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REPORT

BY

a Great Britain,

kon.

Nth hea hh hhh hha DEAL hah LL hah hh ha hh hah hhh ah bandana

DURBAN :
| Bexwert & Davis, PRINTERS, ae WEST STREET

1898.

nan MATTE AIT EAT APC h EP Veh dh ad Pia herr arena:

Rar OR T

ON

NATAL

Potanie Gardens

POR (THE YEAR 1897,

BY

J. MEDLEY WOOD, A.L.S.,

Corresponding Member of the Pharmaceutical Society

of Great Britain,

ew te AY POR.

add 2 ee Pha MPR AMET ADTAAP ATED ATI RABID ADELE TAA a

DURBAN :
Bennert & Davis, Printers, 345, West Srreet.

1898.

Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012, with funding from
Field Museum of Natural History Library

http://archive.org/details/reportonnatalbot1897wood i.

Lurban Botanic Society.

COMmMMit TEE FOR 1897.

President ;
Mr. B. W. GREENACRE.

Hon. Secyetary :
Mr. J. D. BALLANCH.

Hon. Cueasurer :
M. 8S. EVANS, M.L.A.

Hon. R. Jameson, M.L.C. Mr. G. RurHerrorpD, C.M.G.
Mr. T. W. Epmonps. Mr. H. H. Punray.

Mr. Jas. BENINGFIELD.

G@upermnent Menthers :
Mr. J. S. STeeEt. Mr. F. Burron.

Curatyy ;
J. MEDLEY WOOD, A.I.S.

ae —— — < = aS — = +

SS Sa a aS a SS ae

S82 R HE PO RT.

Natat Boranrc GARDENS,
Berea, Durpan, January 1898.

To THE PRESIDENT AND CoMMITTER

Durean Boranic Sociaty.

GENTLEMEN,—

I have the pleasure of handing to you herewith this my
sixteenth Annual Report on the Natal Botanic Gardens, and
the work done in connection with them. Iam pleased to be
able to say that we have suffered no serious losses during the
year, and that the plants both in Garden and Nusery are
all that could be desired.

The year now ended has been a very busy one indeed, and the
staff have been hard pushed to keep up with the work, especially
during the latter part of the year, when native labour was
almost unobtainable, and we had as many Indians as we were
able to find accommodation for, so that for the first time in the
history of the Gardens, which reaches back for 46 years, we
have had to call in the services of a contractor with a gang of
labourers to weed the ground, and do other necessary work.
It is much to be hoped that this state of things will not be
of long continuance. It has been suggested that Indians
accustomed to the work should be obtained from India, and
I hope that ere long this suggestion will be carried into effect.

In consequence of this great press of work and scarcity of
labour, no alterations or other work of importance could have
been attempted except as hereafter noted, though there are
several things that will need to be taken in hand when oppor-
tunities occur, such as completing the fencing round the ground,
hardening the main walks, clearing away superflous trees, that
is, those of which we have more specimens than necessary, such
as the ‘ Flatcrown”’ (Gygia fastigiata), Mangoes and a few
others, thus affording room for planting out other and more
valuable plants, some of which are already in stock and require
attention.

6

The new Jubilee Conservatory, to the erection of which the
Durban public have contributed so liberally, will we hope
arrive by the end of February, and the ground where it is to
stand has already been levelled by a contractor, with a gang of
labourers, who has also widened and levelled the upper walk,
which when the Conservatory is finished will probably be as much
used as the present main walk, and it is our intention to plant
on the upper side of this walk a row of Palms of different
species, selecting, however, those only which have straight
stems, and reach to a good height. I hope to be able to say in
my next report that this work has been completed.

The forcing house which was erected during the year has
proved a complete success, and we have been able to rear plants,
that without it would have been a failure, such as Theobrona
cacao, alluded to in another part of this report, and some
others both useful and ormental.

The “Guide” to the trees and shrubs in the Gardens has
been found very useful, and by its aid visitors who take an
interest in trees may spend hours in the Gardens with pleasure
to themselves, and I venture to hope with some profit also.
The copies are sold at ls. each, which is below cost price,
having regard to the comparatively limited demand, but a
considerable loss was expected when it was decided to publish
it, and I think that any loss which may accrue to the Society
will be very fully compensated for by the increased pleasure
given to intelligent visitors.

The gate at the entrance to the Gardens has become some-
what dilapidated, and it is intended to replace it with one of a
more ornamental character, and I hope to see it in its place
during the early part of the year. The Corporation have also
been requested to improve the road in front of the entrance to
the Gardens by widening and levelling it, as there has been
already several accidents to-‘rickshas, and I am in constant fear
of a more serious one, especially when two persons in one
ricksha are brought down the slope in front of the gate.

Additions have been made to the head gardener’s house at
the entrance to the Gardens, as it was not when built, intended
for a family, but only for one or two single men; the additions
were made at the close of the year, and were satisfactorily com-
pleted by the contractor. The Curator’s residence has also
received a coat of paint outside, and the inside portion will
shortly require attention. It is satisfactory to know that the
measures taken to keep out the white ants from the house have
been quite successful, and since the first few months they have
ceased to give any trouble.

If the suggestion to indent for Indian labourers is carried
into effect it will be necessary to erect new quarters for them,
and I would suggest that they should be located in the corner

7

of the Garden bounded by the Sydenham and Avondale Roads,
an effectual fence being erected, so that their quarters shall be
completely. shut out from the Garden, as we have reason to
know that some at any rate of the depredations in the Garden
have been commited by our own labourers.

I regret to have to report that there has been several cases
of depredation, chiefly fruit stealing, but occasionally plants
have also been taken out of the beds, though nothing of any
ereat value has been lost; still it will be necessary to make an
example of some of the mischievous boys, who seem to take a
delight in shifting and damaging labels, breaking off leaves,
twigs, and flowers from the trees, and such like senseless
practices.

A sub-committee has been appointed to revise the Bye-Laws,
and when they are assented to by Government it is intended to
have them painted on a board at the entrance, which will place
us in a better position to check any infraction of them, as
ignorance of the regulations cannot then be pleaded, as has
been done on more than one occasion, when visitors have been
checked for infringement of the rules.

An idea seems to be held by some people that the Gardens
should do more of what they call scientific work, but I may be
allowed to point out that the only botanical work yet done in
the colony has been done in connection with the Botanic
Gardens, and to refer enquirers to the repurts on the Colonial
Herbarium issued year by year in proof of it. What is
actually required by many people, and what I feel that it
would be desirable that they should have, is a Series of ex-
periments with different plants on such a scale as would give
farmers an idea of the cost of producing a given crop, and the
yield which might be expected from it ; but such work as this
cannot be donesat the Gardens, and is really the work of an
Experimental Station, and I have long thought it advisable
that such a Station should be established; all that we can do
is to import seeds and plants of economic value, and to report
from time to time as to their suitability to the chmate, and
this is being constantly done, as a reference tomy Annual
Reports will at once show. I would point out that in the
United States of America every State has it Hxperimental
Station, and some of the States I think more than one; all are
hberally supported, and regular and most valuable reports are
distributed amongst farmers free on application, the whole of
these reports being tabulated and arranged at a Central
Station, so that information on any subject which has been
taken in hand may be at once obtained.

I have received from KEngland another importation of about
160 of the enamelled plant labels, but in consequence of the
scarcity of labour already alluded to, they have not yet been

8

put into their places; I hope, however, that this matter will
be attended to in the early part of the year. The trees and
shrubs alluded to in the “Guide” and numbering 550, have
all had a label either attached to them, or placed beside them,
bearing a number corresponding with that in the ‘‘ Guide,” so
that the plant can be referred to with ease; these labels are
made of teak-wood about 3 inches by 4; the ficures are large
and easily seen. A writer in a local paper who visited the-
Gardens, and having apparently but a very vague idea of their
use, likened the Garden to a country Church-yard, where the
grave-sites are numbered in a somewhat similar way; had he
purchased a “‘ Guide” he would I think have altered his mind
on the matter.

It is pleasing to know that at last one specimen at least of
nearly every tree and shrub in the ground has either one of these
labels or an enamelled label with the name attached to, or
alongside it, and if any have been omitted the omission will be
rectified as early as possible.

