78 



AN ANTI-MALARIAL TREE. 



Melaleuca leucadendron, Linn. 



The late Baron Sir F. von Mueller, G-overnment Botanist of 

 Victoria, who did so much for the economic botany of the World, sent 

 to the Director of Public Gardens in April 1895, seeds of a Melaleuca 

 (J/, leucadendrcn), to which he thus referred in his letter : — " This tree 

 should become of the utmost importance also to the Western hemi- 

 sphere. As a tropical tree, fit to grow in malarian swamps, and con- 

 taining in its foliage much antiseptic and anti- miasmatic oil, it, deserves 

 your special attention. It will g(ow where no Eucalyptus could be 

 reared " 



Baron Von Mueller's notice of this tree in his " Select Extra-tropical 

 Plants" is as follows : — 



" The Cajapat-tree of India, North and East- Australia as far extra- 

 tropical as 34° south latitude. This tree attains a height of about 80 

 feet, with a stem reaching 4 feet in diameter, on tidal ground ; it can 

 with great advantage be utilised on such intra-tropic areas and in 

 salt-swamps for subduing malarian vapours, where no Eucalyptus 

 will live. The lamellar bark protects it against conflagrations. It is 

 splendid for fruit-packing : oranges kept 4 months in it, lemons 5 

 months, apples 3 months. The wood is fissile, hard and close- 

 grained, regarded as almost imperishable underground, and resists the^ 

 attacks of termites (white ants). It is well adapted for posts, wharf- piles, 

 ship-building and various artisans' work. The foliage yields the well- 

 known Cajaput-oil, so closely akin to Eucalyptus-oil. Mr. K. Staiger ob- 

 tained on distilling the leaves as much as 2 per cent, of oil, which might 

 be manufactured on a large scale from ample material in many parts of 

 Australia. It is rich in Cineol. The tree should be extensively 

 planted where yellow fever occurs." 



Young seedlings are now ready for distribution for growing on edges 

 of swamps Application should be made to Director, Public Gardens,. 

 Kingston P.O. 



WILD OLIVES OF JAMAICA. 



It has been stated frequently in the Bulletin that the Olive (Olea 

 europaea) has not been known to flower or fruit in Jamaica. 



Whenever this statement appears, numerous communications are re- 

 ceived to the effect that the writers have seen the Olive tree bearing 

 fruit. 



However when specimens are sent to the Herbarium in confirmation, 

 it is seen that there are two or three trees that go by that name, but 

 none of them are tht Olive of commerce. 



Information given to enquiries on this point has more than once 

 saved the investment of capital in an attempt to introduce and grow 

 the OHve on a commercial scale in places where a " Wild Olive" is 

 known to bear abundant fruit. 



XlMENIA AMERICANA, Linn. 



One of these wild olives is known botanically as Ximenia americana 

 Besides being called a Wild Olive, it is sometimes known either as 

 Mountain Plum, or Seaside Plum. The tree is usually armed witk 



