THE AORIGULTUBAL JOURNAL. 



579 



/ifi#/a Rubber from Zuiu/anti. 



IN October, 1900, and May of the present 

 year samples of india rubber were 

 obtained from the Maputa District of 

 Zuliiland. The rubber was drawn from 

 the Ibungu tree, a tree which grows all 

 through the district. The samples were 

 forwarded to the Scientific and Technical 

 Department of the Imperial Institute for 

 analysis and report. Professor Wyndham 

 R. Dunstan, the Director of the Depart- 

 ment, in the course of his reports, states 

 that the samples were subjected to critical 



tests and are genuine rubber, but of vary- 

 ing quality. The samples were submitted 

 to commercial experts in rubber for the 

 purpose of determining their value. The 

 best was valaed at 3s. 2d. per lb., and the 

 worst at Is. lid. Whilst freely giving 

 testimony to the good quality of the 

 rubber, the reports draw attention to the 

 large quantity of extraneous matter in 

 the samples— bits of wood, etc.— which 

 necessarily affected the commercial value 

 of the rubber. 



Raspatum Dilataium, 



THIS grass in the several stages of its 

 growth can now be seen at the 

 Botanic Gardens, Durban. All interested 

 would do well if opportunities offered to 

 examine the grass. The accidental pas- 

 palum dilatatum discovered by Mr. 

 Medley Wood at Newcastle is also 



represented, and is identical in every 

 respect with that grown ' from the 

 recently imported seed. The Gardens 

 will also, as we have said on several 

 occasions, provide many object lessons of 

 profitable interest and information. 



District Reports m 



BULWER, 11th November.— Rain has fallen 

 almost daily for the last month, and fine weather 

 is wanted to help the crops. The mealies want 

 lots of rain and heat, and in consequence of so 

 much rain are not looking healthy m this Dis- 

 trict. It seems as though we were never to get 

 rid of the cold weather, as, notwithstanding 

 our being now well into the summer months, 

 visitations of very cold weather are regular. 

 The wt eat and rye fields are a beautiful sight 

 just now, being in full ear. I never saw the 

 crops looking better : if appearances have any- 

 thing to do with them, I should say there should 

 be a record yield I hear the lambing season 

 has been unsatisfactory, the cold rains causing 

 the deaths of large quantities of lambs all 

 through the Division. As far as I know, all 

 kinds of stock are free from disease and looking 

 well. I need" hardly say the grass is good and 

 plentiful. Native labour is rather scarce through 

 all bands being required at their kraals to 



plough just now ; but it will not be for long, as 

 the Natives will have to turn out to earn money 

 to pay their taxes and rents soon. Last Sun- 

 day night a light hailstorm passed over the 

 village, but did no harm to the fruit, which is 

 looking very promising. 



H. W. Boast, Magistrate. 



HOWIGK, 19th November. — During the 

 past month there has been amply sufficient 

 rain for all kinds of crop-', but not enough to 

 flood the rivers ; the total rainfall since the 

 17th ultimo being 3-30 inches. The maximum 

 temperature during the same period was 'J2 

 degs , registered on Uth insr.. and the minimum 

 60 degs. on the 15tb inst. Farming operations 

 continue in full swing;, and mealie and potato- 

 planting are receiving full attention. Through- 

 out the istrict the crops are doing exceedingly 

 well, and, should the weather continue as 

 favourable as it has been, both Europeans and 



