- REPORT NATAL BOTANIC GARDENS f 6 Colonial Herbarium eSYEAR 18989 4 ie ., nye! J. MEDLEY WOOD A.L.S., 4 Corresponding Member of the Pharmaceutical Society os of Great Britain. 1 c | CURATOR. DURBAN: Bennett & Davis, Printers, 345, West Srrevr. $899; Durban Botanic Society. Taran Bongure Gxnneys, q FOR THE | - eeY RAR 1898,3% : J. MEDLEY WwooD -A.L.S., _ Corresponding Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. a Go LISS WA Ee ee: ite Frys FM et . ears nh ar bets i Sey yi Beige rg deb caged Ft y DURBHR . BONARIC . SOCIETY. President : B. W. GREENACRE, ESQ. Hon. Ser. : Bon. Cyrasurey : Mr. J. D. BAULANCE. - Mr. M. S. Evans, M.L.A. Evminitter : Mr. JAS. BENINGFIELD. Mr. T. W. EDMONDS. Hon. R. JAMESON, M.L.C. Mr. H. H. PUNTAN. Mr. G. RUTHERFORD, C.M.G. Mr. R. H. TATHAM. Government Menthers ; Mr. J. S STEEL. Mr. F. BUTTON. Mayors of Durban and Maritzburg, ex officio. @Qiurator : J. MEDLEY Woop, A.L.S. Digitized by the Internet Archive ue in 2012 with funding from a | History Lit EGO Tes http://archive.org/details/reportot NATAL BOTANIC GARDENS. ae fo __- —-—__ —-- Seats yen ANE N/a no <> 0<-—_—. 1. The Gardens are open to the public every weekday from sunrise to sunset; on Sundays from 2 o’clock p.m. until sunset. 2. The only public entrance is opposite to Botanic Gardens Road, and persons are prohibited from entering or leaving by any other way. 3. Children under ten years of age, unless accompanied by a competent protector, cannot be admitted. 4. Persons accompanied by a dog or dogs cannot be admitted. 5. No vehicle shall be allowed entrance, nor persons upon bicycles, but upon application to the Curator, invalids in wheeled chairs may be admitted. 6. Admission may be granted to pic-nic parties, if permission be first obtained from the Curator. 7. Visitors are requested to keep to the paths. 8. Touching or handling plants, fruit, or flowers, is strictly prohibited. 9. All games, climbing of trees, shooting with guns or cata- pults, throwing of stones or fruit, disorderly or indecent behaviour, are strictly prohibited. 10. Any persons abstracting, destroying or damaging any property of the Society shall be liable to be prosecuted. ll. The Curator is hereby authorised to prosecute offenders under the foregoing Bye-Laws whenever found to be necessary. an meee ren ee The Jubilee Conservatory is open to the public as under :— Week days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer; from 9 a.m. to sunset in winter; Sundays, from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. in ummer; from 2.30 p.m. to sunset in winter. on we AS ModE Y fxloaw Varn SNe h ey wih tugs “ “auehiatl, Chea fide (Ly) eit? ania) = ty he Qe set mag weer We ADR VEE e Morel iy 1) iy pa G1 waa ls \ v Favinde r & ex rere A) ¥ Agte at i‘ a 4 a ie 2, ay ei id f ra ue ry a Ae a: OGG ci) “4 ‘: gute AOLETL YE. LEG “+ REHEPORT.2c- Natat Botanic GARDENS, Berea, Dourpan, January, 1899. To THE PRESIDENT AND COMMITTEE, Dursan Botanic Society. GENTLENEN, In presenting my seventeenth Annual Report, I have again much pleasure in being able to say that we have had in all respects a most successful season, the rainfall for the year as will be seen from the Abstract of Meteorological Observations kindly supplied by the Government Astronomer has been 42°48 inches which is 8:09 more than the fall for 1897, which was also a good year. We have not suffered damage from drought, flood, or gales of wind, and though the locusts have visited us on several occasions, they stayed but a Short time, and did no material damage. The year bas been again an exceedingly busy one, and im- provements, other than the erection of the new Jubilee Palm House could not be undertaken. The attempt to provide a Palm House and Conservatory which should be worthy of the Gardens and the town was commenced in 1897, and a sub- committee consisting of Mr. T. W. Edmonds and Mr. M. S&S. Evans, M.L.A., was appointed to obtain subscriptions for this purpose from the public, and as will be seen by the statement of accounts submitted herewith their efforts were met with very distinct success, especially when it is considered that all the subscriptions were obtained from Durban residents, and none were asked for, from either the Government or the Cor- poration. As soon as it was found that sufficient funds would be obtained, tenders were called for at Home, several designs were sent, and that of Messrs. Jas. Boyd & Son, of Glasgow, was finally selected as being the most suitable, tenders were then invited for the brick work, &c., &c., and for erecting the superstructure on its arrival. | 8 The brick work was commenced in March, and in the early part of May the woodwork for the superstructure arrived and Mr. Lansdell who had the superintendence of its erection, commenced work at once, the building was completed in October, but the internal arrangements took some time to complete, and it was finally opened to the public by His Excellency, Sir Walter-Hely Hutchinson, K.C.M.G., Governor of the Colony, on the 8th December, and a reproduction of a photo taken during