origin but grown in Chile from colonial days. Being acclimated 
to this climate and accustomed to grow semi-dry to dry, in 
poor arid soils, it is better suited for American introduction 
than direct from the rich soil and moisture conditions of the 
tropics." (Husbands.) For distribution later. 
FICUS UTILIS. (Urticaceae. ) P9359. Seeds from East Africa. Pre- 
sented by Mr. 0. W. Barrett, late Director of Agriculture, 
Lourenco Marques, Portuguese East Africa. "A medium sized tree 
of the open bush from Zululand to Somali land; i^refers sandy 
soil. Almost evergreen except in long droughts. Thick bark 
used, when beaten out, for bags, clothing, etc .;* appears to 
wear well. Tree roots well from cuttings. Fruit worthless. 
Shironga name, M'Pam'ah." (Barrett.) The beaten bark resem- 
bles the Tapa of Pacific islanders. "A flat-topped or rounded 
tree, single-stemmed by nature, but often cultivated to the 
extent of being cut off at the groi;nd so as to produce four to 
six clean young coppice branches ?/ithout knots and of rapid 
growth, from which to obtain fiber, which after preparation is 
used as cloth. This preparation consists merely of beating 
and washing the fresh bark. The fiber is not spun or woven. 
This is the source of all the native cloth in the M'Chopes 
district. The manufacture of cloth from this tree is confined 
to M'Chopes, and these cloths are carried to neighboring dis- 
tricts and sold, where the tree itself is abundant, but only 
used for rough cordage or for caoutchouc. This latter product 
is yielded abundantly but is of low quality and value. The 
preference of M'Chopes cloth I can only account for by the lo- 
cal knowledge of the art of coppicing, and the suitable stems 
produced thereby." (Extract Sim: Forest Flora of Portuguese 
East Africa, p. 100.) For distribution later. 
OARCINIA SP. (Clusiaceae. ) 29352. Seeds of bitter kola from 
Ibadan, Southern Nigeria, West Africa. Presented by the Cura- 
tor of the Agricultural Department. "Vernacular names: Efrie 
(Uwet, McLeod); Bitter Kola; False Kola; Male Kola; Orogbo 
Kola-nut. Tree grows 10 to 30 feet high. Leaves about 6 inches 
long, 3 inches broad, shining above, pale beneath. Mature 
fruit about 3 inches long and Z\ inches across, with remains 
of the styles at the apex and of five imbricate sepals at the 
base. Rind apricot-colored, resinif erous , covering a juicy, 
orange, acid pulp. Mature seeds \\ inches long, f- inch across, 
obtuse at both ends, with a brown parchment-like coat. Accord- 
ing to Milton (Journ. Bot. iv. 1875, p. 65), the newly dried 
nuts are esteemed by the natives as a remedy in cases of 
cough, and are said to improve the voice of the singer. The 
bitter principal is agreeable' and free from the aptringency of 
the common red and white Colas, and it imparts to; water a 
pleasant sweet taste. The Bitter Kola is also said to be a 
