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end of the season and under favourable conditions they are 3 

 inches long, and weigh 2 ounces. When lifted they should be 

 exposed to sunlight for two or three days. To cook them, boil 

 for 20 minutes in water containing a pinch of carbonate of 

 soda ; they change to a bright amber colour, and if eaten with 

 pepper and salt they are palatable and of pleasant flavour." ] 

 have since heard that the leaves and young stems of the plant 

 are used with salads. 



Euchlaena, sp. — Amongst the numerous species of grass seeds 

 that have been received, one only appears to have done well 

 down here, and specimens of it have been sent to Professor 

 Hackel for determination, but I have not been able to ascertain 

 its specific name It is a tall growing plant, and when once in 

 the ground would, I think, be difficult to eradicate, the roots 

 are stout, and penetrate the ground to a considerable depth, it 

 would seem to be a plant well suited for fixing sand or sandy 

 banks in favourable situation, and might perhaps be usoful on 

 railway banks. It belongs to the same genus as the ' Teosinte " 

 which is so highly extolled as a fodder plant, and it has the 

 advantage of being perennial, while the " Teosinte " in Natal 

 at any rate is annual only. Horses eat it readily, and it will 

 spread itself without the slightest attention. 



Oola acuminata. — The Cola Nut of commerce. In my last 

 Report I stated that these plants would be put out in the 

 Garden and further reported on. This was done, but I am 

 sorry to have to say that they show little if any signs of 

 growth, and I fear that the plant is not suited to our climate. 

 It is my intention to send a plant or two to the Botanic Gar- 

 dens in Maritzburg for trial there. 



Dipteryx odorata. — " Tonga " or " Tonquin Bean." These 

 plants were put out in the Gardens, and show very fair growth 

 being now from 3 to 4 feet in height, so there seems to be a 

 fair prospect of success with them, but as I previously stated 

 it is a tree of slow growth, and the demand for the beans is but 

 very limited. 



Swietenia macrophylla. — In my last Report I stated that the 

 common mahogany (S. mahogani) was doing fairly well, and 

 and the plants continue to grow slowly, and since that time 

 plants of S. macrophylla a closely allied species have been put 

 out, and so far appear to grow better than the first named 

 species, they are now about 2 feet high and looking quite 

 healthy, their further growth will be reported on from time 

 to time. 



Pistachia vera. — '■ Pistachia Nut." From all the seed of this 

 plant which I obtained, 3 plants only were reared, they have 



