352 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
April 25,1895. 
advent of the rains usually sets in the “seedy season,” when 
native and European alike may expect to be down with that 
“scourge of the country,” malaria. The average yearly rainfall, 
recorded at Blantyre and surrounding district, is from 50 to 
55 inches, and the average temperature about 55° Fahr. The 
highest reading yet recorded by the writer (at the hill station) 
was 96° and the lowest 37° in the shade. 
Like our friends in South Africa, we have for months past been 
subject to the plague of locusts, which have done an enormous 
amount of damage, the first planted crops of the natives having 
been devoured. The locust is a very dainty feeder ; he disdains 
the hard tough grass of the bush, but has a decided preference to 
the sweet tops of the green Maize, and he does not object to the 
fresh green shoots of the Coffee plant, especially the young seedling 
Coffee. He seems to take a special delight in eating them through, 
and leaving them lying on the ground. I have myself lost, on an 
average, this planting season nearly 20 per cent, of young 
seedlings, and several other planters have fared much worse. 
It would be amusing, if it were not so pathetic, to watch the 
native efforts in frightening the locusts from their gardens. They 
are constantly on the watch, and all day long is heard the noise of 
shouting and beating on empty tins and pots in their efforts to drive 
away the pest: but notwithstanding such constant exertions, their 
Maize crop for the year is nil, and from reports which reach us 
from other districts it is an entire failure. However, during the 
past month the locusts around here seem to have entirely disap¬ 
peared. No doubt the everyday constant rains we have had has 
either killed or driven them away, and the natives are once more— 
in some cases for the fourth time—sowing their gardens. Let us 
hope that their efforts this time will be successful, for their own 
sakes, as the occurrence of a famine in the country would not only 
atrike a very severe blow at the native labour supply, but would be 
a fatal thing for the poor native, as he has yet to learn the meaning 
of “saving up for a rainy day.” 
Perhaps a few words regarding the progress that is being made 
in Central Africa may be of interest. It is noteworthy to remark, 
and we have every reason to hope, that in the matter of a few 
months Blantyre will be in direct telegraphic communication with 
London via the Cape. It is even now possible—I am told it has 
been already done—to transmit telegrams from Blantyre to Cape 
Town and thence on to London. The Blantyre section of the line 
has been completed, and extends for some distance beyond the 
Zambesi; the South African section reaching to near Mount 
Darwin, the gap between the Zambesi and Mount Darwin being 
covered by runners. The Chief Constructor and his men may 
possibly reach Blantyre about the month of July, when they will 
continue the construction of the line from that point on to Lake 
Nyasa, and no doubt if we only give them time they will yet reach 
to Cairo. We also hear whispers of a railway ; but up to the 
present it has only reached the dignity of a whisper. However, we 
should all welcome it. Several railway schemes have been in the 
fi.eld, but Messrs. Sharrer’s (the great trading and planting concern) 
seems to be the only one able to hold its own. Very possibly 
some day we shall all be agreeably surprised by tidings of his 
success bursting on us. 
It is very satisfactory to be able to report that prices realised on 
the sales of the past year s Coffee—from this part—have been very 
favourable. From price lists just to hand from London brokers, 
we note that they range from 953. to lOGs. per cwt., while the crop 
at present on the trees is a very heavy one, and the export for this 
year should more than double that of 1894. It is interesting to 
note that the export of Coffee has risen from little over 5 tons 
in 1889 to 74 tons in 1894. The soil and climate of the Shire 
Highlands are admirably adapted for the cultivation of Coffee. It 
seems to have found in these uplands just exactly what it requires 
—a sufficient rain supply, a climate suited to its growth, and an 
enormous extent of virgin forest land. We have no disease here, 
the dreaded Coffee leaf fungus, Hemileia vastatrix, has not yet put 
in appearance, and needless to remark, every precaution is taken 
to keep it out of the country. Long may it be conspicuous by its 
absence. 
The Rubber Vine, Landolphia, of which there are at least four 
distinct kinds, is found growing in the valleys and along the 
river banks. It has very slender stems and glossy evergreen leaves. 
Very little is done by the natives in collecting the Rubber, 
although they are well aware that a good price for it is always 
obtainable from Europeans. I believe the total amount exported 
last year did not exceed 600 lbs. The Rubber trade could be 
largely increased and be made very remunerative. A very much 
brisker trade is done in oilseeds (a kind of Sesamum, allied to the 
family Pedaliaceae) and Strophanthus. Several hundred pounds 
worth were exported last year, but for the most part the trade in 
these articles is confined to the lower river. Of Strophanthus there 
are three varieties found growing in the south portion of the Shire 
Highlands. 
In the woods are to be found many native fruits, but not one of 
them, as far as I have seen, is worth the trouble to pick from the 
tree. However, at higher altitudes is to be found the Bramble, 
the fruit of which is just as good as the home Blackberry. The 
Pine Apple, which has been introduced from the coast, is found in 
nearly every native village, and grows to great advantage. It is 
called by the natives its proper name, Ananas. The Banana a’so 
forms a picturesque feature in every garden. Strange to say the 
natives do not seem to care for the fruit, they prefer rather to 
sell than eat it. 
We have tried many experiments with the Grape Vine, but up 
to the present our efforts have not been crowned with success ; in 
fact, one is almost safe in saying its cultivation in the Shire 
Highlands is an utter failure. Peaches grow and fruit very well, 
as has already been proved, both in the mission garden at Blantyre 
and also at Mandala, and I have no hesitation in saying, based on 
the success of the Peach, that all other stone fruits. Plums, 
Apricots, and others, would do equally well if they were introduced. 
Tobacco one finds growing around every native hut, for, bear in 
mind, the native is a confirmed snuffer; women and men, and even 
very young children, all take their “ bit pinch,” and seem to enjoy 
it too. Guavas, Figs, Loquats, and the Cape Gooseberry are all 
distinct successes, whilst the English Potato may be said to have 
found a new and congenial home in Central Africa. 
In travelling through the country, especially just previous to 
the rains, what strikes one most (especially if he be of a botanical 
turn of mind) is the immense variety of beautiful wild flowers, 
and ground and tree Orchids. Some peeping out from the roots 
of trees, others hanging down from the stems ; whilst in the 
sheltered fissures of the rocks are to be seen graceful masses of 
Maidenhair Ferns. Clothing the mountain side there appears to 
be flowers in bloom all the year round, while in the valleys grow 
majestic Tree Ferns, bearing their fronds on stems 10 to 30 feet in 
height. Regarding tree Orchids I only know of two varieties, one 
a Dendrobium, the other a Vanda, that are really worthy of 
cultivation. At present I have growing in my verandah a Vanda, 
which, when in flower, was the admiration of all who saw it. It 
had no less than sixteen spikes of bloom, with from ten to twelve 
flowers—milk white in colour, and each 2 inches across—on each 
spike. In the evenings it emitted a moat pleasing scent. 
It would be very interesting, botanically, to know the number 
and names of species of wild flowers growing in the Shire 
Highlands. Wild flowers, did I say ? Why there are very many 
far superior in many ways to numbers which are tended with such 
care and attention in greenhouses at home. Mr. John Buchanan, 
F.L.S., has done much in collecting specimens, which from time 
to time have been forwarded for classification to Kew Gardens. 
Nearly 2000 distinct species, “ including all kinds,” have been 
already sent to Kew. Their botanical names could be given, but 
a bald enumeration of the same would, I fear, prove somewhat 
uninteresting, and would take up too much of the valuable space 
