i86 
TMF. TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [September i, 1888 
The Kumara (Ipomcta chrysorrhiza, Forst). — In the 
year before last, I left some of the tubers of this esculent 
in the ground during the winter. That season was a dry 
one; the roots kept well and produced larger tubers 
than those which were taken out of the ground in April. 
I followed the same course last winter, but, that being 
very wet, the tubers all rotted in the ground . It is clear, 
therefore, that it will be necessary to take them out of 
the ground and keep them in a dry place. They should 
be replanted in August. I fear that the crops of the 
Kumara, which may be grown upon the plains, will not 
be prolific, as the tubers produced are small. The plant 
has not yet been tried in the hills, or rather in the 
gullies, There, no doubt, they are likely to thrive 
better, the climate being cooler, and to some extent 
approaching more nearly to that of New Zealand. 
Boussingaultiabasaeloides (Humb. andBonp'.). — During 
the last two years a great deal of notice has been taken 
of this plant, and it was recommended for extensive 
cultivation. The tubers are said to be eatable, and are 
taken readily by cattle and sheep. It has found a 
suitable olimate in South Australia, aud is easily culti- 
vated, for the smallest piece of root will grow in any 
soil, rich or poor. I have not heard whether it has 
been tried by farmers, or whether the tubers are as use- 
ful as has been stated. 
The Daira Grape. — When last in London, Sir Samuel 
Davenport, K.C.M.G., became cognizant of a valuable 
Spanish grape called Daira, which comes from Almeria 
in Spain, It is the kind which largely supplies the 
London market with fresh grapes, and is considered to 
be the best kiud for export, as the bunches do not 
suffer from either packing or transport. Sir Samuel 
procured cuttings from Messrs. Jimenez and Sons, 
Spanish merchants, in London, who kitidly sent two lots 
of the cuttings. The one washed overboard in the Bay 
of Biscay, the second arrived safely. I have succeeded 
in growiug nearly every one, and I am now able to dis- 
tribute about a hundred well rooted plants amongst 
the vinegrowers. 
The Palm House. — It is to be much regretted that 
year after year the luxuriant growth of the palms, 
fern trees, and other plants, causes them to reach the 
roof of the palm house, and that some of the most 
vigorous actually break through the glass roof. In 
consequence of this it became necessary to cut down 
two splendid specimens of the Phoenix reclinata (Jacq.). 
They were planted in the ground, and consequently 
could not be removed for replanting. Several others 
have to be removed. The fine specimen of the Latania 
borhonica in the palm house, which stands in the centre 
of the dome, grew nearly two feet last year. It is now 
thirty-three feet high, and the dome itself is only 
thirty-six feet. 
It will ba absolutely necessary to raise the roof of 
the house several feet, but this cannot be done with- 
out great expense. Something, however, must be done 
to save the plants. A number of these have been 
planted in the ground, aud oonnot be removed without 
freat injury. The fine fern trees which formed the 
em Tree Gully in the Victorian Court, and specimens 
of the fine group of New South Wales plants in the 
New South Wales Court at the Jubilee Exhibition, 
viz. : — Staghorn and Birdnest ferns, Palms, and Mac- 
rozamias — were kindly presented to the garden by the 
Executive Commissioners of Victoria and New South 
Wales. Some of the largest and best grown ferntrees, 
with stems eight or nine feet high, and three to four 
feet in oircumferenoe, are placed in the home, and add 
materially to its appearance. 
The terraoe around the palm house presented, all 
through the year, its customary gay appearance. 
Only seven new palms have been added to the col- 
lection during the last year, viz. :— Calamus humilis, 
Eoxb. ; var. gracilis, ffeonema gracilis, Wendl.; Licuala, 
grandis, Hort. ; Chamaerops Himilis war argentea, C. 
canarieiisis var tomentosa, C. Jlexuoia. This brings up 
the number of species and varieties in our colleotic n 
to 180. 