the opening ceremony will be found at the end of this Report. Though there were not a large number of people present, many have visited the Gardens since, and all express their complete satisfaction with the building and its internal arrangements. We find that many plants, such as Caladiums, Ferns, &c., have made very rapid progress since they were transferred to the new House, and we hope to be able to grow in it plants which in spite of our so-called semi-tropical climate will not succeed out of doors, but to stock the House with such plants will necessarily take some time to accomplish, I have, however, several promises of assistance from various correspondents, and some plants have already arrived, but are as yet too small to make much show. The old gate at the main entrance to the Garden has been now removed, and a new wrought iron pair of gates with about 30 yards of fencing to match has been erected in its place, an improvement which has long been urgently required. From the gate of the Curator’s residence to the corner. of the Observatory ground a fence of plain and barded wire with iron posts has been erected, this having become absolutely neces- sary in consequence of trespass by natives and Indians. The material is on hand for continuing this fence below the main entrance, to the southern corner of the Garden ground, and this fence will be completed in the early part of the present year. The fence along the Sydenham Road is at present not effectual, and it is hoped that a substantial wire fence will take its place during the year. On several occasions it has been suggested by Borough Councillors and others that it would be a convenience to the public to continue the Botanic Gardens Road through the Gardens and connect it with the Cowey Road on the other side, and I am given to understand that both the present Mayor and the Borough Hngineer are in favour of this being done, I may, however, take this opportunity of saying that if such a plan were carried out it would almost ruin the Gardens, a public road, along which traffic would pass, and which would cut our small area of ground into two almost equal portions, and having as is contemplated a tram line along it, would, so far as 9 we are concerned, be a calamity, and it is sincerely to be hoped that no more will be heard of such a proposition. As an alter- native I would suggest that if the Umbilo Road were extended along Lancers Road, then close alongside the foot of the Gardens, along Avondale to Florida Road, then Umbilo and Stamford Hill will would be connected by a direct Road, along which a tram might be run with advantage, since it would connect both the existing lines, pass close to the Race Course, Polo Ground, and Golf Ground, and run for several hundred yards alongside the lower fence of the Botanic Gardens. It will be remembered by some of the older colonists that the original entrance to the Gardens was in the centre of this lower line, and the direct road made by the Corporation into the town still exists, but is never used, if, however, this suggested road were made, the original entrance could be again used and the Gardens would then be accessible from any part of the borough. The Mango crep has been an almost total failure, for though the trees promised well in the early part of the season, later on the fruit was so severely attacked by insects that scarcely a sound fruit was to be got, of the large green variety I have not seen a single ripe and sound fruit in the Gardens this season. It is somewhat remarkable that it has been reported that the ‘“White Peach” has ripened its fruit near Maritzburg without being severely attacked by insects, and it is thought that this is due to the last winter having been so cold as to destroy many of the insects which do so much damage to fruit, but near Durban we have not found any diminution of these pests, but the cold does not appear to be so severe here as it is in Maritzburg. The best method of combating this evil appears to be by “passing” the trees, that is covering them with a specially prepared tent, and then filling it with the poisonous hydro- eyanic gas, this, however, necessitates some considerable expense in material and apparatus, and as the gas is highly dangerous to human life the utmost care must be taken in its use. It is satisfactory to know that the Agricultural Depart- ment have undertaken to do this work at a reasonable charge, and have already provided the necessary apparatus. In the early part of the year, Mr. Wylie went for a collecting trip with a wagon and oxen to the Karkloof district, and succeeded in obtaining a number of plants for exchange, and of dried specimens for ‘the Colonial Herbarium, most of which have since been classified and distributed to correspondents. The Bye-Laws drawn up by a sub-committee were assented to by His Excellency the Governor, and will be found at the commencement of this Report. 