The catalogue of plants in the Gardens which was published
in 1889, has now become almost obsolete, as since its publica-
tion a very large number of plants have been added to the
collection, but I do not think it nec ‘essary to compile a new one
at present, as the “ Guide ” includes virtually all the trees and
shrubs, and in another year or two when the new Conser-
vatory is filled, it may be advisable to compile a second Guide,
to plants in Conservatory and Ferneries, and such other plants
in the ground as are not included in the present work, and
about which information might be of interest to the public.

PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
——_———__~3 << —__
NAME. FROM.
Bulletin Botanical Department, Jamaica... Director.
» Agricultural Experiment Station,
California, Nos. 116 and 117
» Agricultural Department, Malay
“Peninsula cle

Report Royal Botanic Gar dens, Trinadad ...

5 6 * a Hong-kong A
3 3 5 55 Singapore ... e
x - Calcutta es
= Botmrts Gardlenc: Zurich i s
» » ae Caren Reineh a Curator.

09 0» » Mysore at ... Superintendent.

NAME. From.
Report Botanic Gardens, Hamburg ... a Director.
hs - » Saharunpur... iN. i
” ie », sierra Leone a: rf
,, Cape Government Botanist ... ... Prof. MacOwan.
» Albany Museum ; a ... Dr. 8S. Schonland

Secretary of Agriculture, Nova Scotia Author.
, Agricultural Experient Station, California, Director.
Experiment Station Records, Vol. viii, Nos. 1-12.

Wiolkiz, Nos, 1, Z,. as .. U.S. Government.
Agricultural Jour nal of Queensland... ... H. Cowley,
Government crop Report, Nova Scotia 7.) Opec. Of ACTIE.

New Commercial plants and drugs, by Thos. Christy, Author.
The Olive at the Cape, by Professor MacOwan af
Cultural evolution of Cyclamen latifolium,

by Thiselton Dyer, F.R.5S. ty “.
Plants reputed to be poisonous to stock in

Australia, by J. H. Maiden a 7
Anniversary address to the Royal Society of

N.S.Wales, by the President, J. H. Maiden, F.LS.. ,,

Die nomenclatur bewegung die letzen Jahre,

loyal TED liarris:..

Mayflower; current Nos. - .. - .F wblishers.
Seed production and Seed saving, “by A. J.

Pieters... ..U. 8S. Government.
Superior value of large heavy Seed, “by GH.

Hicks and C. Dubney ... ube m

Year Book ef Agriculture for 1896 . ae *
Useful fibres of the world, by Chas. R. Dodge *

Report on culture of Hemp and Jute by ,, ie

Grasses and forage plants of Iowa, Nebraska, 5
and Colorado, by L. H. Pammel 5

Notes from Botanic Gar leas Sydney Director.

Catalogue of Drugs and minerals, by H. Mercke Author.
Control of temperature in wine fermentation, University of Cal.

Californian Walnuts, Almonds and Chestnuts -
Bleaching nuts by dipping ... a ae ,
Work of College of Agriculture os ae 55
Remedies for Insects and Fungi ies bas -

Californian Vine Hopper : 2
Tree planting and the Rainfall, by A. Wilkinson
Prize Essays... .. Natal Agric. Soc.
Catalogue of plants i in the Garden of Thos.
Hanbury, by K. Dinter ... --»- 4, ,tamburry.

PURCHASED.

Gardeners’ Chronicle. Tropical Agriculturist.
Farmers’ Magazine.

10

Seeds were received during the year as under :—

PACKETS.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ;
ns . 3 Jamaica... ae aa 1
i Bi a Grenada... l
vs 5 Calcutta.. 2
ie Mauritius ae
Botanic Gardens, Bangalore 4,
99 99 Sydney... 25
2 * Najpur... F
A i Madras 2
95 ia Melbourne 839
ni if Baroda... 30
se bi Buenos Ayres 5)
. i Saharunpur 4
Port Darwin ... 15
Museum, Sydney 7

U.S. America Gover mment Agr ostologist eee
Ki. Cowley, State Nursery, Kamerunga, Queensland 2
Acclimatisation Society, Santa Barbara, California 23

Hxperiment Station larata, New Zealand Mega)
H. Dixson Hsq., Sydney ... se te Ap ]
F. Reisen Esq., Walhausen Ay Sih ee OO)
Reasoner Bros., Florida... sie ee ee)
Max Cornu, Paris ... bess ae ni ae ut
A. Wagner, Germany So At vai ras
General ow ther Hingland vie fea es iI
Dr. Thompson, Gazaland .. ne oe 7
M. Buysman, Holland _... ie se ae 3
C. Grosse, Russia ... ae ay sss en ag AO
Damman & Co. leone He ae be ois, oO
Dr. Penther.. : aot = 3 oes a ]
H. W. Gicauas Hic we Se Petal
W. Armstrong, Port Elizabeth i
R. W. Adlam, Johannesburg 4
Max. ereheha Baden-Baden 2
Miss Crompton _... f
Rev. C. H. Kilbon... 9
F. Button 2
W. W. Cato if
Miss Rich ... 1
R. Jameson... 3
M. S. Evans 2
Jas. King... 1
R. W. Adlam 4,
C. A. Holwell 2
G. Thorncroft $e 1
J. A. Polkinghorne oe 24,
Silberred & Sons, London... 1

II

; ioerecicr ,.. 5 ae
Forest Department, Zomba
Unknown ... ate ars

PACKETS.
ue if} mah 53
Total 834

And the following plants were received :—

Royal Botanic Gardens, Mauritius.
Cohnia floribunda. 6
Mibiscus lilliflocus. 6
Trochetia uniflora.
Cyathea exclsa

» caniculata.
Cycas carcinalis.
Ravenala madagascariensis. 6
Coffea liberica.
Ouwvirandra fenestralis.
Pimenta vulgaris.
Theobroma cacao.
Antirrhaea verticillata.
Bombax edulis.
Calophyllum tnophyllum.
Dombeya punctata.
Dodonaea viscosa.
Hugenia cotinifolia.
Olea lancea.
Imbricaria maxina.
media.

» petrolaris.
Tambourissa quadrifida.
Trochetia triflora.
Hugenia malaccensis.
Caryophyllus aromaticus.
From R. Jameson Esq.—

—

>P)

6
6
6
2
1
2
1
iL
1
i
1
1
1
1
1
Lad

ee RRR RS eS BE ONE HORDE ONUNPNNL BO

Pandanus Hydouxia.

m Baniklyes,
» spheroideus.
» adrwpaceus.

microcarpus.

,, montanus (dead.)
Caryophyllus aromaticus.
Dendrobium Dalhousianwm.
Hugenia nalaccensis.
Myristica moschata.
Spondias borbonica.
Aphlova thaeformis.
Carissa xylopicron.
Diospyros tessellaria.
Doratoxylon mauritianun.
Diospyros chrysophylla.
Hrythroaylon laurifolium.
Hngenia glomerata.

Olax psittacorum.
Psiloxylon mauritianum.
Randia heterophylla.
Toddalea aculeata.
Bropiera mauritiana.
Trochetia Blachurniana.

1 Adiantum Farleyense.

A box of Orchids containg 23 plants, 5 of which were dead, and
some unnamed.

