18 



natives in the Cape Colony, and are supposed to be useful in 

 cases of blood poisoning. The other plant sent is Ipomoea 

 congesta, and is known to the natives as i-Jalapa, and is used 

 by them as an aperient. 



Erythroxylon coca. — I note in the " Pharmaceutical Journal " 

 of June 3rd that 74 bales of the dried leaves of this plant were 

 bought in nominally at Is. 4d. per lb. It is worth noting that 

 this shrub not only grows well in the coast districts of Natal, 

 but also that a small parcel of the dried leaves which I sent 

 Home in 1885 were thus reported on (see my Annual Report 

 for that year). " Leaves picked from our plant in July were 

 sent to Messrs. Christy & Co., of London, and have been tested 

 by Mr. Dillworth Howard and found to contain 0.29 per cent, 

 of akaloid, and Mr. Howard remarks " they are a very nice 

 sample and test well." 



There is not a very large demand for this drug, but as the 

 plant from which the leaves were taken was only put out in 

 1883, it is evident that it is a plant that soon yields a crop, and 

 as no machinery is required in the preparation of the leaves for 

 market it might be worth a trial by small farmers on the coast, 

 and at anything like the price quoted should pay well. 



Paspalum dilatatum. — In the beginning of April I visited 

 Newcastle and brought back with me a number of plants of 

 this grass, which has been so highly extolled as a fodder grass. 

 These plants grew well, and though their growth has now 

 ceased for the season the leaves are still green and succulent ; 

 whether this is due to the unusually wet autumn or not it 

 would be as yet premature to say, but if it is found to remain 

 green through our ordinary winters it may prove to be a valu- 

 able plant for coast as well as for up-country planting. In 

 favourable seasons it is said to be of quick growth and " to 

 have extraordinary drought resistance." 



Cichorium intybus, " Chicory." — A trial was made with 

 this plant, a few roots were received from Mr. Ducasse, who 

 appears to have grown it successfully ; seeds were also received 

 from the late Mr. G. H. Wilkinson and Mr. T. W. Turner of 

 Durban ; the result of the experiment has not been very en- 

 couraging, as the climate seems to be too forcing for it. A 

 further trial will be made, and the yield more carefully noted, 

 but I am still inclined to think that the plant is not suited to 

 the coast districts. 



As this year may fairly be considered to be the Jubilee 

 year of the Natal Botanic Gardens, it has occurred to me that 

 a few notes as to their earlier history may be interesting, 



