



Phytolacca octandra, Linn. — The second plant forwarded to 

 me was Phytolacca octandra, Linn, a native of Japan. At the 

 time the railway cutting was being made at Botha's Hill this 

 plant suddenly made its appearance on the embankments, and 

 the late Mr. J. Sanderson forwarded a specimen to me for 

 identification. He said that it was supposed that the seeds had 

 been lying dormant until brought to the surface by the 

 excavation and germinated on the banks. How this may be I 

 do not know, but the plant since then has gradually worked its 

 way along the railway line, until now it is fairly plentiful from 

 above Pinetown to at least the vicinity of Lidgetton, where I 

 saw it some little time ago. At the same time I saw that some 

 attempt was being made to destroy it, but I noticed that while 

 large plants had been cut down smaller ones in the immediate 

 neighbourhood had been left untouched. There can be no 

 doubt bat that some of the species of Phytolacca are poisonous 

 (see " Natal Plants," vol. 1, plate 3), but of the properties of 

 this particular species I have no information. Its flowers are 

 very similar to those of P. stricta as figured in " Natal Plants," 

 but the whole plant is more bushy and robust, and the berries 

 are not yellow, but dark red, and when pressed stain the 

 fingers. 



