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Arpophyllum, Epidendrum, Masdevallia ; whilst outside, the beds and bor- 

 ders always contained plants in flower of Roses, Fuchsias, Bouvardias, Abu- 

 tilion, Arum Lilies, Agapanthus, Amaryllis, Sprekelia, Galtonia candicans, 

 Carnations, Dahlias, Geraniums, Anemones, Spirasas, Azaleas, Iris, Pleroma 

 macranthum, Gaillardias, Phlox, Dianthus, annual Chrysanthemums, Ver- 

 benas, etc. A fine plant of Doryanthes Palmieri flowered during the year, 

 also a giant plant of the variegated Agave americana. T wo more plants of 

 the latter are now throwing up flower spikes. Magnolia fuscata, Libonia 

 floribunda, Gynura aurantiaca, Corallobotrys acuminata, and several other 

 plants received from Kew in 1892 have flowered freely. On the fences, 

 Mandevilla suaveolens, Trachelospermum jasminoides, climbing Fuschsias, 

 etc., flowered profusely, whilst amongst larger things may be mentioned 

 Grevillea robusta, Gordonia anomala, various Eucalypti, Banksia integri- 

 folia, several Callistemons, etc. 



" Fruit trees andPlants. — A small consignment of Apples, Pears, Peaches, 

 Prunes and Currants was received from a Canadian nurseryman last year, 

 and the plants so far look promising. 



" Rubus racemosus. — The Himalayan Blackberry is quite at home here • 

 it grows vigorously and fruits abundantly. It is an excellent desert fruit' 

 and, in the hills, might be largely grown for market, where it would be 

 certain to find a ready sale. Once planted it requires little or no cultiva- 

 tion. 



"Rubus ellipticus (R. flavus). — This is also growing vigorously but has 

 not yet fruited. The fruit is described as " yellow with the flavour of a 

 raspberry ; in the Himalaya it is eaten either raw or made into a preserve, 

 and is certainly one of the best wild fruits of India. It is offered for sale at 

 most of the hill stations, and is regularly shown at the Horticultural Socie- 

 ty's Shows at Simla." 



" Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea). — This fruit is quite at home here 

 but the taste for it does not appear to be on the increase, which is rather 

 strange, as it is an excellent fruit both uncooked and stewed, and makes a 

 delicious preserve. 



" Peaches. — These bore a fair crop of good fruit. 



11 Fodder ptants. — Experiments have been continued with the fodder 

 grasses, etc., mentioned in last Report. On the whole perhaps Kentucky 

 Blue Grass is the most promising. "Sacaline" (Polygonum sachalinense) 

 is of slow growth and does not spread as we were led to expect. One root 

 of this plant was transferred to Hope and it has there grown much more 

 vigorously than at Cinchona. 



" Burnt Soil — As our soil is stiff and clayey it was decided to try the ex- 

 periment of burning portions of it as is often done in England. The sur- 

 face soil was removed and the clayey subsoil dug up and made into a heap 

 with fire wood, branches and garden rubbish to burn the whole. The fol- 

 lowing information on the subject may be of interest : — ' The work is done 

 when the soil is dry, by breaking up the clay and heaping masses of it on 

 to fires of coal or brushwood in large heaps. The temperature ought to be 

 sufficient to cause a dull red heat, and this produces a crumbling black 

 material which is then spread over the surface of the field. The effect is to 

 lighten the soil, and make it more like ordinary loam, and as a consequence 

 the field is easier to work and grows better crops for a long series of years, 

 Important mechanical and chemical effects result from burning clay, or at 

 leagt from subjecting it to a certain amount of heat. The mechanical effects 

 are to render the clay more porous and less tenacious, so that it will readily 

 crumble after exposure to the action of the weather. From its greater 

 porosity it affords access to air and moisture, and more free passage for 