In all 165 plants which will be reported upon next year.
During the year 1896, we received 1,029 plants, and 583
packets of seeds, which resulted as under :—

PLANTS.
Dead on arrival ... Fat ars tae eso O
Died afterwards... has te Hae ~ 20
Planted in Gardens, and Nursery ae vee 20
Still in pots... a a bee ahs e010)
Already in stock see te ah i. 003
1,029

12

SEEDs.
Failed to germinate : Me: noe ely hao
Ger sauna but died ailern wards... a Ae 40
Distributed ... Bas ae pe as ee AG
Already in stock ... seh e. sc sfay? oil
Still in pets... x ant fee 82 iste, LOO
Annuals and weeds we: ae bee we 20

Packages of plants were sent away during the year as under:—

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ... 1 box containing 12 plants.
53 ‘ * Mauritius 3 cases ¥ L59E
” ” ” ” 1 box ” D2 9
Botanic Gardens, Port Darwin 1 oe 4 Soe!
u Cambridge hs ps H FE
iF bs Sydney, N.s. Wada i Pf TO
i s, Saharunpur lease 1 10%
Ne ' Madras .. 1 ee ‘ LO*e,
Experiment Station, Kanner unga,
Queensland . 3 cases a Son’ os,
J. O’Brien, iiyearclon lit box e AS <p,
Damman & Co., Naples ... ie ri Soh 5,
Reasoner Bros., Florida... nee is 24
J. C. Harvey, California ee, Ne 2An
Max. Leichtlin, Baden-Baden 1 ss oe LOW.
General Lowther, England ke, ¥ Low 5
M. Buysman, Holland be ‘ 22m

Packets of seeds were sent away as follows :—

Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad ... 24 packets.
be Pe és Hong Kong 7, "24 -
is i + Jamaica ether As is

rn Grenada coe ces a

Botanic Gardens, Saharunpur. ... Bik oe i

; an Madras xs we 24 a
‘ a Najpur gi 2A is
‘ i Sydney, N. S. W. we ee *
‘5 ‘5 Pancisiees : we 24 ns
es 3 Hobart ae Bee a 5
K e, Adelaide oes rie ee Ee

= 48 Port Darwin ... Re aA

13
Experiment Station, Kamerunga, Queensland 24 packets.
L. Cockayne, New Zealand ... = Ser peck
Damman & Co., Naples sa a Fee tee i
Reasoner Bros . Florida on aM, ee ae 4s
Schaff, Shorting & Co., * eh fe poo -
M. Buysman, Holland ... a iy eee cee i
Max. Laichlin, Baden-Baden ... ae bey Jee 5
J. C. Harvey, California ae «Se we a "
Dr. Franceschi, California ... ee notte reel o
General Lowther, England ... ee te FLO fi
A. Wakefield, Verulam a xii vent bey i
De Pass & Co., Reunion Estate ee saa al ns
Trapa bispinosa to 5 applicants ae neem, NO a,

And one box of seeds in quantity to Germany.

Sweet potato tops to 4 applicants, and dried leaves of
Monsonia biflora to 8 applicants, in all 19 pounds weight of
the plant when dry; two of the applicants were outside the
colony.

Plants have been supplied free during the year as under :—

Railway Station, Newcastle... Ss dolby 4/0
Episcopal Church, Hshowe, Zululand . 2, Oy 20
Government School, Addington 2h hoy)
Durban Hospital... a - whi Bey ZG
Jewish Cemetery, Durban at sei 2 BuO
Wesleyan Cemetery a f 2'10);.0
Church Ground, Illovo ... ge an @)
Plat Lon
The following were planted out during the vear—
Alpinia spicata received from Mauritius.
Amaryllis aulica ss - Sander & Co.
Asteracanthea longifolia ,, % Damman & Co.
Bocconia frutescens ts 4 a .
Crinum sp. 3 %9 Sander & Co.
Haemanthus Kalbreyert ,, x Madras.
Hedychium flavescens <2 Mauritius.

The following plants of interest have flowered in the Gardens
during the year, most of them for the first time.

Albuca Nelsoni received from Mr. Nelson.
Angraecum carpophorum Hk ‘ Mauritius.

- pectinatum a 7) ”

14

Asteracantha longifolia received from Damman & Co.
Bulbophyllum prismaticum He 3 Mauritius.
Cannas, 20 new varieties a a Damman & Co.
Cattleys Leopold: 3 Sander & Co.
Castanospermum Cunninghami ,, i, ?
Cecropia peltata Rs - Damman & Co.
Cereus nycticalus Se 5 Adelaide.
Crhysobalanus tcaco ne vt Kew.
Citharexylum sp. 5 Ae M. Colpepper.
Clusia rosea 5 i, y
Convolvulus floridus f a Kew.
Dendrobium bigtbbun hy és H. Dixson.

a fimbriatum. var ,, ss Madras.
Picus repens a a 5
Gleditschia japonica at Ae Kew.
Haemanthus Kalbreyert hs ss Madras.
Hovenia dulcis _ 2 Saharunpur.
Hura crepitans i i India.

Kirkia acuminata if 4 G. Thorneroft.

Lysiloma sabicu i Ad Kew.

Melaleuca genistifolia ‘ iM Melbourne.
Melia azadirachta es Be Calcutta.
Monetia barlerioides a 55 Kew.

Myristica surinamensis #8 3 i

Nandina domestica alba EA id Damman & Co.
Nuexia floribunda A 4 Collected.
Ochrosia elliptica a r Kew.
Rhynchospermum reptans - b Calcutta.

Schubertia grandiflora - A Sander & Co.
Sterculia discolor iA a Bull.
Zingiber @ Arceyt ss if Sander.

Fispre Puants.

Boehmeria nivea. Rheea or Ramie.

A parcel of seed of this plant was received from the Com-
missioner of Agriculture with the request that we should test it
and report on the result; the seed proved to be perfectly good,
aud we have a few plants which will be available for distribu-
tion in the spring; the remainder of the seed was returned to
Agricultural Department; I may say that 1 have little hope of
this plant being a success commercially in the colony, as in
some other countries three or even four crops may be reaped in
in the season; in Natal I think that two are as many as we
could fairly expect to get, which would place us at a consider-
able disadvantage in competing with more favourably situated
places, where heavier crops could be got, and where labour is
more plentiful and cheaper.

~

15
Furcraea Lindeni.

Two plants bearing this name have been in the Gardens for
more than 12 years; the species is closely related to I’. gigantea,
which is the plant yielding what is known as “ Mauritius
Hemp,” and the leaves of our plants contain a fibre which can-
not I think be distinguished from the Mauritius Hemp of
commerce, and in as large a quantity; our plants have attained
a large size, each of them having at least 150 leaves, but what
is most singular is the manner of inflorescence ; instead of what
is called “ polling,’ that is sending up a large flowering stem
from the centre of the rosette of leaves, our plants have thrown
out a number of small, but long flowering stems from the axils
of the lower leaves, and from them produced flowers and seeds
in abundance; the growth of the plants being therefore not
stopped by ‘ polling,” it will be interesting to know how long
they will continue to bear leaves fit for cutting, and how high
the trunk will reach. I had photos of these plants taken by Mr.
Middlebrook, and have sent a short account of the plants to the
Gardeners’ Chronicle, and also to Kew Gardens, in each case
accompanied with photos ; the Director of Kew Gardens asks
for botanical specimens to be sent, and this request will be
comphed with as soon as possible. Though this plant yields
fibre as previously noted, it has the disadvantage of bearing a
few prickies on the edge of leaves, which would perhaps render
them difficult to handle. Mr. Watt of the Umgeni Fibre works
kindly offered to put some of the leaves through the machine,
so as to test the yield, but we have been so busy, and so short
of labour that we have not yet been able to send them.

Forace Pants.

Atriplex canesens.

In my last Report I stated that the seeds of this plant had
been received from the United States Agrostologist. It is a
native of Western Texas, and Arizona, but has in consequence
of over grazing and neglect become almost extinct. One half
of the seed was sown, but unfortunately the young plants
‘damped off’ when quite young; the second portion was then
sown, and the plants are coming on fairly well, more than that
I cannot say at present; so far none of the genus Atriplex have
succeeded here ; we have reared the plants and had them
planted out, but after a time they have all damped off; those
hitherto tried, have, however, been Australian species,
but the present one having a very different habitat is at any
rate worth a trial, as these plants are excellent for stock. The
whole of them prefer I think a saline soil, and there is for that
reason some doubt as to their chance of success in Natal; of
several of the Australian species we have for several years past

16

distributed seed amongst coast and up-country farmers, but I
have not yet heard of any single instance in which they have
met with success.

Peucedanum sp.‘ Koona.”

A packet of seeds of this plant was also received from the
same source as the last named one, but I regret to have to say
that not a single seed germinated, nor do I think that we shall
rear a single one, as the seeds have been a long time in the
ground. The plant belongs to the Order umbelliferae, an
Order which is not noted for yielding f rage plants, though the
present one seems to be highly esteemed in North America.

Desmodium tortuosum. ‘“ Beggar Weed.”

Seeds of this plant were also received from the United States
Agrostologist, and grew vigorously, producing plenty of seed.
It was noted in my last Report, and it is therefore only necessary
now to say again that from accounts received “It produces a
fodder of fine quality in large quantities, and grows best in soils
containing lime. It is also used for green manuring.” Nothing
could be better than its growth here, and it is possible that it
might become a troublesome weed ; it will propagate itself with-
out much attention ; there is, however, little or no demand for
it. So far as the coast districts are concerned, nature seems to
have dealt so bountifully with us, that forage plants which
require attention are scarcely required.

