17 



v. Mueller writes of it as follows : — " This tree with J. brazi- 

 " liana, and J. obtusifolia furnishes a beautiful and fragrant 

 " kind of Palixander or Palissandre wood, and so do probably 

 " some other tropical American species. This wood is bluish- 

 " red traversed by blackish streaks. J. mimosifolia is hardy 

 " at Melbourne, soon recovering from the injuries of our slight 

 ■' nocturnal frosts, and they may perhaps be reared with advan- 

 " tage in many of the warmer and moister regions of the tem- 

 " perate zone, if it were only for its ornamental grandeur." I 

 therefore made it known that seed sufficient to provide plants 

 for an acre of ground would be supplied free to any person who 

 would give it a trial. The offer was accepted by Mr. Gr. L. 

 Jenkinson, of Zululand, and the seed duly forwarded. I under- 

 stand that the first sowing was successful, and hope in another 

 report to be able to say that the ground has been planted and 

 the trees doing well. 



Oxalis crenata (" Oka of the Peruvians). — I regret to have to 

 report that this plant has not been found suitable to the coast 

 districts of the colony. I had hoped to have been able to send 

 some of the tubers to the midlands for trial there, but we lost 

 the whole of them and were therefore unable to do so. 



Oxy 'coccus macrocarpus ("Cape Cod Cranberry"). — At the 

 request of a correspondent who thought that the locality in 

 which he lived was very suitable for the growth of this plant 

 which is said to be much superior to the ordinary Cranberry, I 

 succeeded in obtaining from America a packet of seeds with 

 full directions for sowing and after treatment, but I regret to 

 say that the experiment has not been a success. My corre- 

 spondent says : — " I am sorry to say that the Cranberries are 

 " not a success, as I could not get the seed to germinate ; half 

 " of the seed I had in a shallow box on top 01 some chopped 

 " moss, and I kept it constantly wet, but could not get them to 

 " grow ; the other half I planted in a peat bog near the house, 

 " but up to now I have not been able to find any young plants." 

 I am sorry for this, but shall try to obtain a few more seeds for 

 another trial. 



Sapota achras (" Sapodilla"). — The remarks made as to the 

 Star Apple apply to this plant also. A few fruits are now on 

 the tree which we hope will ripen, but with two such unfavour- 

 able seasons as we have had in succession, anything like a crop 

 could hardly be expected. 



Strophanthus hfspidus. — This plant grows vigorously and 

 bears flowers in abundance, but so far has not produced a single 

 seed. The seeds are used medicinally. 



Swietemia macrophylhi ("Large leaved Mahogany"). — This 

 plant seems likely to succeed, and is now more than 5 feet high. 