10 There has been an attempt made to enlist the sympathies of some of the up-country towns in favour of the establishment ‘of a Botanic Garden in the upper districts, but it appears to me that at present there is but little chance of success, at least in the direction indicated, what is wanted is not so much a Botanic Garden as an Experiment Station, where different plants could be tried, and reported upon on a fuller scale than is possible in a Botanic Garden, whose province it is to intro- duce plants and to report from time to time as to their suit- ability or otherwise for the locality in which the Garden is situated, an Experiment Station would go farther than this, cultivate the plants in larger quantities, report on their growth, cost of cultivation, yield of crop, most suitable manures, and any other matters which might be of use to the farmers and others. In the year 1891 a Commission was appointed to report on the Botanic Gardens of the Colony, the late Sir Theophilus Shépstone was the Chairman, and I was requested to accom- pany him and Colonel Bowker to the upper districts and report provisionally on the most suitable district for an Experiment Station, and the locality upon which we decided was in the vicinity of Mooi River, if a suitable site could be obtained. The report of that Commission was, | believe, drawn up but not signed, and was burned in the fire which destroyed the Maasitzburg Town Hall. It is to be hoped, in the interests of the Colony, that one or more o; such Stations will be estab- lished in the near future, but at present [ cin scarcely think that a so-called Botanic Garden in the vicimty of an up- country town, and controlled by its Local Board is quite the thing that is wanted. The Botanic Gardens and Hxperiment Stations of the Colony should, in my opinion, be under the direct control of the Minister of Agriculture, and wholly sup- ported by the Government, [ may be wrong, but I think that to place them under the control of the Forest Department would be a serious mistake, and would probably result in pre- venting the Gardens from being as much use to the Doleny, as they otherwise would be. PUBLICATIONS RECHIVED Name. From. Report Botanical Department, Jamaica... W. Fawcett, Director » secretary for Agriculture, Nova Scotia... Author 5, Royal Botanic Gardens) Trinidad Director - ni Jamaica A ie Botan Gardens, Missouri we - 11 Report Botanic Gardens, Sydney ded Director Hamburg Mysore... Hong Kong ue ie Badulla EH Saharunpur * Zurich » OB new remedies by E. Merck . = non, * Spotted Gum” for wood paving, by J. H. Maiden Author ” on Tea Culture in Assam on Flax culture, by C. R. Dodge on Agriculture Experiment Stations of California... on Department of Agriculture, Canada ... on US. Museum ae on Albany Museu m, Grahamstown of Uealericn N ational Kew U.S. Government Director Kew U.S. Government Director Bulletin Botanical Department, Jamaica 5 i Trinidad F University of California » Hxperimental cultivation in the Shan States ree » , Cultivation of Tea in India... (7) Notes from Botanic Gardens, Sydney ... Director Gartenflora, No. 36 Directors Botanic Gardens, Berlin Observations on the Eucalypts of New South Wales, by F. Deane, F.IL.S., and J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. ... Some native Australian fodder plants, by J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. : Anniversary address, Royal Society of Tasmania, by the President, J. H. Maiden, F.L.S. NA a Se. American Ginseng, by G. V. Nash _ Additional Notes on Seed testing by G. H. Hicks and Southron Key Proceedings, Royal Society of Tasmania, 1894-5-6-7 ... Insects injurious to stored Paddy Authors 99 U.S. Government ) ... oJ. H. Maiden, F.L.S. Director Botanic Gardens, Ceylon Collecting and sending insects for report 2 Principal poisonous plants of U.S. America U.S. Government ‘Hybrids and their utilisation in in plant breeding 12 Edible and poisonous fungi, by Dr. W. G. Farlow... U.S. Government Notes on Rubber plants, by E. Cowley... Author The Olive Knot, by F. Broletti .. a Proceedings of ‘the Indiana Academy of Science for 1894; 1895; 1896 ts Secretary Acta Horti Petropolitant, Voluckl¥.,. Part 2 Director Growing and separation C: fibre, “ats BH. Cowley ee ! Author American Naturalist . ree W. Trelease The Fruit Industry, by W. A. Taylor .. U.S. Government Narrative of the famine in the Hydera- bad district, 1896-7 . 4 | Kew Government Crop Report, Nova Scotia Sec. for Agriculture, Nova Scotia Experiment Station Record, U.S. Ame- rica, Current Nos. ... U S. Government Journal Agri-Horticultural Society af India ... Secretary Year Book, U.S. Department ‘of Agri culture is U.S. Government Zanzibar Agricultural Journal. ... Ganzibar Government Resistant Vines ... .. U.S. Government Report of Viticultural work in California y, » 95, Smithsonian Institute, 2 bound Volumes site fee e Cacao Canker, Circulars 1, 2, on Director Botanic Garden, Ceylon On Rubber and Rice culture, Ba K. Cowley oy Author On Divi-Divi culture ... y Archives Italiennes de Biologie, “by Pro- fessor A. Mosso Be ii Boletin de la Real Academia de Ciencias Y Artes de Barcelona i: Director Rate of growth of indigenous trees, by ; J. H. Maiden Author Stapfia, A new genus of grasses, iss ob: Burtt Davy .. 