Polygonum sacchalinense. ‘‘ Sacaline.”

This plant has been noted in my previous Reports, and has
been very highly thought of in some places as a forage plant;
it has long been cultivated as an ornamental plant at Home,
but it is only within the last few years that it has been recom-
mended as a forage plant. I regret to have to say that it has
not been found suitable for this purpose, at any rate on the
coast lands of Natal, and what is said of it in the Report on
the Saharunpur Botanic Gardens, is exactly our experience
here. The Superintendent says “ The opinion expressed in the
last Annual Report on the apparent unfitness of this plant for
successful cultivation in this climate has been confirmed by its
behaviour during the past season. The greatest length of
stalk produced did not exceed 23 feet, and as each plant only
yielded a few such stalks, the plant may be looked upon as
utterly worthless for forage, so far as this climate is con-
cerned.” This is almost exactly our experience with it, but I
am told that in the higher districts of the colony, and in the
Transvaal, much better results have been obtained; it is
evident therefore that the plant is not suited for cultivation in
a tropical, or sub-tropical climate,

17
Poterium sanguisorba. “ Burnet.”

In my Report for 1895 it was stated that seeds of this plant had
been given to us by Mr Woods of Estcourt, who advocated it
strongly as a pasture plant ; how it may have succeeded in the
higher parts of the colony, I do not know, but here it has
proved a total failure; plants were reared and put out in the
Garden, but they gradually dwindled away, until now not a
single one is left.

Medicago denticulata and M. laciniata.

Specimens of these plants have several times been sent to
me for identification, usually with the idea that they were
weeds which were spreading on the farms, and which might be
injurious to cattle. These plants belong to the same genus as
the Lucerne, or Alfalfa, which is Medicago sativa, and their
growth on grazing farms should in my opinion be encouraged ;
many species of the genus are good pasture plants, and none of
them so far as I know are injurious. These two species, though
perhaps not really indigenous, have become quite naturalised
in many parts of the colony.

MISCELLANEOUS PLANTS UNDER TRIAL.
Cola acuminata.

This is the tree yielding the ‘‘ Cola nuts” of commerce ;
several plants of it have been reared from seed, and are now
about 18 inches high, but have not yet been planted out in the
Garden, but some of them will be put out during the present
year, and will therefore be reported upon more fully at a
future date. I understand it is a tree of very slow growth, at
any rate in the early stage.

Dipteryx odorata. “Tonquin” or “Tonga” bean.

Three of the plants were received from the Director of the
Kew Gardens, but have not been planted out; this also is
apparently a tree of very slow growth. It is perhaps needless
to state that this tree yields the ‘‘Tonquin Bean” of commerce,
which is used for scent, and perhaps for other purposes also.

Swietewa mahogant. ‘ Mahogany Tree.”

These trees were planted in 1887 and are therefore now 10
years old; one of them is about 20 feet high, with a stem of
about 3 inches in diameter, but has perhaps suffered from
having too many of its lower branches pruned away so as to
procure a straight stem; the other one has not been so much
pruned, and is now about 18 feet high; and both of them are
looking fairly well. This I think is fairly satisfactory, and
shows that the tree would be likely to succeed in the coast

districts, and is worth the notice of our forest department when
established.

18

Carya olivaeformis. ‘ Peccan Nut.”

Plants of this tree were received from Dr. Addison, Senr.,
and are growing fairly well; they are about 18 inches high,
but grow very slowly; we have some seedlings also, which are
perhaps likely to make better trees. Any reliable report on
this plant must be reserved for the present.

Rumex hymenosepalus. ‘‘ Canaigre.”

I have nothing to add to previous reports on this plant,
except that fair sized roots have been raised in the Mooi River
district from the seed supplhed by us; and that our plants
have seeded freely. The head gardener, Mr. Wylie, is of opinion
that better plants are produced from seed than from cuttings
from the roots; and it will give a crop in less than a year from
the time of sowing the seed, but it requires a moist situation,
and would not I think succeed well in very dry soils. The
roots are used for tanning leather, and as a crop it would
probably pay as well as “‘ Wattle Bark,” or perhaps better.
Since writing the above a number of the “ Pharmaceutical
Magazine”’ has come to hand from which I extract the
following :—

“The subject of new tanning materials has from time to
time cropped up as one possessing considerable importance. As
a proof of this we need but point to the interest which centred
a few years ago around the canaigre, the root of the Rumex
hymenosepalus, and in connection with which a Foreign Office
Report on the trade and Agriculture of California issued during
the past year states that the value of canaigre as a tanning
agent, either alone or in connection with other tannins, has pecn
proved beyond question. For light leathers it gives great
tensile strength, and is far better for split leather than
Gambier, oak, or hemlock. It is a quick tanner, and the
yellow colour absorbed by the hide in the process of tanning is
considered highly desirable for certain leathers. The sliced and
dried tubers, containing an average of 30 per cent of tannic acid,
are worth from £8 to £9 a ton. A yield of from 7 to 10 tons
per acre would give 23 to 35 tons of the dried product, for which
there 1s a aon sieint ‘demand in Kurope and America. In
consequence of the rapidity of the growth of this plant in
countries suited to its cultivation it has been recommended to
the notice of farmers of small means.”

Theobroma cacao. Cocoa plant.

Fruits were received from Grenada, and some plants from
Mauritius, and thanks to the new forcing house, a number of
the plants have been raised, and will scon be ready for
distribution. I doubt, however, whether it will be a com-

T9

mercial success in Natal, as our climate is in my opinion not
sufficiently tropical; the winter temperature falling too low to
suit it. It will be well to note that I have been informed by
Mr. H. Bisset that this plant is peculiarly lable to be attacked
by white ants, more so, I think he stated, than any other plant
he knew of; so in putting it out care should be taken to give
it protection of some kind, and I can recommend nothing better
than a flower pot with the bottom sawn off, or a piece of
earthenware pipe, of say 18 inches long sunk in the ground,
leaving about 3 inches above the surface, and then placing the
plant in the centre. Roses planted in this way in the Garden
several years ago, are still alive, while without this protection
they would scarcely have lived three months.

Pistachia vera. ‘ Pistachia Nut.”

A paper on the cultivation of this plant, and its commercial
value was forwarded for my information by the Commissioner
of Agriculture. The trees are of different sexes, and are
usually grafted on other species of the genus, one of which,
viz. P. Jentiscus is flourishing in the Gardens, and I thought it
therefore quite likely that the true species would do equally
well; I therefore took steps to obtain seeds of it, and am pleased
to say that I have been successful, two small bags were
received at the close of the year, and were at once sown.

In the meantime some little doubt exists as to whether the
plant we received and have cultivated as P. lentiscus is really
that plant or not; the head gardener has pointed out that it
appears to be the same species as another plant which we have
received as Schinus terebinthifolia, and this matter cannot well
be decided until the flowers appear, which will be early in the
year. Plants of our P. lentiscus have been reared from seed
with the intention of grafting the P. vera upon them, as soon
as scions can be obtained; but if our P. lentiscus should turn
out not to be the right plant, seeds of another species will have to
be obtained, and in the meantime the plants of P. vera will be
grown on, until stocks can be got ready for grafting upon.

Manthot utilissima. ‘“ Cassava” or “ Manioc.”

In my last Report I gave a short account of the manner in
which the roots of this plant are generally used in Mauritius ;
since then I have received from Mr. Bijoux, and afterwards
from Mr. Le Vieux, some of the biscuits made from this root
for trial, and I have found them very pleasant, though some
people profess not to like them; they are slightly sweetened,
and one good property they have is that on being dipped for
one instant into any fluid they at once become quite soft. We
have had no applications from persons in the colony for

20

cuttings of this plant, though it flourishes well here. In other ©
countries it is highly esteemed, for use in the family, food for
labourers and cattle, and it is ‘said that animals of all kinds
will eat it with avidity, when they become accustomed to it.

This plant is said to yield a large crop in suitable soil, 10
tons of roots per acre being only an ordinary yield. Cuttings
for propagation may be had on application by any person who
wishes to give it a trial, and will take ordinary care of it.
I may say there are two varieties or perhaps species of the
plant, both of which are used, they are known as the “ Sweet”
and the “ Bitter,” the last named being the one used in the
West Indies as the preserving agent in the “ Pepper Pot” well
known to all who have resided in the West Indies.