Ochna multijlora, Dec. — This is a native of Sierra 
Leone, end has lately been introduced by Mr. B, 
Williams into the English market. This is one of the 
moil remarkable plants, that deserves a very full des- 
cription. It has an elegant growth, and produces 
bright yellow fiowers in great abundance. After a few 
days the 6tamens fall off and the calyx immediately 
begins to grow, and changes in color to a bright straw- 
berry red, and then forms a large fleshy receptacle 
upon which the seeds form, three or four together. 
When young these are green, but when ripe they be- 
come of a ruby dark plum color. Contrasting as they 
do with their bright red receptacle, they produce au 
effect which once seen is not easily forgotten. I find 
the plant is easy to cultivate, aud it retains a showy 
appearance uearly all through the year, partly 
on accouut of its flowers and partly owing to the de- 
velopment of its curious seeds, which grow very 
profusely. 
The number of plants added to the garden during 
1887 and possessing au economic as well as an orna- 
mental value — exclusive of florists' flowers — was 220, 
which is somewhat less than were added in former 
years. Many of them, however, are specially valuable. 
The general aollection has thus been increased in 
number from 12,753 species to 12,973. 
Museum ov Economic Botany. — Lsst year 1,795 
fresh objects were added to the existing large collection, 
the addition being occasioned by the Jubilee Exhibition. 
Trie collection of the Sultan of Jobore contained a 
sample of sugar prepared from the coconut. It was 
not clarified but of intense sweetness. The manufac- 
ture of the cocoa is illustrated in six different stages. 
Sample-* of the cocoa beans grown in different countries 
are sbown. They cume from Trinidad, St. Thomas, 
Columbia, St. Domingo, Surinam, Babia, Porto, Caitello, 
and Ueylon. The beans show much difference in size 
and fulness. There is also an interesting collection of 
oil cakes, which are much now used in Europe for the 
purpose of fattening cattle. The percentage of nutri- 
tious matter that each contains is worthy of note- 
Coconut cake, after the oil has been expressed and 
formed, contains 40T9 per ceut. ; palm seeds, various 
34. 52 i linseed, 36 8; rape, 32'5 : dotter (Oqmdina sativa, 
Linn.), 313: poppy, 25 8 ; sesamuru (tiel seed), 24'8; 
cotton seed 21"7 ; earthnut, 27 8 per cent. 
The museum now contains 8,166 objects of various 
kinds. It continues to form, as it formed from the 
time it was instituted, one of the most attractive fea- 
tures of the Botanic Garden. Vistors from other parts 
of the world are much struck with the objects them- 
selves, as well as their simple but practical arrange- 
ment. The descriptions in a short form, aud the use 
to which they may be applied, are sufficiently clear to 
render the printing of a catalogue now unnecessary. 
ANALYSIS OF TEA SOILS. 
(From the Proceedings of the Agricultural and Horticul- 
tural Society of India.) 
In continuation of this subject read following letter 
from Mr. W. O. Bell Irving- 
Calcutta, 17th July 1888. 
Dear Sir, — I beg to annex copy of a letter from 
the Secretary, Indian Tea Association. 
At the meeting in qurstion, an unanimous opinion 
was expressed that Dr Warden's report on Tea Ma- 
nures and Tea Garden Soils would be likely to prove 
most instructive and valuable, and as such, sure to 
be much appreciated by all interested in Tea growing. 
On receipt of details as to the manner, &c, in 
which the samples should be collected, the Tea 
Association will be only too pleased to do the needful. 
It is suggested that samples be sent from 3 or 4 
representative Gardens in each District, say Cachar, 
Sylhet, Assam, and the Doars, and that gardens 
possessing different descriptions of soil be selected . 
One garden to send say black peaty bheel soil, auother 
plateau mould, a third stiff soil, and a fourth a 
specimen of Teelah formation. Some idea should be 
given as to the amount of earth (surface and subsoil) 
required as a sample, and the depth at which the 
latter should be taken, also as to the quantity of 
oil-cake, bone-dust, cow-manure, 'ic, necessary for a 
fair test muster. 
Yours sincerely, 
W. O. Bell-ihving. 
