12 3 
“ made from the wood i in the Transkei. Quite to the small size of the 
it of 
Reporting on this wood Mr. Ransome says :—“ Being cor hard, m a 
“ somewhat greasy nature, and free from resin, Umzumbit is con- 
“ sidered an excellent wood for bearings, the result of some expe irer 
“ with the diamond polishing machines at the Colonial and Indian 
bad Exhibition a that it will last nearly seven times as long as 
“ Lignum 
NATAL, 
The specimens weenie from this Colony were of a varied character, 
and in eresting as show the progress made since the International 
r M nd 
it is interesting to know that the China tea exhibited by Mr. Brickhill 
was procured from plants introduced from the Royal Gardens, Kew, 
In connexion with the tea industry in Natal the following extract 
from the Natal Official Handbook will be found useful :—“ Tea is now 
“ looked upon as one of the most promising industries of the c 
“ A few plants were introduced in the early days of the Colony Sh 
* Kew, and seemed to do well. About 1863 some attention was given 
“ to the subject, but from want of skill in management, the samples 
“ produced did not find favour, and it was thought that the variety of 
“ the plant was one which would not produce a good marketable article. 
« It was not till the apparent failure of the coffee tree showed t at 
“ profitable further up country. e experience a not without 
“ cost and difficulty by the pioneers, is available for the benefit of the 
“ Colony. The ciimate evidently favours the plant. The yield is 
“ large, there is plenty of very suitable ‘soil, and ae is not more 
“ costly than in many tea countries, ‘Thou truggling against 
“ local prejudice and custom, which still cling to China teas of intrin- 
- sically pi quality, there are hopes that N atal tea may become an 
at presen te 
additional acres were prepared during the past year. The yield per 
acre has been very large, amounting in three years to 200 Ibs. of dry 
tea; in see to 400 lbs.; in five, to 600 lbs.; and in six to 800 lbs. 
Tea was exported ~~ N atal À in 1883 to the ag of 1,4997. 
aize | Mays).—This is described as by far the most i important 
grain crop of the Citas, thriving everywhere, from Mät mountain tops 
