NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS 
137 
sea at Kyckuyt to the “ principal projected cavalry watch house,” 1320 roods 
and for the rest 2353 roods. The later map of 1660—1 shows the line of 
fencing running from the sea-shore to the cavalry post (Muyterborst) which 
had by that time been established near the Rondebosch Camp Ground, a 
distance of 1240 roods. From the watch-house to the Hen and Chickens 
rocks at the corner of the Bosheurd estate, where the existing hedge runs, is 
1450 roods. Some 980 roods have to be accounted for. The hedge at the 
present moment runs along the boundary of van Riebeeck’s estate for 480 roods 
to a point near the Rhodes road where it turns off at an angle of about 110°. 
A line of 500 roods laid out at the necessary angle on the map of 1660 — 1 
reaches Leendert Cornelisz forest. This last portion survives to-day as a 
broken line of hedge ending on the banks of the Liesbeeck in the Kirstenbosch 
estate. 
The estate of Bosheurd was certainly protected by a hedge of wild almonds ; 
it is still protected by such a hedge ; that hedge was the boundary of the 
settlement, and the present hedge holds to the top of the ridge, the natural 
and only place for a boundary if a view over the whole of the Flats was to be 
had thence. The only conclusion is that if the existing bushes were not 
planted in 1660, they are successors of those that were so planted. In view 
of the size of the roots there is no reason, botanically speaking 1 , why the 
hedge should not be the remains of the living boundary planted by the Cape’s 
first Commander. 
POSTSCRIPT 
The “ wild almond,” of which the hedge described above by Professor 
Walker is composed, is a native proteaceous shrub, Brabeium stellatifolium, L., 
the only species of a genus endemic in the south-western coast region. It 
has the habit of a shrub which in favourable situations attains a height of 
20 ft. or more. The branches, arising from a “ rootstock ” which in old plants 
becomes very massive, frequently attain a diameter of as much as 1^ or 2 ft. 
and a length of 30 or 40 ft. ; in such cases however they are usually prone, 
and in this way a single bush may cover a very large area. Growth is rapid 
and the wood somewhat soft, containing much water, and of a reddish colour. 
According to Pappe the wood “is fit to be used for ornamental joiners and 
turners’ work. As yet it has been little employed except as firewood. 
It is particularly partial to the neighbourhood of water and is abundant 
on the banks of mountain streams, where it attains its most luxuriant foim. 
It nevertheless grows quite readily in comparatively dry situations in which 
however it is doubtful whether it occurs naturally. Once established it is 
eradicated with difficulty. The plants constituting the hedge now under 
1 I state this on the authority of Dr H. H. W. Pearson, Director of the National Botanic 
Gardens. 
