5'9 
Feb.  r,  189?.]  THtE  TROPICAL  AGRICULTURIST 
also  my  observations  on  the  vegetation,  I had  not 
sufficient  time  at  my  disposal  to  collect  in  the  forests 
Where  accessible,  or  I should  have  been  left  behind. 
The  collection  of  herbarium  numbered  408,  this 
includes  duplicate  sp  cimens,  one  of  each  specimen 
will  be  forwarded  to  Kew  for  determination.  Many 
living  plants  were  also  collected'. 
Cultivated  Plants  : — Throughout  the  \Vh0le  route 
taken  the  products  grown  are  very  similar,  the  .prin- 
cipal articles  of  food  being  Corn,  Zea  Mays,  Yams, 
Dioscorea  sps’.  Cassava,  Manihot  utilissima,  Colocasia 
antiquorum,  Phaseolus,  several  species  of  this  plants 
are  extensively  grown  around  Abeokuta,  Aractus  hypO'^ 
goea  is  not  often  seen,  a large  variety  of  this  species 
is  cultivated,  Cajanns  indicus  is  used  also  as  an 
article  of  food. 
Buliber  producing  plants  : — The  chief  source  of  L \,gos 
rubber  is  obtained  from  Ire,  Kickxia  africana,  a tall 
growing  tree  in  the  forests.  This  tree  is  plentiful 
throughout  the  forests  from  Ottoto  Papalayito  also 
near  the  forests  at  Adawo,  andfrom  Ilaro  to  Ajilite, 
Landolphias  L.  oioariensis  This  species  is  the  most 
common.  When  I had  time  to  go  in  the  forests  I 
met  it,  but  it  appeared  not  to  be  sought  after,  for 
it  is  more  difficult  to  collect  and  requires  more  time. 
I found  several  other  plants  that  furnish  rubber 
probably  of  the  Genus  Vocanga  but  unfortunately 
these  trees  were  not  in  flower.  Several  species  of 
Pieus  where  frequently  seen  on  the  journey.  I noticed 
that  at  Abeokuta  cexra  rubber  Maliihot  Glazivio  had 
been  introduced. 
Fruits: — These  like  most  other  plants  receive  but 
little  attention  in  their  culture,  the  Pine  apple  An- 
anas sativa  is  found  growing  everywhere  in  a wild 
condition,  Papaws,  Carica  Papaya,  Sour  Sop,  An- 
ona  mufricata.  Sweet  Sop,  Auona  squamosa,  also 
Bananas  and  Plantains  grow  near  towns  and  villages 
and  I noticed  a very  dwarf  Banana  at  Abeokuta. 
similar  to  the  Grand  Canary  Banana.  Oranges  and 
Limes  are  seen  but  not  in  any  quantity,  the  Hog 
Plum  was  grown  around  the  villages  on  the  way 
Spondias  lutea  no  doubt.  Thaumatococcus  Danielli 
is  grown  throughout  the  whole  of  the  districts,  it 
is  not  grown  so  much  for  its  fruits  as  its  leaves 
which  are  used  in  lieu  of  paper,  also  for  thatching 
roofs  of  houses.  Sideroxylon  dulcificum,  another  fruit 
possessing  very  sweet  properties  and  known  as  one 
of  the  Miraculous  fruits  of  West  Africa,  was  not 
seen  to  any  extent.  Another  of  the  peculiar  fruit  I 
also  found  in  large  quantities,  evidently  an  annual, 
for  the  plant  had  died  down  and  i was  only  able 
to  obtain  the  seed  of  it  which  had  been  sown, 
Kola  acuminata: — In  some  districts  this  i?  grown 
extensively  at  Otta,  Igbessa,  Ilaro,  and  Ado,  this 
tree  appears  to  thrive  best  in  damp  situations  and 
under  the  shade  of  forest  trees. 
Palms: — The  most  common  of  all  palms  met  with 
throughout  the  journey  was  the  African  Oil  Palm, 
in  some  districts  it  is  almost  the  only  vegetation. 
After  leaving  Papalyto  on  the  I5th  September  the 
vegetation  somewhat  changed,  plains  of  tall  growing 
grasses  and  large  numbers  of  the  Fan  Palm  Borassus 
oothiopum  existed,  a small  Pheeuix  probably  P.  spinosa 
was  also  seen,  Jblaffia  Vinefera  were  found  only  in 
damp  situations. 
Timber  trees: — Chlorophora  excelsa  or  Iroko  tree 
is  very  common  in  some  of  the  forests,  it  is  the 
indigenous  wood  used  as  it  is  very  durable  and  re- 
sists the  attack  of  white  ants.  Irvingia  Barteri ; — 
This  I found  only  within  two  days  journey  of 
Ebute  Metta.  Spathodea  Companulata  was  the  only 
large  tree  I could  recognise  by  its  large  bright 
clusters  of  flowers;  in  the  forests  large  lofty  trees  are 
seen,  but  to  collect  specimen  from  thtso  is  indeed  a 
work  that  will  take  time  to  obtain  and  overcome. 
