BOTANIC AND DOMAIN GARDENS. 
15 
during the past year. Through the courtesy of Dr. Hooker, I obtained 
a quantity of seeds of this plant ; and in consequence of eulogistic 
notices concerning it which appeared in a portion of the Australian 
press, I received a very large number of applications for seeds, which 
were as far as possible complied with. The subjoined communications, 
received by the June mail from Professor Thiselton Dyer, of the Royal 
Gardens, Kew, show that the Mesquit bean is at least of very doubtful 
utility as a fodder plant, even if it be not actually hurtful ; and the fact 
was made public — a very necessary step, since discouragement produced 
by fruitless labor in rearing such plants is calculated to destroy that 
public spirit in the cultivation of new and useful introductions which is 
so much to be desired. 
“Sir, Royal Gardens, Kew, May 4, 1877. 
In reference to my letter, February 20, I am desired by Dr. Hooker to 
transmit to you the enclosed copy of a letter from the Superintendent of the 
Botanic Garden in Jamaica, pointing out the necessity of caution in the use of 
the pods of the Prosopis pubescens for the purpose of feeding horses. 
I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
“ W. R. Guilfoyle, Esq., F.L.S., W. T. Tiiiselton Dyer. 
Director, Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.” 
s IR> Cinchona Plantations, Jamaica, April 6, 1877. 
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 20th February last, 
informing me of the despatch of two bags containing about eight lb. of the pods 
of Prosopis pubescens, which I have also received, together with printed corre- 
spondence on the subject of these seeds. 
“ Some 5 per cent, of these seeds have germinated ; accordingly we will have 
about 1 00 plants altogether. 
“ Consequent on the favourable recommendation conveyed in the aforesaid 
correspondence of the pods for horse and cattle food, and as only a small propor- 
tion of the seeds were in a state fit for germination, I, by way of experiment, gave 
about a pound of the pods to a fine healthy horse. In the morning of the third 
day after the pods were given to the horse the animal was found dead in the 
stable, and lying in such a position that left no reasonable doubt that it had died 
from bellyache. There are therefore strong grounds for believing that the horse 
thus died from the effects of these pods. 
“ I presume you are aware that another species of this genus, viz , Prosopis 
juli flora, a very common plant in Jamaica, the pods of which (although a valuable 
fodder) when eaten by horses, but especially after rains are almost invariably the 
means of causing severe bellyaches and very frequently death. This is attributed 
to the germination of the seeds in the stomach of the animal. 
“ Probably the above remarks may be of service by way of caution to other 
colonies in which this plant is proposed to be cultivated. 
“ I am, Sir, your obedient servant, 
“ Robert Thomson. 
W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., 
Royal Gardens, Kew.” 