Widdringtonia Whyter. M’langi Cedar.

A good supply of seed of this valuable timber tree nan been
received from Zomba, in return for a number of economic
plants which were supplied to Mr. Whyte the last time he~
visited Natal. The seed has proved to be quite good, and the
young plants are now coming up thickly; if we are fortunate
enough to get them over the early stage of their growth we
shall have a quantity of plants for distribution in the coming
spring. The tree so far is doing very well in Natal, especially
in the midlands; it is said to be one of the most valuable trees
we have in Africa, and it reaches a very large size. In the
Gardens the white ants seem to be very partial to it, and have
taken every plant that has been put out; but on the ridge of
the Berea one gentleman has a very fine specimen obtained
from us, which is doing so far very well. This is another tree
which should have attention from our Forest Department, as
soon as it is established.

Dioscorea spp. ‘‘ Yams.”

This food plant which is so common and popular in other and
similar countries does not appear to find much favour in Natal,
at which I feel somewhat surprised. We have in the Gardens
two species both of which yield abundantly, and when properly
cooked the tubers are very palatable; one planter to whom I
mentioned the plant as likely to be suitable for cultivation on
his farm told me that ‘“ Sweet potatoes were good enough for
him;” but the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Trinadad, a country where the Sweet potato grows Iuxuriantly,
says of the Yams ‘‘ The results obtained in our Gardens show
fully that the growth of the Yam as a garden crop, pays the
cultivator better than many that are more popular. The
returns published of the crop taken from a small piece of
ground, have, I learn, caused no little surprise to

2I

cultivators. The question of the Yam crop is one of no little
importance, as these tubers ‘are well known to furnish a major
‘“‘yortion of the food supply to the lab urimg population, ant
‘‘also to be an important article in the diet of the ‘‘ well-to-do.”

I can say from experience that the plant succeeds well here,
the largest tuber dug having weighed 34 lbs.; cuttings and
tubers have been supplied to a few‘applicants, but I have no
report on the results.

Moringa pterygosperma. ‘‘ Horse-Radish tree.”

This tree has long been in cultivation in the Gardens, but is I
am afraid now dead. Many years ago I tried it as an oil bearing
tree, but the pods were only sparingly produced, but I left the
farm directly after it came into bearing, and have not heard of it
since that time, though I think that several trees are in existence
on private lands in the colony. It seems now that a new
variety of it has been produced whose inmature seed pods yield
a very palatable vegetable, and as in India the pods are said to
be produced all the year round, it may be worth while, and an
attempt will certainly be made to obtain seed of this variety.
Baron F. vy. Mueller says of this species ‘“ Fruits in Hastern
sub-tropic Australia copiously.” . . . . “The long pods
‘are of culinary use; the seeds are somewhat almond like, and
‘rich in oil which has no perceptible smell, and is esteemed by
watchmakers particularly.” The succulent roots are also used
as a substitute for ‘“‘ Horseradish,’ hence the popular name.

Perennial Cabbage.

We have received from Baron Mueller a few seeds bearing
this name, but reared one plant only. The last Report of the
Botanic Gardens, Saharunpur, says of it ‘* Plants of a perennial
variety of cabbage were received from the Superintendent State
Gardens, Gwalior. It is of unknown origin, but it was first
noticed in the district of Darhanga, from whence it has spread
to other parts of the country. It has the habit of throwing out
offshoots er sprouts which, if separated from the old plants and
planted out as cuttings yield small but compact heads of
cabbage. As this goes on all the year round, cabbage may
always be had in season by means of this variety, if attention
is paid to the separation and planting of the offshoots as they
appear.” Our plant has not done very well, and has suffered
much from attacks of insect pests; we shall, however, try to
propagate it though it scarcely looks promising.

‘Monsonia biflora.
In March last I received a letter from Mr. Thos. Christy,

B.LLS., asking me to try to obtain for trial at Home leaves of
this plant, which has been very favourably reported on by Dr.

~ 22

J. Maberly, M.R.C.S., as a remedy for diarrhaea and dysentery.
The plant is not found near Durban, and I was quite unable to
meet with anyone who knew it. I therefore went with my native
attendant to the vicinity of Charlestown, where I felt sure I
could get it in quantity, and I was fortunate enough to meet
with it in good order, and to secure both the plant for drying,
and also seeds for sowing. The greater portion of the dried
plant was sent to Mr. Christy, but several small parcels have
been given to medical men both in Natal and also in the
Transvaal for trial. A large number of packets of the seed
have been sent to correspondents in different parts of the world,
and from one or two of them I have since heard that the seed
has germinated, but | have no report of the trial of the drug at
Home, in due course I shall no doubt hear more of it. It is
somewhat singular that though the plant is undoubtly indigen-
ous, the natives do not appear to have any specific name for it,
nor do they use it in any way, so far as I have been able to
learn. My first information as to its virtues came to me many
years ago from Mr. Rushby, of Estcourt, who had formerly re-
sided in the Free State, and he pointed out M. biflora as the plant
which was used by the Boers, with as he said much success;
but the one mentioned by Dr. Maberly is M. ovata, which is not
I think found in Natal, but we have a variety which is said at
Kew to be intermediate between the two; it is quite likely
therefore that both species are similarly used, and very pro-
bably M. attenuata, our only other species, may have similar
properties. In Natal M. biflora is the most common, and is the
one which has been pointed out to me by two persons as the one
used in the Transvaal and Free State.

Sweet Potatoes.

The three varieties which were imported from Florida as
stated in last year’s Report, have done very well, and a large
number of cuttings have been given to applicants, some of
whom have expressed themselves as very much pleased with
them.

Zeea mays. Mealies.

The four plants reared from seed received from Mr. Thos.
Christy as stated in last year’s Report,grew to about 16 feet in
height, but as this variety evidently requires a long time to
mature, and was planted rather late in the season, only one
cob was produced, and that butasmall one; we have, however,
several plants reared from the seed, which were sown earlier
than in last year, and so will havea fairer trial. In consequence
of the time that this variety takes to mature seeds, it will
I fear not be fitted for the higher districts of the colony.

23

Bucalyptus leaves.

From the Report of the Saharunpur Botanic Gardens for
1897, I note the following: ‘‘ The demand for leaves of the Kuca-
lyptus for cleansing the boilers of locomotives still continues ;
84% maunds were supplied to various railways ior this purpose.”
I am not aware whether the leaves of these trees are used for
this purpose in Natal; if not it is worth the notice of the
authorities.

A large demand has been made during the year for grafted
plants of the Citrus family, and numbers of trees are being
planted out; it will I think therefore be of interest if I add to
this Report, a copy of an article on the manuring of the Orange
family, and another shorter one on their propagation, especially
as an idea seems to be industriously circulated that Lemon stocks
are not the best for grafting, or that seedlings are preferable to
erafted plants, the latter is however too absurd to need further
comment. We have tried stocks of the common Orange,
Seville or Sour Orange, and Shaddock, but have found that
Lemon stocks give by far the best results. -We are always,
however, willing to supply plants grafted upon other stocks to
order, if sufficient notice is given, but for Natal we strongly
recommend the Lemon stocks.

Ee

MANURES AND ORANGHES.

By H. C. Webber, Assistant in Division of Vegetable Pa-
thology, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Probably the most important question which concerns the
orange grower is how to fertilise his trees. In Florida, where
the orange soils are mostly very sandy and sterile, and require
to be fertilized regularly, it is highly important to understnad
what elements should be used in fertilisation,and in what forms
it is best to use them. No plant will long withstand improper
treatment. In case of slow growing plants like the orange,
where proper treatment prolongs growth and productiveness
for centuries, it becomes particularly necessary that correct
methods of manuring be used. The condition of the tree re-
flects largely the cumulative treatment of years; in crops that
are replanted each year, however, the effect of improper fertili-
sation is probably less noticeable, especially so far as the
development of disease is concerned.

In growing annual plants one can early notice results and
may profit by experience. A few seasons will suffice to de-
termine about the kind and quantity of fertiliser necessary for

24

them on a particular soil. In the fertilisation of the orange,
however, the matter is not so easily determined ; only the
observations of a series of years will give results which can be
depended upon. An orange grower may fertilise with one
element one year and get good results, but this is no evidence
that the same element used the next year, or year after year,
will prove beneficial ; it may, indeed, in prolonged treatment,
lead to deterioration and disease. It is this difficulty in ex-
perimenting and drawing correct conclusions that acconnts for
the present poor understanding of rational methods of manur-
ing the orange.

