306 
MY lii. ES p. 219. Tt ne to tropical Brazil, and was 
collected near Rio Janeiro by Miers. Mr. White writes :— 
* I enclose some seeds of a tree which i is being used most successfully 
here as a shade for coffee. It has flowers in small white balls just the 
size of those of the Sensitive plant, pods long, flat, compressed, with 15 
to 20 seeds. Pods do not open, being held together strong m 
veins; they simply break up when rotten. No one here knows the 
name of this tree. I have referred it to Mr. Lebmsnn, ‘aid he di not 
know it. It is a native only of Antioquia, and grows in a mean tem- 
perature of 75? Fahr. It is fond of stony poor soil. A tree 18 months old 
' will cover 144 square yards of ground (12 x 12). It goes to sleep at 
night, allowing the dew and cool air to reach the coffee. When young the 
is soft, but on ageing it n gets a red heart, and becomes 
hard and durable. The seed I send has been bathed in i maase of 
copper solution, and I believe it p be good, so you try a few 
seeds in Kew by way of curiosity and send the rest to one of our beat 
establishments to be reported on. When full-grown this tree may be 
50 feet high with a spread of at least 50 feet on all oo Nothing n 
and during the night allows the dew to refresh the plants beneath. The 
leaflets do not litter the plantation and are too small to harbour fungi 
and moulds. It is easily trimmed and brought to shape. The 
umbrella ants will attack it but they can only get hold of one little 
u 
nce they | have balanced up working expenses and output. 
This is an Gitan tage.” 
Crop of Cider Apples.—A correspondent in Gloucestershire writes :— 
Cider apples are so abundant here that they fetch only ls. a sack. 
Eight sacks make 100 alae of mw therefore ls. will produce about 
D 
12 gallons of cider, or 1d. a gallo ouble this for making, casks, 
profit, &c., and you arrive at 3d. per quart. There is a lot of drinking 
in store for those who require it. About 14d. will make a man drunk 
if three quarts of acrid mapas will do the job. 