9 Journal of Botany, ‘Orcneat Nos. .« | J. Britten, F.LS8. Selected Papers from the Kew ‘Bullen, Fibres Sen mee Fei he Kew PURCHASED. Gardener’s Chronicle, Current Nos.; Tropical Agriculturist, Current Nos.; Natal Agricultural Journal, Current Nos. 13 Seeds were received during the year as under :— PACKETS. Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta... ae oa ms fr 2 Kew | are i ye bbs, Botanic Gardens, Bangalore “lea ae ain at a ‘, Brisbane ... sis ae. BS 4 aes) . Ke Baroda ... ae mele a (Oa = i Kong-Kong : 1 Fa if Grenada ... 1 ty , Saharunpur oe, ee TS | ¥ di Paris sa; ee Moe sod ait 3 8 we Madras ms aft die TQ - i Sydney ... sae AF .. 14] be . Mysore ney ay AN Ss rot os Mauritius ois sips Fo vere, Messrs. Damman & Co., Naples .... se war ws Mr. Scott-Hlliott, Scotland, bat oe aa A 431 Mr. Max Leichtlin, Baden-Baden ... Ae a ae Mr. lL. Cripps, Central Africa... Be Od Mr, M. Buysman, Holland ... a a us) 117 Mr. O. H. Menzel, Australia Ma se 3. 30 Mr. J. B. Blandy, Madeira... Res AS aaa | Mr. C. Gross, Warsaw Me ai 2 aa, AT Town Gardens, Ballarat... Be ee yO University of California ... ; bas ben liaes Acclimatisation Society, California an “1 OD Messrs. Reasoner Bros. ; 1 Hon. R. Jameson, Durban ... 28 Mr. F., Button i 1 Mr. J. Beningfield __,, 2 Mr. F. C. Smith os St fh Ae 2 ae Mrs. Schultz 76 508 sie 4, wer OD Mrs. Burrill i ay er Le ae | Mr. A. Wilkinson, Oana) a Hos ss 1 Mr. M. S. Evans, M.L.A., Durban... 1 Mr. H. V. Ellis, ‘Hilton vie Bp « 1 Mr. A. Marshall, New Zealand 2 Mrs. English, Johannesburg ie Reatyy Yd Mrs. Crompton, Pinetown ... ame as rie LO 710 The following plants were received :— _ From Royal Gardens, Kew, 24 Tubers of Oxalis crenata ; 5 Dioscorea, sp (White Yam). From Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Australia, 3 Tubers of a sweet potato. 14 From Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, 25 Bamboos of 10 species ; 25 Palms of 7 species. From Mr. C. J ameson, 8 Orchids of different species. From Mr. R. Adlam, Johannesburg, 2 bulbs of 1 species. From Mr. Veith, Madagascar, 1] case of Orchids, all dead on arrival. From Mr. Jas. Beningfield, Durban, 5 bulbs, different species. The following were purchased :— From Moulmein ae ... 113 Orchids 33 species From Calcutta ea Pe A0) », of different species In all 610 packets of seeds, and 231 plants, which will be reported on next year, During the year 1897, we received 165 plants, and 834 packets of seeds, which gave results as under :— PLANTS. Dead on arrival ... ts 29% due pal Died afterwards ... a Hi wane 0 Planted in Gardens a ae s& sl Still in pots aes uN es .. 112 Previously in stock es n0 ane gio 165 SEEDS. Failed to germinate ‘ ... 140 Germinated but died afterwards. .. 104 Distributed ee sea ae ww. 00 Previously in stock A 500 > 218 Still in pots wes 7 Annuals and grasses... Aad ... 230 834 During the year we sent away 666 packets of seeds to the following correspondents :— Botanic Gardens, Ceylon ee Sane te) i “ Melbourne ... Ree i539) nA i Sydney K, see od =m A Adelaide a (ie A0 A a Brisbane Bi wee BO by at: Port Darwin ... yore Ballarat he 10) 39 Hobart... awl eet HOS Georgetown ... ee 15 Botanic Gardens, Calcutta AAs see OVE Ay 3 Saharunpur ... iti Oo " be Baroda a" nate o " Grenada ae tie NOW Mi ot Jamaica bb TE cd 3 “ Mauritius , vee, Al Buenos Ayres art} oo Agri- Horticultural Society, Calcutta ... 39 Damman & Co., Naples ... ie ees fe T. Christy & Co., London ay RAT ik H, Hutchins, Capetown ... ia are I note, however, that the seeds sent to Jamaica were at once destroyed for fear of the Coffee Leaf disease being introduced to the Island, our exchanges with that Island, and probably with the whole of the West India Islands will, therefore, have to be discontinued. The following numbers of plants and bulbs were sent away in exchange during the year :— Agri-Horticultural Society, Calcutta ... 253 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ... seh ae a i e Glasgow ae ce, Edinburgh .., 22 Mauritius Boe 9 99 oP) oD) 9 ” Ms Jamaica Sentee, Botanic Gardens, Na pur ae. wv AO at ie Bangalore a ep Ae ry . Saharunpur ... eae ‘. * Madras ae bes Nae. 5 cP Trinidad wae woe. ie o hs Guiana... wee ia eae Brisbane ae Me Be, Melbourne ... sat 2? fs 43 Adelaide “ie Hapyroa r . Sydney Hoo we 234 a A Port Darwin ... eiab ty te 4 Tasmania Fe sions 22 Dr. Thompson, Gazaland ee seo o2 Reasoner Bros., Florida .. sh) wo 22 Dr. Franceschi, California ms aie )dh Om H. Dizon, Sydney ae oe sar, 26 H. Buysman, Holland ... aes weigh 22 Jas. O’Brien, London ... 5 we» 444 J. B. Blandy, Madeira ... os sedate Total as ive 8: 1,428 16 Plants have been supplied free during the year as under :—= Colonial Engineer’s office, Maritzburg ... £3 0 0 Presbyterian Church, Berea vain glee ORO Young Ladies’ College, Durban 116 0 Zulu Mission, Umzumbe nee 2a Oro Government House, Maritzburg ... and) 0 Umlazi Mission é: 6 ewe Railway Station, Van Reenen 218 0 St. Aidan’s Dispensary 3.3 0 Durban Home 115 0 Wesleyan Chapel, Stamford Hill .. 