The orange appears to be very sensitive to methods of treat-
ment and fertilisation, and several of the most serious diseases
are either caused or aggravated by errors in these. The
present paper is based lav ‘oely on the experience of intelligent
orange growers and upon such observations as the writer has
been able to make in the course of investigations of orange
diseases.

FERTILISING FoR GRowTH AND FRUIT.

Primarily the orange grower desires to know how to fertilise so
as to stimulate either growth or fruit production. With oranges
as with many other agricultural plants, one may fertilise
in such a manner that excessive growth is stimulated at the
expense of fruit production. A strong nitrogenous fertiliser
results usually in much growth and little fruit. This seems to
be particularly true if ammonia is added in an organic form.
While trees are young it is probably well to favour the growth
of wood principally, but at the age of seven or eight years from
the bud, the tree, if it has grown properly, will have attained
sufficient size to begin to produce a fair quantity of fruit. It
should then be given a slightly modified fertiliser, containing
more potash and phosphori ic acid, and less nitrogen, to stimulate
fruit production as much as possible. The so- ~called chemical
manures appear to be much more active in stimulating fruit
production than organic manures.

EFFECT ON QUALITY OF FRuIv.

The experience of many orange growers indicates that the
quality of the fruit may be largely controlled by fertilisation.
As oranges are purchased very largely on their appearance and
quality, this becomes an important consideration in manuring.
Many intelligent growers are coming to believe that the best
results can be obtained by giving the trees an application of
that element only which seems to be lacking, and not using, as

~

‘Bs

the majority do, a complete fertiliser, in definite proportions,
regardless of whether all the elements are needed by the plant
or not. If it can be determined by the appearance of the tree
and fruit what element is lacking, this would seem to be the
most rational way to fertilise. It seems reasonable to suppose
that by careful study pathological characters induced by
starvation might be found, which would serve to indicate
clearly the lack of any particular element. Some growers
claim to be able to recognise these characters now, and are
fertilising largely on this modified plan, taking advantage of
what we might call the sign language of the tree. Some of
these characters will be mentioned below under the considera-
tion of the different elements used.

-

EFFECT ON SOIL MOISTURE.

In fertilisation, at Jeast two factors must usually be con-
sidered, the element of plant food supplied and the effect of
this upon the soil as aiding it in supplying the plant with
moisture. The heavy application, in late fall or early spring,
of an organic manure, Jike blood and bone, which is extensively
used in Florida, is lable to lead to injurious effects during the
spring drought, if the trees are on high and dry land. On the
other hand, such soils might be ameliorated by using substances
which attract water and increase the surface tension of the
soil moisture. Nitrogen for instance, used in the form of nitrate
of soda, and potash, in the form of kainit, would tend to draw
up the subsoil moisture and probably aid largely in
supplying the necessary moisture during this trying season.
The use of organic manures, on the contrary, only exaggerate
the damage produced by drought. If groves are on very moist
land, as is frequently the case in Florida, where the necessity is
to lessen the moisture rather than to increase it, some form of
organic manure, as muck or blood and bone, might be found of
benefit.

HFFECT OF FERTILISERS ON THE ORANGE IN HEALTH.

The elements which need to be supplied in fertilisation to
most Florida orange groves are nitrogen, potassium, and phos-
phorus; or using the terms in which they are expressed in
most analyses of fertilisers, ammonia, potash, and phosphoric
acid. The application of lime would also prove of benefit to
many groves. Probably no element of plant food used in the
fertilisation of orange groves should be more carefully considered,
with respect to form and quantity, than nitrogen. It is the
most costly and at the same time the most dangerous element
to use, as excessive applications are liable to result in extensive
dropping and splitting of the fruit, or in the production of the
serious disease known as die-back, which will be discussed
below.

26
EFFECT OF NITROGEN.

A grower may with considerable certainty determine by the
appearance of his trees the condition of his grove in respect
to the supply of nitrogen available in the soil. An abundance of
nitrogen is indicated by a dark green colour of the foliage, and
rank growth. The fruit shows the effect of an abundance of
nitrogen by being, in general, large, with a thick and com-
paratively rough rind. If the trees have a yellowish foliage,
with comparatively small leaves, and show little or no growth,
there is probably a lack of nitrogen. In this case there is
but little fruit formed, and that formed is small and usually
colours early. If the tree is starving from a lack of nitrogen,
the foliage will become very light yellow and sparse, and small
limbs will die, as will also the large limbs in extreme cases. If
the starvation is continued, no fertiliser being added, the tree
will finally die back, nearly to the ground, and probably die
eutirely. The extreme symptons of general starvation from
lack of elements are probably nearly the same. The nitrogen
used in fertilisation is commonly derived from mineral: or
organic sources. Of the former, sulphate of ammonia and nitrate
of soda are the forms most used; of the latter, muck, dried
blood and bone, cotton seed meal, tankage, fish scrap, stable
manure, etc., are the forms most commonly employed.

InsuRI0oUS ACTION OF Muck.

Muck is very commonly applied in considerable quantities
either in a raw state or composted with sulphate of potash, ete.
Many growers rather fanatically hold to what they term
natural fertilisation. By this is usually meant giving the tree
nourishment in the form in which they suppose it to be derived
in nature. It1is contended by many that muck is principally
decaying vegetable matter, and that as this is the form of
nourishment which the trees obtain in nature, 1t must bea
good fertiliser to use in cultivation. Butit must be borne in
mind that orange trees as we cultivate them are decidedly not
in a state of nature, except that by the cultivation of centuries
we have made cultivation and manuring natural conditions
which the plant demands. Trees in nature bear fiuits for seed
to reproduce the species; on the contrary we grow fruits for
market, and favour a seedless variety. We want a smooth,
thin-skinned, tender, juicy fruit that will sink in water.
Nature does not pay particular attention to these characters,
so we watch for freaks and sports, abnormal plants, which have
the characters we desire, and when found we render these
characters permanent by budding. Our aim in cultivation is
not to produce the fruit we find in the wild state, but to modify
that fruit to suit our purpose. One of the most efficient

27

methods of accomplishing this is to vary the fertilisation.
While it cannot be denied that muck has in some cases given
excellent results, it must be conceded that its extensive use has
usually been of a doubtful benefit, and has often done positive
injury. Groves which have had liberal dressings of muck are
frequently much diseased and produce light crops; the oranges
are usually coarse, thick-skinned, and sour; the productiveness
is often lessened by extensive premature dropping of the fruit ;
the tendency seems to be to bring on “ die-back,” a disease
which is of frequent occurrence in the groves heavily fertilised
with muck. What has been said of muck applies to a greater
or less extent to the various forms of organic nitrogen used.
The tendency of all organic manures rich in nitrogen is to produce
a large growth which is weak and sickly. Growth and not
fruit is stimulated, and the fruit resulting 1s usually of poor
quality, inclined to be large and rough, with a thick rind, and
abundant rag.

STABLE MANURE OF DOUBTFUL UTILITY.

Barn manure is largely used by many growers, who still hold
to the tradition that chemical manures are injurious to the
plants. The benefits of barn manure in an orange grove are in
serious question. The fruits produced by nitrogen from this
source are, as above stated, usually large, coarse, thick-skinned,
with abundant rag, and of inferior flavour. If barn manure
is used—and most growers have a limited quantity and desire
to use what they have—it should be spread over the grove
lightly, so that each tree receives only a small amount. Where
much manure is depended npon as the main element of fertili-
sation, liberal dressings of potash should be occasionally
applied ; this will tend to correct the evils of an overbalanced
nitrogenous fertiliser. What has been said as to the effect of
muck and barn manure on the quantity of fruit applies equally
to the effects produced by cotton-seed meal, blood and bone,
tankage, etc.

In general, organic fertilisers do not stimulate fruiting to
the same extent as the mineral fertilisers. It is probably better

economy to apply such fertilisers to annual crops, cereals,
garden truck, etc,

MINERAL NITROGEN.

