2 94 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [October i, 1889. 
bear seed in abundance, which can be had on 
application by any person wishing to cultivate the 
plant'. A small quantity of rubber was extracted, 
and h.is been forwarded to Kew, but it is after all 
but a sample, and a much larger quantity would be 
required before any reliable report could be obtained 
about it. There is no doubt whatever about the 
suitability of the plant to our soil aud climate. 
Morus alha. — We received a small packet of seed of 
this plant, which is said to be the best mulberry for 
silkworms, and a few plants were reared, the whole 
of which were handed over to a gentleman living 
near Durban, who is interested in sericulture. 
Tristania conferta, "Box tree" of Brisbane. — This 
tree appears to thrive well in the Gardens, and is in 
my opinion a very suitable tree for coast planting, 
it is handsomer than a " Gum," though it does not 
grow so fast as some of the Eucalypts, but it has 
one great advantage — the white ants do not touch it. 
Our trees have already borne some seed, and plants 
have been reared, which will be ready for distribution 
next spring. It is said to be an eligible avenue tree, 
and its timber is good and durable. 
Banana Disease. — The disease or fungus alluded 
to in my Annual Report for 1886 has now nearly 
destroyed the patch of bananas in which it appeared. 
I visited the place more than once, but was unable 
to detect any fuugus. I therefore had two of the 
young plants brought here and planted in the Gardens, 
so that I might observe them more closely, but so 
far they remain quite healthy, and though they were 
taken from an infected stock, no sign of disease has 
as yet appeared on them. I shall, however, continue 
to watch them with interest. 
Suiherlandiafrutescens, "Cancer plant." — 1 fear that 
investigations and experiments made with this plant 
have shown, that beyond having some little tonic 
properties, it is of little if any use as a remedy for 
cancer— a fact much to be regretted. 
Aloe sp., " Isiputamana." — When in Zululand in 
the early part of the year, I received from the Rev. 
R. Robertson a plant of a species of Aloe, the flower 
spike of which is used by the natives as a vegetable. 
I also collected tour plants of the same species, one 
of wlicih was in flower. I therefore had the flower 
spike cooked, and I found it delicious. Since then 
I have obtained several other plants, some of which 
are now coming into flower, aud I hope to be able 
to obtain seed from them for distribution. Two of 
ihe Uaos were sent to Kew Gardens, and in ac- 
knowledging their receipt, Mr. D. Morris, Assistaut 
Director, says : — 
" The species of Aloe, the flowers of which are 
used as a vegetable is certainly a novelty. So few 
Aloes possess auythiug but medicinal value than an 
Aloe, which is a pot herb, deserves some notice. The 
two stems reached us in good order, and we hope 
to grow them on and flower them at Kew. We could 
then determine whether they are new species or not." 
Jacarcmda mimosofoli^. — This plant has again flowered, 
and been much admired, and I have received, by 
ihe kindness of Mr. Soutter, of Brisbane, who saw 
my notice of the plant in the Report for 1887, a 
packet of seed, from which plants have been reared, 
which will shortly be available for distribution. 
tiapnia achras (Syn. Achras sapota). — Though this 
plant flowered freely, it did not set a single fruit. 
I regret this the more, as the fruit is said to be 
delicious, and would be a welcome addition to our 
list of fruit trees. Our plant is not in a good con- 
dition ; but we have one or two small plants which 
will be planted out next spring, or as soon as we 
have a piece of ground cleared to receive them. It 
is known as the Sapodilla plum. 
Haloxylon aminodeudrom. — Seeds of this plant were 
received from Kew. It is said to be a " small tree 
native of dry and arid regions of Turkestan. Useful 
to grow in sandy and droughty places, where other 
trc(H and shrubs fail;" but I regret to have to say 
that, though every care was taken of them, not a 
Bipele seed has germinated up to date. 
