18' 



Widdringtonia Whytei ('Mlangi Cedar). — Plants of this valu- 

 able timber tree have been distributed for trial to different 

 parts of the colony, and reports on them are on the whole very 

 favourable. From Karkloof I learn that a plant supplied by us 

 5 or 6 years ago is now 12 feet high, and one 4 years old is 7 

 feet high. One on the Berea is at least 6 feet high, and one 

 sent to the Botanic Gardens, Maritzburg, for trial there is now 

 about 13 feet high, and the Curator reports that if the leading 

 shoot had not been accidentally broken it would no doubt have 

 been higher still. We have sent out a number of the plants at 

 later dates, most of them appear to be doing well, and are now 

 12 to 24 inches in height. I regret, however, that plants put 

 out in the Gardens have been destroyed by white ants. There 

 is, I think, no doubt but that as a timber tree the Widdring- 

 tonia will succeed m most parts of the colony, especially in 

 sheltered valleys ; as an ornamental tree opinions differ about 

 it, but as a timber tree there can be little doubt of its valua. 



Theobroma cacao. — I regret to have to report that all the 

 plants placed in the open ground have since died ; two were 

 reserved for the conservatory, and these are alive and healthy. 

 I have never thought that this plant would succeed in the 

 colony, as our climate is not sufficiently tropical for it ; in the 

 summer it is warm enough, but the cold winter months are not 

 suited for plants of this kind. I have several times had sent 

 to me fruits which were said to be Cocoa grown in the colony, 

 but they have always turned out to be those of Carolinea, or 

 Pachira alba, a plant in no way related to the Theobroma. 



Pineapples, Manuring of. —I have several times been asked 

 as to what is the best manure to use for Pineapple plants, and 

 from want of practical experience I have not been able to give 

 a satisfactory answer to the question, but a paper on this 

 matter appeared in the Jamaica Bulletin, from which I venture 

 to make copious extracts, omitting, however, several portions 

 which are not applicable to Natal, and also a long list of the 

 quantity of the fertilisers used on each of 51 plots of land, 

 selecting only those which appear as 1st class. On 5 of the 

 plots " Muck " was used along with other fertilisers, but none 

 of these blocks rank better than 3rd class, except one on which 

 it was used in combination with " Blood and Bone," which is 

 placed as 2nd class. The article from which I make the ex- 

 tracts may be seen at my office by anyone who may feel suffi- 

 cient interest in the matter to wish for further information. 



" The following is a communication received from Mr. C. E. 

 Smith, Bog Walk, and it is hoped that others who are experi- 

 menting in any direction will contribute their results for 

 publication : — 