The mineral nitrogen manures, nitrate of soda and sulphate
of ammonia, apparently stimulate production of fruit more than
organic manures, and yet promote a fair general growth. The
fruit produced by fertilisation with the salts, used in correct
proportions with the other elements which it is necessary to
apply, is usually of good quality, being solid, juicy, and rich,

28

with thin skin, and little rag. Sulphate of ammonia has the
effect, growers testify, of sweetening the fruit to a considerable
extent. There seems to be little doubt as to the correctness of
this view, but why it is so, remains a question. The sweetening
is probably more marked if there is a slight deficiency of
potash, The use of very large quantities of either sulphate of
ammonia or nitrate of soda may result disastrously, acting as
‘chemical poison,” killing the trees outright and causing them
to throw off their leaves. Here again the exact action is not,
to my knowledge, understood. The following may be the
explanation :—It 1s well known that plants growing on the sea-
coast, in soil saturated with the salty sea water, are, in some
respects, under almost the same condition as in the deserts,
having great difficulty im obtaining sufficient water, though
surrounded by water. The root hairs have difficulty in extract-
ing the water from the salty solutions. The plants thus have
various devices to prevent excessive evaporation or transpiration
of water from the leaves, similar to those developed by desert
plants.

The injurious effect of the nitrogen salts may in this case be
caused by simply producing such a strong solution of the salt
in the vicinity of the plant that the roots are not able to absorb
the necessary moisture, and thus the plant is compelled to cut
off its leaves to prevent the transpiration of the water which
cannot be replenished by further absorption. Sulphate of am-
monia has been very widely used among orange growers.
Nitrate of soda has been but little used thus far, but is ap-
parently growing in favour. Its insecticide and water-attracting
properties are probably much greater than those of sulphate of
ammonia.

PotasH FERTILISERS.

In fertilising the orange, potash is most frequently used
either _in the form of the sulphate or of wood ashes. While
sulphate of potash has been most widely used, there is ap-
parently little evidence that it is in any way superior to other
forms. Muriate of potash, containing the equivalent of about
50 per cent. of actual potash, the form probably used in the
apple and peach orchards of the North, has been little used in
orange groves. Apparently those who have used this form have
uniformly obtained good results. Kainit, or German potash
salt, which is a crude double salt of magnesium sulphate with
calcium chloride, containing the equivalent of 12 to 14 per cent.
of actual potash, is a form much used in Northern orchards,
and is promising for use in orange groves. Its very active
effect in increasing the surface tension of the soil moisture, and
thus attracting water to the trees, might make it an excellent
form to add in early spring to aid the plant in withstanding the

29

spring drought, which is so frequently injurious to the orange
tree, and sometimes fatal to the fruit crop. Growers not sup-
plied with facilities for irrigation would, undoubtedly, find it
profitable to consider carefully points of this nature in fertilisa-
tion. The noticeable effects of potash on the orange tree
appears to be its aid in completing and maturing the wood.
Apparently an insufficient amount of potash is shown by an
excessive growth of weak, immature wood, which does not
harden up as winter approaches and is liable to be injured by
frost. An abundance of potash, in the form of sulphate of
potash, or tobacco stems, is said by many growers to produce:
excessively sour fruit. That potash is necessary in fruit pro-
duction is shown by the fact that the fruit contains a large
percentage of this element. An average of fifteen analyses of
different varieties of Florida oranges shows 52°05 per cent. to
be about the usual amount of potash in the ash of the orange
fruit. The ash in these fifteen analyses averaged 0:916 per
cent., or less than 1! per cent., of the total weight of the fruit.

PHosPHORIC ACID.

Phosphoric acid, which is a very necessary element of ferti-
lisation on Florida orange lands, is mostly used in the form of
dissolved bone-black, acidulated bone or phosphate rock, soft
phosphate, raw bone, guano, etc. The immediate effect of phos-
phoric acid on the orange tree and fruit is little understood.
Several intelhigent growers claim to be able to recognise the
effect of phosphorous starvation by the appearance of the new |
growth of leaves. If these when they first push out, or while
they are still young and tender, present a slightly variegated
appearance, mottled with light and dark green, it is claimed
that they are suffering from lack of phosphorus, and that if a
liberal application of some soluble phosphate is applied, this
appearance may be checked. If this can be shown to be true
it will prove a valuable index to the available quantity of phos-
phoric acid in the soil. <A similar appearance may, however,
appear in light cases of the so-called ‘‘frenching,” a disease, or
more probably a symptom of disease, which is not uncommon.
Phosphorous starvation, it is true, may have some effect in
inducing this disease.

LIME.

Lime, it is usually supposed, is present in sufficient quantities
in most of our soils. It may be questioned, however, whether
the common high pine land and scrub land, and indeed much |
of the flat woods and hummock of the interior of Florida, might
not be benefitted by dressings of lime. From the superiority of
oranges grown on soils which are known to be rich in lime it
would seem that this is probably a very desirable and necessary

30

element for the production of superior fruit, The fine, smooth-
skinned, and deliciously flavoured Indian and Halifax River
oranges, with their characteristic aroma, are grown largely on
soils rich in lime from shell mounds, and coralline, and coquina
rock. The oranges produced in the noted Orange Bend Ham-
mock, which are of distinctive quality, with delicate, rich
aroma, and thin, smooth rind, are produced on a soil underlaid
by a marl rich in lime. hime soils are in many orange
countries considered superior for orange growing. Dr. A.
Stutzer, in his work on the Fertilisation of Tropical Cultivated
Plants, writes; ‘“The orange and citron fruits desire a deep,
porous, dry soil, rich in lime. If sufficient lime is not present
the fruit w ll be thick-skinned, and not have a fine aroma.” It
appears also that the effect of abundant hme is to hasten
to some extent the time of ripening. Fruits grown on
soils rich in lime appear to colour and become suitable for ship-
ping somewhat earlier than those grown on soils containing
but little lime. To secure a good quality of fruit the regular
application of lime may be found very desirable in may groves.

FH®RTILISATION AS AFFECTING DISEASE.

Probably the most common cause of injury to orange trees
is a lack of fertilisation, yet it is not frequent for disease to be
induced-or aggravated by excessive or improper fertilisation.
This may, indeed, be of much more importance than we are at
present inclined to believe. One of the forms of Die-back, a
common and destructive disease of the orange, is quite evidently
due to errors in fertilisation. In other cases the disease ap-
pears to be caused by planting in improper soil.

Diz-Back.

Die-back manifests itself by a number of striking characters.
The foliage becomes very dark green, the vigorons growth
remains angular and immature and frequently becomes strongly
recurved, and the tips turn up slightly, forming S-shaped
curves. In the spring, trees affected with this disease start out
a very vigorous growth, which may continue for several months.
Finally a reddish brown resinous substance exudes on the
twigs forming the so-called die-back stain, which is very
characteristic, and they begin to die back. This death of
tissues may include the entire new growth or only a portion
of it. Under the bark of the young limbs gum pockets form
and burst out, causing large, unsightly eruptions on the twigs.
Larger gum pockets frequeutly form at the nodes, producing
large swellings. Ifa tree is badly affected, no fruit is formed ;
if moderately affected an abundance of fruit sets, but the larger
portion of this turns to a lemon-yellow colour before half

31

grown, becomes stained by the characteristic reddish exudations
hke that occuring on the branches, and prematurely falls.
Fruit which hangs on the tree till nearly ripe is large and
coarse and is frequently stained. It usually splits and falls
before thoroughly ripe. The fruit ona slightly affected tree
is very large and coarse, with a very thick, rough rind. Much
of it is rendered unsaleable by the reddish Die-back stain.
It is very prone to spht and fall before mature. Frenching, or
variegation of the foliage, frequently accompanies die-back and
seems to be asympton of the disease. The very dark green
colouration which some growers believe to be an indication of a
healthy grove, may, on the contrary, denote a condition verging
on die-baek. A lighter green would probably indicate better
general health.

Dik-BACK A DISEASE OF INDIGESTION.

Die-back appears to be a form of indigestion, due to an over-
fed condition of the plant. It occurs apparently wherever
excessive quantities of nitrogenous manures from organic
sources are applied or become available to the plant. Trees
near closets or barns or in barnyards almost invariably have
die-back. When chickens roost on a tree for any length of time,
‘so that the dropping fall on the soil beneath, the disease
usually results. Many cases are known to the writer where it
has apparently been caused by excessive applications of cotton
seed meal, blood and bone, barn manure, ete. Indeed all
organic fertilisers in excessive quantities appear to give rise to
it. If organic fertilisers are used they must therefore be ap-
plied with considerable caution to avoid an excess. No safe
rule can be given as to the amount of manure that can be used
with safety; this depends upon the size and condition of the
tree, previous treatment, and soil conditions.

