16 
REPOET OF THE CURATOR OF THE 
A most estimable fodder plant is the “ Pentzia virgata ” or sheep 
fodder-bush of South Africa. This was also alluded to in a letter from 
Dr. Hooker, and is being extensively propagated in the Melbourne 
Botanic Gardens. From experiments I have made with the Pentzia 
virgata, it is no doubt well suited to the climate of this Colony, growing 
luxuriantly even in moist situations, though its chief recommendation is, 
that it flourishes in arid soils. It -would therefore be a most valuable 
plant to cultivate throughout the country on an extensive scale. A 
letter received by me from Mr. W, Moody, of Kakanui, Otago, N.Z., 
states, that some seeds of Pentzia, which he had received, successfully 
germinated. He says “I have tried it here, and find it to be a good 
grower, and also capable of standing a considerable degree of frost. It 
is sometimes as low as 11 and 13 Fahr. on the ground here in winter.” 
A great deal has been said respecting the “Tussock grass” as 
suitable to this Colony. The subjoined letter, which I received from 
Professor W. T. Thiselton Dyer, needs no exjflanation : — 
“ My dear Sir, — “ Royal Gardens, Kew, February 26, 1877. 
“In answer to your letter of December 27, 1876, 1 enclose seeds of Symphytum 
asperrimum ; and at Dr. Hooker’s request write to say that seeds of the 
Tussock grass could only be obtained for you with great difficulty, and that the 
trouble would hardly be justified, as Dr. Hooker is satisfied it would be of no use 
in your Colony. Supposing you got it established, the tussocks — which of course 
are only formed rather slowly — would soon be devoured and extirpated by cattle. 
A cow will work away at a tussock, till she has quite finished it off ; and in places 
where its cultivation has been attempted as a curiosity, it has had to be carefully 
fenced in. It is a local plant of very peculiar habits, and not at all well adapted 
for pasture purposes. 
“ Yours faithfully, 
“ W . T. Tiiiseeton Dyer.” 
Other valuable plants and seeds received were Adansonia Gregorii 
(the sour gourd or Cream of Tartar tree) of N. W. Australia ; Aleurites 
triloba (the Candle nut tree), known in the several Fijian dialects as 
“ Lauce,” “ Sikeci,” and “ Tuitui.” From the nuts of this plant a valuable 
oil is expressed, much employed by artists, and realising £20 per ton in 
Europe. Spondias dulcis (the hog plum of the Society Islands, with fruit 
resembling in flavor the pine apple, the leaves and bark possessing medici- 
nal properties); Xanthoxylon fraxineum (the “prickly ash” or “ Tooth- 
ache tree ” of North America, largely used in that country for rheumatic, 
typhoid, and scrofulous complaints) ; and very many others, a description 
of which would occupy too much space. Some Jute seeds, received 
from Charles Moore, Esq., Sydney Botanic Gardens, were sown in 