5 5 0 Indian Hospital, Verulam .. IAS) is £32 14 6 The following were put out in the Garden during the year :— Amaryllis belladonna... — ... Purchased | Areca oleracea... ak wa .... BotanicGardens, Madras » sapida ... ee Goi ,» Mauritius Arenga saccharifera ... 400 af Agri- -Horticultural Soc. Caleutta Bauhinia, sp (White) Oe .. Myr. Buring, Umtali Chamaerops excelsa ... Dammman & Co., Naples Dioscorea, sp (WhiteYam of Trinidad) Royal Gardens, Kew Jubaea spectabilis, ‘‘ Coquito Palm” ie ‘) a Kentta Canterburyana a .. Purchased » Lorstervana 366 At, 4 Oxalis crenata... ee a .... Royal Gardens, Kew Philodendron, sp ae Me ... Purchased Seaforthia elegans us a) fe “a Tectona grandis, “Teak” ... ... Own Seed Washingtonia filifera... : Reasoner Bros. The following have Hewered for the first time in the Garden:— Anthurium hybridum... SG ... Sander & Co. Carludovica latifolia ... EP nat M Dendobrium aggregatum ‘: ... Purchased 3 : sh cretacaum ape ‘5 5) formosum giganteum ae a 5 Farmert (type)... ser * 3 undulatum “6 “ee - “ Pierardi p ee : Kaempferia, sp nov ... san .. Mr. J. Beningfield Richardia Adlam: ... ses .. Mr. R. Adlam Salmia Lucheana ... ies ... Sander & Co. Strobilanthus Dyervanus Be SS Strophanthus hispidis oe ... Royal Gardens, Kew 17 The following plants, some of which are enumerated above, seem to call for a little further notice :— Areca oleracea.—“ The Cabbage Palm” of the West Indies. This is a tall growing palm, and the young buds at the apex of the stem are removed and used as a vegetable, but it is rather an expensive one as their removal prevents further erowth and kills the tree. The stems are afterwards bored by a beetle which deposits its eggs, and the grubs are eagerly sought for, and esteemed a great delicacy by the negroes, and are, I think, occasionally eaten by Huropeansa. Arenga saccharifera.—This Palm attains a height of 40 feet. The black fibres of the leaf stalks are adapted for cables and ropes, intended to resist wet very long. The juice convertible into toddy or sugar; the young kernels made with syrup into preserves. This Palm dies off as soon as it has produced its fruit ; the stem then becomes hollow, and can be used for spouts and troughs of great durability. The pith supplies sago, about 150lbs. from a'tree, according to Roxburgh. (Baron von Mueller). Jubaea spectabilis.—The “‘ Coquito Palm,” A kind of treacle is obtained from the sap of this Palm. A good tree will give 90 gallons of mellaginous sap. The small kernels are edible. (Baron von Mueller). Tectona grandis.—The well known Teak tree. One tree of this species has been in the Gardens for many years but was overshadowed by a large Australian Acacia, since the removal of that tree, however, it has borne seed and plants have been put out, and so far promise to do well. I need scarcely say that the wood is most valuable, but it is a tree of slow growth. Strophanthus hispidus.—This is one of the plants whose seeds are used medicinally, it is the ‘ Arrow poison” of the Hast Coast of Africa. Our plant has flowered abundantly and pro- mises to do well. Oxalis crenata.—‘‘ Oka” of the Peruvians. In February I received from the Director of Kew Gardens some small tubers of this plant, which were at once planted, and at the close of the season were found to have increased, but not sufficiently so to allow of their being distribnted, they have, therefore, been again planted, and so far appear to be doing well, so that I hope to have a few to distribute in the early spring. The Director says of it: “I am sending you a few tubes of Oxalis crenata, the “Oka” of Peru, which is worth a trial as a vegetable for the table. The tubers should be planted 3 feet apart in sandy soil, and treated like the potato. New tubers are formed at the 18 end of the season and under favourable conditions they are 3 inches long, and weigh 2 ounces. When lifted they should be exposed to sunlight for two or three days. To cook them, boil for 20 minutes in water containing a pinch of carbonate of soda; they change to a bright amber colour, and if eaten with pepper and salt they are palatable and of pleasant flavour.” 1] have since heard that the leaves and young stems of the plant are used with salads. Huchlaena, sp.—Amongst the numerous species of grass seeds that have been received, one only appears to have done well down here, and specimens of it have been sent to Professor Hackel for determination, but I have not been able to ascertain its specific name. It is a tall growing plant, and when once in the ground would, I think, be difficult to eradicate, the roots are stout, and penetrate the ground to a considerable depth, it would seem to be a plant well suited for fixing sand or sandy banks in favourable situation, and might perhaps be usoful on railway banks. It belongs to the same genus as the ‘ Teosinte ” which is so highly extolled as a fodder plant, and it has the advantage of being perennial, while the ‘‘ Teosinte ” in Natal at any rate is annual only. Horses eat it readily, and it will spread itself without the slightest attention. Oola acuminata.