Whether the chemical manures, nitrate of soda and sulphate
of ammonia, will produce the disease if used in excessive
quantities, 1s questionable. We have not been able to learn of
any instance where this has ocurred. Several cases are known
where nitrate of soda was used of sufficient strength to cause
the leaves to fall without producing any sign of this disease.
Frequently the method of cultivation has considerable to do in
causing die-back, excessive cultivation appearing to aggravate
it very greatly.

MAL-DI-GOMMA.

The much dreaded disease of foot rot, or mal-di-gomma, is
probably not produced primarily by improper methods of
fertilisation, but seems to be considerably affected by the use of
fertilisers and methods of cultivation. Groves in which cow-

32

penning has been practised to a considerable extent, are fre-
quently affected with foot rot. This is so generally the case as
to admit of little doubt that this practice has considerable to do
in inducing the disease. The extensive application of organic
manures appears also to aggravate the malady to some extent,
and their use in infected groves should be discouraged.

Insect DISEASES.

With regard to the effect of fertilisation upon insects which
infest the orange, it may be said that the question is little
understood. A general impression exists among the growers
of the State, that groves fertilised with blood and bone or barn
manure are more liable to be badly infested with injurious insects
than those fertilised exclusively with chemical manures. This
appears to be especially true in the case of the six-spotted mite
(Teranychus 6-maculatus) and the purple scale (Mytilaspis
citricola) ; judging from observations on many groves which
have been fertilised with chemical manures only, it seems
that this belief is well founded. There is some evidence that
the muriate of potash aids to some extent in preventing the
ravages of the rust mite. Dr. Smith, of New Jersey Agri-

cultural Experiment Station, has found nitrate of soda and kainit |

to be very active insecticidal fertilisers. These have not been
used to any extent in fertilising orange groves in Florida, and
no data have been obtained as to their effect on orange insects.
It is improbable that they would prove more effective than
sulphate of ammonia, or sulphate and muriate of potash, and
they should be thoroughly tested to determine their value as
fertilisers for the orange.

SUMMARY.

Summarising it may be said:

(1.) By a proper combination of the various elements used in
fertilisation, one can undoubtedly largely govern the quality
and flavour of the fruit.

(2.) To obtain a fruit with thin rind, use nitrogen from in-
organic sources in moderate quantities, with considerable potash
and lime.

(3.) To sweeten the fruit, use sulphate of ammonia in con-
siderable abundance, decreasing the amount of potash.

(4.) To render the fruit more acid, increase the amount of
potash and use nitrogen from organic sources.

(5.) If it be desired to increase the size of the fruit, as is
sometimes the case, apply a comparatively heavy dressing of
nitrogen in some organic form and slightly decrease the other

36

elements. In the case of the Tangerine and Mandarin, where
a larger size is usually desired, a heavy dressing of nitrogen
fertilisers would favour this end, and is not objectionable
unless carried to excess.

(6.) Fertilisation has an important bearing on diseases.

(7.) Die-back, a serious malady, is in all probability the
result of overfeeding with nitrogenous manures from organic
sources. ‘hese manures, if used at all, should be applied with
great caution.

(8.) Foot rot, although not primarily due to improper

methods of fertilisation, is no doubt considerably influenced by

this cause.

(9.) Insect diseases are also apparently influenced by the use
of fertilisers, organic manures rendering the trees more liable
to injury from this source than chemical fertilisers.

SM Sanh ai
(EXTRACT. )

Method of propagating the Orange and other Citrus fruits.

By Herbert J. Webber, Assistant, Division of Vegetable
Physiology and Pathology, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

STOCKS.

The kind of stock used for budding has considerable in-
fluence on the health, vigor, and productiveness of the tree. As
some stocks will not do well on certain soils, and some varieties
grow well only on certain stocks, it is desirable that the stock
used for planting any given tract be carefully considered. The
orange and pomelo, or grape fruit, are commonly budded
on sweet orange, sour orange, lemon, or pomelo stocks.
If planting is to be done on rich, moist lowlands
(low hammocks, and flat woods) which are subject to
foot rot, or mal-di-gumma, stock which is immune from
this disease should be used. Sour orange stock is the most
resistant variety that has been found, and usually gives the best
results. Pomelo, or grape fruit stock, is also quite resistant and
is probably the best stock in foot-rot regions where the soil is
droughty at certain seasons of the year. It is a more vigorous
grower than the sour orange and resists drought better. Foot
rot is common also on some flat woods and high pineland soils
which are dry and well drained, and in such localities the
pomelo is probably the best stock for general use. In the case

34

of high and dry lands not much subject to foot rot, sweet
orange, lemon and pomelo, are probably the best stocks. On dry
lands, sour stock, although much used, does not always give
satisfaction. Lemon Stocks, particularly the Florida rough
lemon, is a very excellent stock for dry sterile lands, as it isa
very vigorous grower, doing fairly well in soil where the sweet
orange would perish. It is so easily injured by cold, however,
that it is safe only in southern localities. Pomelo is also a
more vigorous grower than sweet orange, and is probably a
better stock for dry lands, but it is more tender, and should be
budded near the ground or its use limited to southern regions.
In regions where foot rot is prevalent, sweet orange and lemon
stock should never be used, as they are very particularly sub-
ject to this disease. The lime, which is a very vigorous
growing stock, similar to the lemon, is used to some extent in
southern Florida as a stock for the orange, and is said to be
excellent for barren scrub and rocky locations The hardy
trifoliolate orange is used to limited extent as a stock for the
orange, but has not always given thoroughly satisfactory
results. Tangerine and China (Mandarin) do well on any of
the stocks used for the common sweet orange, but as the grower
usually desires to increase the size of these varieties it is prob-
ably preferable to bud them on rough lemon stock. The
Satsuma, which is a hardy variety, is very extensively budded
on the hardy trifoliolate orange, on which it is said to do well.
It also gives good results on sweet orange, which is probably the
best stock to use in southern locations, but does not do well on
sour orange stock, the rough lemon being considered the most
desirable, as it is the most vigorous grower. In selecting
stocks it is also important that the latitude and _ local
climate be carefully considered. The various Citrus species used
as stocks for grafting or budding vary greatly in their re-
sistance to cold. The following is a list of stocks commonly or
sometimes used, and is arranged in order of hardiness, the
hardiest being placed first :—Taifoliolate orange, sour orange,
bitter sweet orange, sweet orange, pomelo, rough lemon (or
lemon) lime, and citron. In localities where there is danger of
severe freezes, no matter what stock is used, the point of union
should be placed near or below the surface of the soil, so that
the buds may be saved in case of freezes.

In regard to the effect of stock on the character of the fruit,
it may be said that while some growers claim to have observed
that the fruit is rendered coarser and thicker skinned by bud-
ding on vigorous, rapidly growing stocks, like the pomelo and
the lemon, yet it is certain that the difference is very slight, and
in most cases hardly perceptible. In this connection all that
needs to be considered is, that stocks of this nature tend to

eb)
produce rather larger fruits. While in some varieties this
character is a disadvantage, it is on the other hand an advan-
tage to have a vigorous stock, as in certain varieties this is
necessary to insure fruitfulness. The varieties of the Navel

orange are unfruitful on sweet or sour stock, but usually they
are normally prolific if budded on rough lemon.”

fm conclusion I wish to thank the members of the Committee
for thei kind and unfailing courtsey on all occasion connected
with the work of the Gardens. My hearty thanks are due to Mr.
Wylie, the head gardener, for his skilful co-operation through
a somewhat trying year. Mr. Harman and Mr. Rutter still
remain with us, and have quite justified the praise given to
them in previous reports. Mr. W. Thorpe arrived in January
with excellent testimonials from the Director of Kew Gardens,
and has proved a valuable addition the staff. Mr. A. Blunden
commenced work at the beginning of the year, at first tem-
porarily, but he still continues with us, and gives every
satisfaction.

I have the honor to be,
Gentlemen,

Your obedient servant,

J. MEDLEY WOOD

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