DCIV.—ZOMBA BOTANIC STATION. 
An interesting account of the steps taken to establish a Botanic 
Station at Zomba, in the British Central African Ws iae was 
given in the Kew Bulletin, 1895, pp. 186-191. This was bas 
a Report presented to Sir H. H. Johnston by Mr. Merania 
Whyte, the head of the Scientific Department, who had virtually 
started the first Botanie Garden in Central tone Since Mr. 
Whyte's retirement Mr. McClounie has been in sett of the 
Zomba Garden, while Mr. John Mahon, formerly t Kew, is in 
charge of the orestry branch. The followi ing progress report for 
1897, prepared by Mr. McClounie, was pu iblished in the British 
C 'entral Africa Gazette, dated the 5th February, 1898 :— 
* During the past year steps were taken to bring under cultiva- 
tion, by deep. irenching much more of the grounds than was 
formerly tilled. "The soil over most of the garden is of such a 
condition is almost vain. 
“The entire absence of humus on the slopes of Zomba is very 
marked, it having been washed eet Bt. ing many years into the 
numerous swamps found in the v 
“ Solar radiation in these parts d m cdi: great, especially 
during October and November, and this action on the soil is such 
as to make it so extremely hard that it prevents the admission of 
light, air, and water. 
"s The method adopted in trenching was such as is generally 
practised in all Horticultural Ga rdens, and, though new to the 
natives employed, with a little supervisio n it is remarkable how 
quic kly they can trench a patch of ground. 
* Large Teo of refuse, such as w weeds, banana leaves, and 
manure, can be ered in while tre moire but the newly turned- 
up soil must be sapai for some time to the action of the air and 
water before its dormant constituents become active plant 
* Surface feeding, fibrous-rooted plants, such as strawberries, 
will succeed well twelve months after trenching, and it has come 
under my observation that potatos do not thrive on newly trenched 
plots until after a period of two or even three years has elapsed, 
when the soil becomes fertile to the full depth. 
** Coffee in British Central Africa has eminently exemplified 
this theory, but of this I hope to write in another issue.’ 
FLOWERS. 
“The specimens of flowering plants in the gardens are worthy 
of mention, many came from Kew or Durban, and have been 
successfully gr gr 
* The following ou flowered exceedingly well :— 
poania neriifolia, 
Bea ntia grandiflora, 
Boupsiuvillos — 
gla 
Aristolochia icanon 
16829 