—The Cola Nut of commerce. In my last Report I stated that these plants would be put out in the Garden and further reported on. This was done, but I am sorry to have to say that they show little if any signs of growth, and I fear that the plant is not suited to our climate. It is my intention to send a plant or two to the Botanic Gar- dens in Maritzburg for trial there. Dipteryx odorata.—“ Tonga” or “Tonquin Bean.” These plants were put out in the Gardens, and show very fair growth being now from 3 to 4 feet in height, so there seems to be a fair prospect of success with them, but as I previously stated it is a tree of slow growth, and the demand for the beans is but very limited. Swietenia macrophylla.—In my last Report I stated that the common mahogany (S. mahogani) was doing fairly well, and and the plants continue to grow slowly, and since that time plants of S. macrophylla a closely allied species have been put out, and so far appear to grow better than the first named species, they are now about 2 feet high and looking quite healthy, their further growth will be reported on from time to time. Pistachia vera.— Pistachia Nut.” From all the seed of this plant which I obtained, 3 plants only were reared, they have 19 been planted out in the Garden, and if one at least of them should happen to be a female we shall be able to graft for dis- tribution as we have the stocks, and can rear a3 many more as we shall require, I shall try to obtain more seed if possible. Jadoo Fibre. —Wishing to give a fair trial to this method of plant growing, I obtained from the Jadoo Company in England a ton of the fibre, and asked Mr. Wylie to give it his elose attention and report on it in due course. As our experience with it did not promise very well, I omitted mention of it in my last Annual Report, and determined to give it a longer trial. During the year the local agent of the company visited the Gardens in company with a member of the Home firm, and saw the plants which were then under trial, and I asked them to look at the fibre and see whether it was in good condition, which they did and appeared to be satisfied that it was all right. The liquid we have not tried. The following is Mr. Wylie’s report pon the fibre :— EXPERIMENTS WITH JADOO FIBRE. In June, 1897, we received a ton of Jadoo fibre, and in the following October potted two each of the undermentioned species in 1t :— Anthurium Andreanum ; crystallinum ; leaconeurum ; magni- ficum ; regale. Cannas ; 12 varieties. Dieffenbachia Baussei; magnifica; Memoria Cortii; Ver- shaffelti1. Maranta Makoyana; Massangeanum ; Veitchii; Zebrina. Pandanus javanicus variegatus ; Veitch. Panax Victorie ; Stenoglottis longifolia. , Adiantum Collisii; cuneatum; Fergusoni; fissum ; gracilli- mum; intermedium; Lathomi; Le grande; peruvianum ; tenerum; trapeziforme; villosum; trapeziforme, var Sancta Catherinece. Davallia hirta cristata ; polypodioides ; tenuifolia. Nephrolepis davallioides var furcans ; rufescens var tripinna- tifida. Selaginella erythropus ; filicina; viticulosa; Wallichii. All the above grew well in Jadoo with the exception of Adiantum Fergosoni; gracillimum; Le grande; fissum; and peruvianum, which had to be turned out of the Jadoo and re- potted in soil, when they soon made vigorous growth. The Cannas did not gruw so robust nor flower so freely as those grown in soil, none of the plants or Ferns showed any better results than those grown in our ordinary potting soil. 20 Lemon Srocxs.—Three rows containing about 400 plants were planted with Jadoo, the growth, either in root, fibres, or stems, was no better than those planted without it. Currincs.—Crotons. Two pots of each 30 varieties were planted along with a similar batch in soil, those in soil were, in three weeks, well rooted, and being potted off, while those in Jadoo were only just beginning to show roots. Dracaenas.—Results the same as with Crotons. Ficus elastica.—Those in Jadoo were a complete failure, a small percentage of those in soil rooted well. Mognolia fuscata.—All in Jadoo failed to root, fifty per cent. of those in soil rooted. Pandanus javanicus variegatus ; Vertchi.—Two dozen cuttings of each species were put into small pots with Jadoo, and the same number into small pots with soil. those in Jadoo stood for three months without showing any sign of roots, while those in soil rooted well, and had been shifted into larger pots. In using the Jadoo for potting and for cuttings we followed the instructions given in Colonel Halford Thompson’s pamphlet, “How to grow plants in Jadoo.” Furcraea Inndeni.—These plants were noted in my last Annual Report, and I have now only to add, that in the early part of the year each of them sent up a flowering shoot from the centre, and having produced a large number of seeds then died. Mr. Watt, of the Umgeni Fibre Works, tested some of the leaves, and fonnd that the fibre was excellent, but unfor- tunately no account was taken of the yield. A few of the plants have been reared here, and a large number were given to Mr. Watt for trial at Umzimkulu. Boehmeria nivea.