161 
hitherto ue published. M map y, the male inflorescence and 
flowers still unknown. There is no doubt, however, in spite of 
1600 to 1900 feet), that Mes and the same species inhabits the two very 
different situations indica On consulting Guppy's work ( The Solomon 
Islands, p. 288) in relation to this question, it was found that he men- 
tions a species of Begonia being common on the slopes of the hills of 
Fauro Island, though Sus was no specimen in the collection he presented 
to Kew. 
The box of orchids pene above was a p most of 
the plants being dead, owing to excessive pen A Dendrobium 
‘Celogyne, and poids ap Alas may be save 
Date Cultivation in South Australia .—On the motion of the Hon 
R. A. Tarlton, a report was presented to the Legislative Council of 
South Australia recommending the cultivation of the Date Palm in the 
Far North districts in 1884. Since that time the Woods and Forests 
Department has given special attention to the subject. The principal 
operations were carried on near Hergott Springs. In June 1891, there 
3 feet to 4 feet high. Suckers were subsequently obtained from Kurrachee 
through the agency of Afghans bringing camels to - Colony. In the 
Report of the Woods and Forests Department for it is stated : 
“The results attending the cultivation of the rines alm at H T 
Springs have been very gratifying . . . . The 13 older seedling 
ms are now 6 feet to 10 feet | high, and the younger ones are growing 
» an equally vigorous rate. he most encouraging feature is the 
ccessful ripening of a good-sized bunch of dates of very fair quality 
on a Fe pales planted barely six years ago." A male palm flowered in 
d a female palm in September following. The latter was 
artificially fertilized, and in 158 days’ time the ripe fruit wa red, 
pected that this fruit would be of superior quality, 
seeing that it was produced by a seedling palm from seed of unknown 
kind. The dates were, however, pronounced to be of fair 
marketable quality, and their perfect maturity affords definite proof of 
the possibilities open to date culture in the South Australian interior.” 
In the Report for 1893-94, just to hand, further particulars are given: 
: iot 
« s are from 6 feet to 11 feet in hei ine 
of them have flowered ; of these, six were ma three ‘ad 
The bunches produced weighed respectively 2} lbs. and 7? lbs. “ [tis 
interesting to note that one of these bunches was fertilized by 
from a freshly cut male spadix, and the o er len from a male 
spadix which had been kept for six weeks in a box. In each ‘instance 
the operation was most successful, ha a ido failing to mature." 
Suckers of the celebrated * Deglet Nour” date palms from Algeria, 50 
aber, have this year been received at Adelaide. They were 
fruit. 
experimental garden at t Ham and shipped by way of Marseilles. 
They arrived in South AME in excellent condition. A similar 
U 97550. 
