206 
too highly spite’. The value of the work is greatly enhanced 
by the fact that twelve sets of dried specimens of the orc pel 
escribed nd figured have been prepared and presented to a 
many of the leading botanical establishments of the wor 
Natal Plants.—The first part has reached Kew of a quarto publi- 
cation puedas the flora of Natal. Its title is: Descriptions 
and Figures of Natal Indigenous Plants with Notes on their 
Distribution, Economic Value, Native Names, &c., &c. It is the 
joint work of Mr. J. Medle y Wood, Curator of the Botanic Gardens, 
Prashant and Mr. M. S. odd. M.L. A,; and is, we believe, the first 
illustrated botanical book entirely produced in South Africa. 
Both Mr. Wood and Mr. Evans have long been contributors to the 
Kew Hauata. where their plants have been identified or 
co red. I every way the enterprise is deserving of commen- 
many different plants. Should the authors meet with sufficient 
ncouragement, they will continue the work. It is satisfactory to 
note that the liberality of the Natal Government will protect the 
authors from the risk of any serious financial loss. 
Lemon Grass Oil.—Andropogon Nardus, L., has been largely 
cultivated in Ceylon and [mee for the production of this 
volatile oil, which has an “odour s rongly resembling the sweet- 
scented verbena or lemon plant of our gardens.” It has some 
reputation in India for medicinal purposes 
prenne to the following information its production and that 
milar oils seems to have fallen into some neglect in the 
Straits Settlements : 
EXTRACT from letter from Director, Gardens and Forest De- 
poc Singapore, to Royal Gardens, Kew, dated February 16, 
“The decay of the Lemon-grass oil trade in Singapore has 
attracted my notice, and I am writing a few lines to try and stir 
up the cultivation again. It was chiefly, I believe, produced b 
one man, who had a distillery for citronella, lemon-grass, &c., à 
little way usines Singapore. He died a few years ago, and I fear 
Cassia, clove, nutmeg, Ocimum, cops. Artabotr UL “ent a loi 
of other things might also be tried by an energetic distiller. The 
natives would buy them if no one else did.” 