— Rheea” or ‘China Grass.” Seeds of this plant were received from Government and a number of plants were reared, but as we had no ground on which to plant them, the plants were offered to Mr. W. R. Hindson, of Stanger, but as yet I have no report as to their success or otherwise, a few plants were also sent to Mr. J. Landers, of Umzinto, who says: “ The Rheea plants you sent me are doing remarkably well, I have taken several shoots from the roots of the plants, and transplanted them, and in most cases they have grown.’ That this plant will grow well in the colony appears to be certain, but whether it will yield a sufficient number of cuttings in the season to make the industry a profitable one has yet, in my opinion, to be proved. 21 The European staff at the Gardens remains unchanged, and the thanks of the Society are, I think, due to all of them, for their services cheerfully rendered during an exceptionally trying season. To Mr. Wylie, the head gardener, who has full charge of the outdoor work, my thanks are especially due, since he has relieved me of much work which would have made it impossible for me otherwise to continue the botanical work which absorbs so large a portion of my time. I wish also to thank the Committee for their valuable assist- ance, and co-operation without which my work could not have been carried out so pleasantly as it has been. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. MEDLEY WOOD. 22 DURBAN BOTANIC SOCIETY. hhh Lh LILITIAAILATTEAII LADIES ISIAISTLAAD LATA LN TENET ELE hte STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE FOR YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1898. EXPENDITURE. RECEIPTS. oS ei 8. adi eee SG Poumlabours = —.. ace a w- 1,428 12> 0 By Balance Natal Bank at , Maintenance Fe a sie OF a7, 3lst December, 1897... 576 0 6 7 lo Rations... Se eA Ss 74° 7 ~=«O , Produce sold ... sop dioters 6) 0 » snterest ... 2 BC aa 37 19 6 ,, Government Grant ... 700 0 O ,, Colonial Bleatesstnm sb oe IO) J , Col. Herbarium Grant... 200 0 O ,, Commission re a oa fa ah ,, General Subscriptions... 231 0 6 » Bonus .: sie 29 10% 0 a », Advance to New Conservatory i bee 3,009 ¢ 0 ,, Contribution to publication, “ Natal ! Plants = ——.. aA Se = gil i) 0 Peband ne Re ome ee 12 12 O 2,814.12 5 , Balance in the Natal Bank seer ee AeA 27 eoayore) 7) 10) Loco 0 Examined and faggot area, Durban 25th February, 1899, W. MURRAY-SMITH, F.S.A.A. (Eng.) MAURICE 8. EVANS, Auditor. Hon. Treasurer. : | | 80:F | GE-9 | 60-9 | 69-9 | $8-€ | 18-6 | TAT | LT-E | 89-6 | €0-8 | 19-7 | GO-F | 76-9 |°° JO JUNOUTe UBOTT—pno[p 6-0 | €0-T | 60-T | 9T-T | 80-T | GL-0 | LL-0 | OL-0 | 64-0 | 86:0 | 94-0 | 6T-T 80-T | °° JO 9010} UBOTT —PUTM "Iva | | COT 1G 06 06 | EE 6 L g 6 or Sie EE 6G |°* «(fey Ure Yor uo shuq | Pero ON. | CON® | ON ‘ON | “ON | ‘ON | “ON | ‘ON | “ON | “ON | “ON | ‘ON | SF-6r | OL-G | G2-4 | GO-9 | 00-6 | 60-6 | 76-0 | LF-0 | GL | 64-7 | 9L-G | 69-G | 6F-F lees a [TBJUrey "IeexX | “UT wip |) Cwgr | Seg Sugita YOgE "WAL “Ul MOP) SSE ge we POO meg Gorse GOs a Veoa | 9:6 | ] Inliaceae Cyperaceae Juncaceae Cyperaceae Resedaceae Inliaceae Labiatae ”? Compositae Gramineae Panicum hirsutissimum, Steud » laticomwm, Nees » Schimperianum, Hochst » Woodir, Hack Paspalum distichum, L. Pennisetum Schimpert, Hackel Polygala affinis (?) chloroptera, Chod durbanensis, Chod Galpint, Hook MA Gerrardi, Chod lysimachiaefolia, Chod natalensis, Chod ophiura, Chod » regens, D. C: ukambica, Chod Potamogeton americanus, Cham. Friesi, Ruprecht | Pycreus chrysanthus, C. B. Clarke » ferrugineus, »» flavescens, Reienbe macranthus, C. B. Clarke i oakfortensis, a 5 Rehmannianus, C. B. Clarke Ranunculus Baurii, MacOwan Restio sejunctus, Mast Scilla Tysoni, Baker Scirpus fluctans, L. » macer, Boeck » subprolifer, Boeck Scleria Dregeana, Kth. Sebcea longicaulis, Schinz », sedoides, Gilg DS UIECL iris » Lhodeana, Gilg » Woodir, Gilg Senecio thyrsoideus, D.C. Setarra aurea, Hochst » Woodw, Hack Stachys sessilis, (?) Stictocardia Woodii, Hattier, f Trichopteryx stipoides, var natalensis, Hack Wahlenbergia rivularis, Diels Xyris anceps, Lam. \ 1 , yi Gramineae 99 99 Naiadaceae 9 Cyperaceae 6» 9) Ranunculaceae Restiaceae Liliaceae Cyperaceae 99 99 bb) Gentianeae Compositae Gramineae 99 Labiatae Convolvulaceae Gramineae Campanulaceae Xyrideae CORRECTIONS AND ALTERATIONS. Cladium jamaicense, Crantz is Cladium mariscus, R. Br. Cyperus ingratus, Kth. is Cyperus pulcher, Thb 9 Cyperus obtusiflorus, Vahl is Cyperus compactus, Lam » retusus, Nees 1s » esculentus, Linn » levigatus, L. is Juncellus levigatus, C. Clarke » congestus, Vahl is Mariscus congestus, C. B. Clarke 5 cylindrostachys, Beck 1s __,, Sieberianus, Nees Pe ClepWanbinis, yc i. IB. 9%, elephantinus, C. B. Clarke Clarke » vestitus, Hochst 1S vestitus, C. B. Clarke » abyssinicus, Steud is Pycreus flavescens, Reichb , atronitens, Hochst is’ / 3 elegantulus, C. B. Clarke » lanceus, Thb Smt) OH umbrosus, Nees » micans, Kth eee ferrugineus, C. B. Clarke » Mundt, Kth ana Mundtii, Nees polystachyus, R. Br. is