85 
* Grevillea robusta and Albizzias—the trees about which so 
uch id as shade trees for coffee—are of sufficient 
size for anyone to judge of their Hoc m as shade trees, as also 
of Erythrina umbrosa. 
“A small i vi xe seed has bpon taken off the Grevilleas 
this past season, and all have germina 
-“ Large quantities of Mlanje cedar ie have been sent to the 
Agricultural Department, Cape Town, the Botanic Gardens, 
urban, and to Basutoland, as well as to different parts of 
the Veiis 'ate. 
“ There are a few other ornamental plants such as agaves, aloes, 
Cycas sata. Pandanus Veitchii, Cannas of sorts, and some 
Elephant Caladiums. 
COFFEE. 
“Following these remarks on the Garden, Bomen m soil 
and Devan with regard to coffee may not 'be out of pla 
* Many have been the arguments in favour of shade tor ees 
as oe the one thing re uired to make it a success. It is not 
consistent with reason that any shrub such as coffee can derive 
any benefit from another tree growing in close proximity, 
requiring as much and more Viu. as the plant from which 
is expected a marketable produc 
“The predominant dilata required for the cultivation of 
coffee, are, iion es egg methods of treatment, only partially 
provided. Hence a good return is often had in the third year 
from planting, iiid from that onward the shrubs have a precarious 
existence. The reason is not far to seek. 
“The pitting operation isin itself a saving of labour and also of 
time, but, were all the ground thoroughly trenched to the depth 
of two feet between the plants the first year, and all refuse buried, 
not burned, this would admit light, air, and water, and so fertilize 
the whole, through which the roots will spread in h of 
nourishment, with no hard balies in the case of pitted ground 
only—to hinder their progress. Considering the tremendous heat 
of the sun on the permeable nature of the soil trenched as above, 
burning or extreme drought € result therefrom, but it ought 
to be part of en routine of work to see that a sufficient amount of 
we C., is buried a little under the surface as a means 
of shade for the roots, and also adding, by slow decomposition, 
carbonic acid. 
2T oy stated that burning might result from the ground 
being t o permeable, but at certain times it is impossible to 
leaves off, thinning ought to bé resorted to, 
ns e pruni ini is a recognized part of the labour of an 
edi If several years crops are desired (instead of one and 
clear out) eder vat ought to be looked to when the berry is about 
the size of a pea, and discriminately proceeded with so that the 
sap that is in the tree m may na concentrated upon the few rather 
than partially upon the many, niodu cing what i 
* ligh . Unthinned the berries swell, and the nourishment 
gets exhausted before maturity. 
(Signed) JOHN MCCLOUNTE. 
