14 



is called " Deux-Doux," and the following short description is 

 given of it . — 



" This is a pretty little Mango, and as its name indicates, 

 peculiarly sweet. It is one of those Mangos which the child 

 needs no teaching to devour, as it only needs to follow on the 

 lines on which it obtained its first nutriment to consume it to 

 the greatest advantage. It is one of those Mangos to cut which 

 spoils it. It has a soft melting pulp which will pass freely 

 through a small hole made in the skin." 



From the outline figure given this fruit does not appear to 

 be more than 2 to 3 inches in diameter. I wrote at once to the 

 Director, with whom we exchange seeds, and he at once very 

 kindly promised to send seeds of this and other varieties when 

 obtainable. It would perhaps have been better to have 

 obtained plants, but it is somewhat difficult at present to get 

 Wardian cases from such a distance in good order, seeing that 

 they would have to be transhipped in England, with the result 

 that much time would be lost in transit, and probably many of 

 the plants would be dead on arrival ; still, at some future time 

 when the traffic is not so congested we may, if necessary, make 

 the attempt. 



Myroxylon Pereirae. — In the same Bulletin it is stated that 

 trees of this species have flowered in the Garden for several 

 years We have one tree in our Garden which has borne seeds 

 frequently, but not plentifully. The plant, however, is in a 

 most unfavourable situation, the soil is miserably poor, and the 

 tree too much crowded ; the pods are one-seeded, and rather 

 curiously shaped. It is from this tree that the drug called 

 " Balsam of Peru 1 ' is obtained, this drug being quoted at 6s. 6d. 

 per lb. The Director says in the Bulletin : " An alcoholic 

 extract can be made from the pods which contains a large 

 proportion of the Balsam." 



Walking-sticks, &c. — It has often occurred to me that 

 there are many localities in the Colony which, though quite 

 unsuitable for ordinary farm crops, might be utilised for the 

 growth of suitable saplings for walking-sticks, umbrella and 

 parasol handles, &c, and my attention has again been called to 

 the matter Idj an article in the " Shamba," or Journal of 

 Agriculture for Zanzibar, which article I take the liberty of 

 quoting entire. It will, no doubt, surprise many to hear to 

 what extent this trade has grown even so far back as 1890, in 

 which year was published a work by Mr. J. R. Jackson, 

 Curator of the Museums at Kew. He says : — 



