714 THE AOBICULTURAL JOURNAL. 



few hours, during which time the Indigo 

 settled down, and as much clear water as 

 possible was drawn off from the top. 



The boiler was now again heated, and 

 this time up to boiling point, after which 

 its contents were allowed to run on a 

 frame of wood lined with long cloth 

 sheeting, where they remained to drain 

 until about the consistence of very thick 

 cream, when they were removed and sub- 

 jected to considerable pressure, and when 

 hard and dry — consistency of soap — were 

 cut by brass wire on a frame into cubes 

 of about three inches square. These were 

 laid out so as not to touch each other on 

 the shelves of the drying house. Finally 

 the cakes were cleaned one by one, and 

 tightly packed in boxes ready for the 

 market. 



I have been for a long time of opinion 

 that some effort should be made to ascer- 

 tain if the plant can be cultivated and 

 manufactured in the Coast districts so as 

 to make it remunerative. 



Trusting this information may be of 

 use to you, 



I am, etc., 

 T. G. C0LENT3RANDER. 



Pietermaritzburg, 



20th December, 1901. 

 Sir, — I propose publishing Mr. Colen- 

 brander's letter in full, in the next issue 

 of the Agr cultural Jow nal, and should 

 feel much obliged if you could supple- 

 ment his letter with one from yourself, 

 also for publication. 



[ have, etc., 



H. D. WINTER, 

 Minister of Agriculture. 



J. Medley Wood, Esq., A.L.S., 

 Botanic Gardens, Berea, 

 Durban. 



l ercia, Durban, 



21 St December, l'X)l. 

 Sir,— By this evening's post I have re- 

 ceived the papers on the Indigo question, 

 and after reading Mr. Colenbrander's 

 letter I think that, l)efoie writing on the 

 matter as you suggest I shouhl like to 

 see specimens of the two varieties of 

 Indigo plant said by him to be used, and 

 should feel much obliged if yau would 

 kindly direct that he should be asked to 

 send me specimens of each — the speci- 



mens should include leaves, flowers and 

 pods, if possible, so that I may be able to 

 decide whether they are separate species 

 or mere varieties. 



I have, etc., 

 J. MEDLEY WOOD. 



The Hon. 



The Minister of Agriculture. 



New Guelderland, 



24th December, 1901. 



Sir, — In reply to yours of the 23rd, I 

 shall have much pleasure in sending to 

 Mr. Medley Wood a specimen of the 

 plant I refer to in my article. As sug- 

 gested by him the other is a mere variety. 

 I cannot, however, send him leaf, flower 

 and pod all at once, as the flowers are not 

 due for two weeks, and the pods not un- 

 til March. 



Knowing that Col. Friend Addison had 

 made some experiments in the culture 

 and manufacture of Indigo, I asked him 

 to put his experience in writing. I nt)w 

 enclose you the original notes he sent me, 

 and which he has no objection to your 

 publishing. 



I have taken the liberty of adding a 

 small note to his article. 



I am, etc., 

 T. G. COLENBKANDER. 



The Hon. 



The Minister op Agriculture. 



Herwen, New Guelderland, 



24th December, 1901. 



The Indigo plant belongs to the order 

 of leguminous plants, and very much re- 

 sembles a small acacia. It is a papilion- 

 aceous plant with equally pinnated leaves. 

 There are in Natal about 40 varieties of 

 Indigofera. The greater number, how- 

 ever, do not contain indigotine. The 

 only variety of any commercial value is 

 Indigo/em tristis. The plant *B widely 

 distributed all over the Colony, and in 

 favourable S3asons grows luxuriantly on 

 the coast, midlands and uplands of Natal. 

 I have noticed the plant in every part of 

 the Colony I have visited. It is known 

 to the natives as " Umpegambetu." The 

 cultivation and manufacture of Indigo 

 were tried in the early fifties by a Mr. 

 Van Prehn at Pinetowa ; this gentleman 

 giving up the venture after two or three 

 unsuccessful seasons. I believe the 