Fibres: — Sanseviera  guineensis : this  plant  under 
the  shade  of  forests  trees  grows  luxuriantly,  but  its 
fibre  is  not  sought  for  much  by  the  Natives.  Ad- 
ansonia  digitata  ; — Before  reaching  Abeokuta  this 
tree  was  not  often  seen,  but  w'hen  travelling  on  the 
Ibadan  road  it  was  one  of  the  chief  trees  seen,  its 
fibre  is  used  by  the  Natives.  I saw  a few  plants  of 
a species  of  Paudanus,  many  other  plants  were  seen 
from  which  fibre  could  be  obtained.  3 Hibiscus,  sp, 
Crotolarja  sp.  Sida  sp.  Corcoorus  sp.  abutilou  etc. 
The  Vegetation  by  the  forest  roads  is  compara- 
tively the  same,  up  to  the  Ogun  river,  where  the 
forests  do  not  exist  it  is  1 mg  grass,  or  scrudly  bush  ; 
near  villages  the  laud  is  cultivated.  The  soil  is 
much  richer  than  that  around  here,  and  as  one  gets 
near  to  Abeokuta  stones  and  rocks  are  frequently 
s6eh,  and  several  streams  are  passed,  which  would 
prove  very  benificial  if  planting  should  take  place. 
At  Abeokuta  and  surrounding  it  for  miles  the 
laud  is  under  cultivation  or  has  been  ; like  all  other 
places  the  natives  have  no  idea  of  manuring  the 
land,  but  this  work  is  left  for  nature  to  fulfil,  land 
is  cleared  and  planted  for  a few  ycar.s  then  aban- 
doned for  sometime;  this  means  great  destruction 
to  the  forest  ; consequently  the  forest  for  some  dis- 
tance around  this  large  town  have  been  destroyed. 
The  soil  here  is  very  rich  and  the  food  crops  are 
very  large. 
The  soil  is  of  a volca'iio  nature ; at  one  time 
cotton  was  grown  extensively  at  Abeokuta,  but  as  it 
is  very  short  staple,  it  cannot  compete  with  American 
cotton.  I visited  a small  plantation  in  the  town, 
it  consisted  of  plants  of  Liberia  Coffee,  Cocoa  and 
another  species  of  Coffee  which  is  evidently  not 
Liberian;  all  the  plants  were  in  a most  thriving 
condition,  and  large  crops  were  being  produced, 
this  convinced  one  that  the  soil  was  everything 
that  could  be  desired  for  the  cultivation  of  these 
and  other  economical  plants. 
After  spending  sometime  around  Abeokuta  I tra- 
velled a day’s  journey  on  the  road  towards  Ibadan, 
here  the  country  is  hilly,  and  most  of  the  growth 
is  stunted,  here  for  the  first  time  I saw  the  shea 
butter  tree  Butyrospermum  Parkii,  but  unfortunately 
it  was  not  the  season  to  obtain  seed.  Adansonia 
digitata  was  also  very  numerous,  & Acacias.  Among 
the  many  dye  plants  found  around  this  district 
which  include  Indigofera,  and  Bixa  etc.  Loncho- 
carpus  cyane.scens,  native  dye,  this  latter  plant  is 
cultivated  and  is  the  one  principally  used,  in  some 
places  it  was  very  abundant,  and  I noticed  to  in- 
duce young  leaves  from  whi  h is  prepared  the  dve 
old  leaves  are  gathered  off  the  plants. 
Calabashes— Lagenaria  vulgaris  and  species  of  the 
cncurbitaceaeous  order  are  largely  represented,  and 
cnltivated  to  a lar^e  extent,  and  used  larcfely  by 
the  natives  for  utensils.  ^ 
On  returning  by  way  of  Ilaro  His  Excellency 
gave  me  permission  to  visit  the  plantations  at  Soto 
and  Ajelete.  I have  already  sent  in  this  report 
(see  appendix  I.  of  the  quarterly  report  for  Sep- 
tember  quarter  on  this  Station.)  Tiiese  plantations 
are  in  a very  thriving  condition,  cultivation  is  carded 
on  to  a far  greater  extent  inland,  and  I think  that 
if  a Botanical  out-station  was  established  near  some 
of  these  large  inland  towns  the  people  would  soon 
become  aware  of  the  value  of  Coffee  and  other  oco- 
nomic  plants,  and  take  up  the  cultivation  of  com- 
mercial plants. 
I have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir, 
Your  obedient  Servant, 
H.  MILLEN, 
Curator. 
(To  be  concluded.) 
TEA  PLANTING  THIRTY  FIVE  YEAPs  A('0 
IN  INDIA. 
ijhj  an  Old  Planter.) 
Having  at  length  accompli.shed  the  raising  of 
seed,  the  next  process  wo  took  in  h.iiid  wa.s  plant 
ting  out  the  seedlings  ; for  the  expeditious  method 
of  sowing  111  the  open  did  not  answer  ; purchasers  who 
are  always  fastidious,  asserting,  when  they  ca  iie  uo 
in  the  Poojahsto  report  upon  or  examine  the  pronertv 
that  they  expected  to  see  rows  of  plants  instead  of 
as  one  impertinent  person  observed,  a beggarly  arraj^ 
of  emptu  stakes  One  gentleman  of  an  econoihio  turn 
of  mind  had  utilisod  ticsh  eka  stems  for  liniim  off’ 
sprouted  but  the 
seed  didn  t follow  suit,  somehow.  Once  the  plantation 