Fodder Plants. — In my last Annual Report allusion 
was made to several fodder plants, seeds of which 
had been distributed from these Gardens, and further 
information about them was promised. All the species 
have been grown here, aud also by other persons to 
whom seed was distributed, with the following result : — 
Eragrostis abyssinicq, " Teff." — As a cereal in Natal 
this plant will, as I suspected, have no value ; but very 
favourable reports have been received of it as a quick- 
growing fodder grass. I distributed the whole of the 
seed, except the small portion which was planted in 
the Gardens, and hope; that some of the recipients will 
be able to use it profitably. 
Lespedeza stri tfa, ' Japan clover." — This plant has 
also done fairly well in the Gardens. We had but 
four plants the first season, which died down apparently 
without producing any seed ; but in the spring it came 
up thickly, and formed a small but dense mat of 
foliage. I am inclined to believe that it propagates 
itself by small bnlblets, which are produced on the 
roots in great abundance. During the winter mouths, 
therefore, it is not available ; but as a change of food 
for sheep in summer I do not doubt it will have some 
value. I believe it has succeeded equally well near 
and beyond Maritzburg. 
Cytisus prolifei'us, " Tagasaste.' : — These plants have 
done well in the Gardens, and some have been dis- 
tributed to correspondents; but it is rather early yet 
to give any further report about them. 
On the coast the plant grows splendidly, and I hope 
it may succeed equally well in the upper districts, 
especially as it is available during the winter mouths. 
A correspondent in Madeira writes: — "I hope your 
Oytisus plants will grow properly; they grow at 3Q0O 
feet in the island of Palina, and afford food when 
everything is dried up." 
Pithecolohium soman, " Rain tree." — As a suggestion 
was made in one of the local newspapers that this 
tree should be introduced into the Colony, it may be 
as well to repeat here that we have the plant in the 
Gardens, but it does not seem to thrive well. Plants 
have been reared for distribution, should any one care 
to give them a trial. The pods are said to be an 
excellent food for cattle, and the tree forms a good 
shade, and grass grows freely under it; but its rain- 
producing powers have been greatly exaggerated, the 
reason being, I believe, that the tree is sometimes 
infested by an insect of the Cicada family, which at 
one period of its existence secretes a fluid, which falls 
to the ground in large drops, thus suggesting the 
idea that the leaves disiil water from the atmo-phere, 
heno6 the popular name "Rain tree." 
Fibre Plants. — Once more I venture to call attention 
to some of our native plants, which have been proved 
to yield valuable fibre, in the hope that ere long this 
industry may become established in the Colony. 
Gomphocarpus physocarpv.s. — The fibre from this 
plant has been frequently sent to me, and many years 
ago I myself prepared specimens for exhibition. In 
the early part of the year I received two samples, 
one from Mr. John Dunn of Zululand, and one from 
Mr. Plaxton Harrison of Durban, the last one pre- 
pared by a new process. These samples were for- 
warded to England for report. The brokers to whose 
agent I gave a portion of the first-named sample, 
say : — " Wo have pleasure to advise you that there 
would be a ready market for this Hemp if it could 
only be produced in fair to large quantities, and be 
cleaned free from the bark or husk, of which your 
sample contains so much. We find the colour aud 
strength both very good, and we could dispose of 
large quantities of this fibre at about equal to £25 
per ton c. i. f. London, if it could be cleaned as 
stated above. If the hemp could be produced a foot 
longer or so, it would be more valuable. The great 
beauty of this hemp is its exceptional strength, and 
no doubt if it could be produced in large enough 
quantities, and the length increased, it| would sell 
quickly and equally well with Manila Hemp, the 
p'rese .t price lor which is say £33 to £34 per ton." 
The remainder of Mr. Dunn's sample, and also that 
from Mr. Harrison, were forwarded to Kew ; and Mr. 
D Morris, ihe Assistant Director, sajs Mr Dunn's 
sample : — " The fibre from Zululand, which we have 
accepted as derived from Gompliocarpus physocarpns, 
is evidently possessed of merit, aud we forwarded 