polystachyus, Beauv Tpomeea Woodi, N. H. B. is Stictocardia W oodi, Hattier, f Kyllinga alata, Nees is Kyllinga alba, Nees Mariscus Bolusi, C.B. Clarke is Mariscus ain pillenict. C. B. Clarke Orthosiphon (Wood No. 3107) is Orthosiphon stenophyllus, | Gurcke u (Wood No. 3573) is + macranthus, Gurcke Schenoxiphium Buchanani, C. is Carex Buchanani, C. B. Clarke B. Clarke Scirpus pterolepis, Kunth is Scirpus littoralis, Schrad Sclezia melanocephala (?) is Scleria melanomcephala, Kunth Sebwa crassulefolia, var lan- is Sebea Woodu, Gilg ceolata, Schinz Typha (Wood No. 1378) is Typha capensis, Rohrb No separate list of the Fungi of Natal has to my knowledge ever been published, I therefore give an enumeration of those which have been collected by myself in the Colony, by far the larger portion of them were collected before I took charge of the Botanic Gardens, and the type specimens have been pre- sented by me to the Herbarium, it is as well, however, to state that they are mostly in paper capsules, which are firmly glued to stout paper, the specimens themselves being loose in the ‘capsules, but this is not as it should be, since unless the ‘greatest care is exercised when the different species are being ‘examined, they are pi etty certain to get mixed, and therefore their value as type specimens will be destr oyed, T cannot there- fore until they are properly mounted, allow any person to examine them but myself, and at present at any rate, I see no 10 prospect of time being spared to mount them as they should be mounted. In the list as given below, it will be seen that the names of genera and species are given alphabetically, no sort of classification being attempted further than keeping those which are usually parastical on living plants from the others, and relegating the Mosses to a separate list. It will also be noticed that in the earlier collections the name of the ~ host plant is not always given, as I was not then able to recognise it, in the later collections this omission occurs but seldom. NATAL FUNGI. Parasitic on Living PLanrts. ‘ Wood No. Aecidiwm acanthacearum, Cke on Justicia, sp .. 603 » albtlabrum, K. on Kraussia floribunda) Harv.. t 21 » 4arotdeum, Cke on Stylochiton natalense, | Schott en . 114 » asperifolium, L.K. on Cynoglossum micran- thum, Desf . BR BY » bicolor, Sace on Maba nano nein Harv 6460 » cardiospermi, Cke on Cardiospermum micro- carpum (?) ... seen DO » compositarum, D.C. on Conyzaincisa, Ait ... 18 Sau es OTC02 uN eel C., onCrinumlongifolium,Thb 68 » crypticum, K.&C. on Gerbera, sp... Pee ko » cussoniae, K. & C. on Cussonia, sp ... Pen cK) 5 dissotidis, Cke on Dissotis eximia, Harv 470 5 adolicht, Cke on Dolichos axillaris (7)... 640 » flustra, Bernh on Aster asper, Less ... 648 5, hitbisci, Cke on Hibiscus cannabinus, L. 3495 » ~pomceae, Schw on Batatas paniculata ... 3921 — » loranthi, Cke on Loranthus, sp... 7 , 8307 » Macowanianum, Thum on Conyza pinnatilobata, Ks . 456 » menthae, L.K. on Ociumnoharatia E.M. 568 wr soci, i.) Henn on ss Jf 46 5, ornamentale, K. on Acacia, SP ifs ... 6824 » phaseolorum, D.C. on eeu odie scalpe, D. C. 613 » plectranthi, Cke on Plectranthus, sp chia 5 plectroniae, Cke on Plectronia Gueinzii, Sond.. af Par pualsy?/ 7) » rhynchosiae, Cke on Rhynchosia, sp qe eDIe » royenae, C. & M. on Royena pallens, Thb... 4078 , scrophulariae, D.C. on Cheenostoma floribun- itm) ables son OOE Aecidiwm senecionis, Desv ,, stoboeea, K. & C. 99 » Lhunbergiae, Cke » tragtae, Cke , tylophorae, Cke » valerianae, D.C. » vangueriae, Cke » vignae, Cke Antennaria Robinsonii, B & M. 39 9 Areyria punicea, Pers Asterina diplocarpa, Cke ditricha (?) » grewiae, Cke myriadae, Cke phaeostroma, Cke similis, Cke stylospora, Cke tenuis, Wint toruligena, Cke fimbriatus, K. & Cke Macowaniana, K.& Oke @alonetin ialeucorroaina (Mont), Spey Cephalewros virescens, Kze Ceratostoma, sp Cercospora haemanthr, Kalch Ohaetomella, artemisiae, Cke Cooma ricini (2) Coleosporum hedyotidis a ochraceum, Fell Cystopus candidus, Lev » cubicus, Sw Darluca filum Dimosporum Henn Di-Orchidiwm Woodii, K. & Cke acokantherae, ©: Dothidea circinata, K. & Cke Hien ON? lO CLOOSS ea ae 1] Mnaraueimonranne. Cke on Taboreemontaha ven- on Senecio, sp 116 on Berkheya, sp . 651 tricosa, Hochst 469 on Thunbergia natalensis, Hook 468 on Tragia, sp 628 on Jasminium multiparti- tum, Hochst... 694 on Walleriaud, capensis, Moi oe . 443 on Vangueria infausta, Burch 527 on Vigna marginata 407 on leaves ... ns ra OOO on ,, of Araucarias... 695 on Ricinus communis, L. 322 on Sida rhombifolia, L.... 601 on Celastrus, sp . 3 on Hy poestes aristata, R.Br 608 on Grewia lasiocarpa, EM. 639 on Celastrus buxifolius, L. 6453 on leaves ... re .. =G4l on Kraussia lanceolata, Sond... 652 on Sida ‘dinvesaslontia Sia Ti 044 on Sponia guineensis, Schm 564 on Kraussia coriacea, Sond 6452 - on leaves ... 559-635 on Hugenia, sp (?) on Ficus sp 3492 on leaves ... 508 on Hemanthus puniceus, Linn.. (?) on Artemisia afra, Jacq. 572 on Ricinus communis, Linn 33 on Hedyotis amatymbica 60 on Agrimonia Hupatoria, Un ania se 432 on Brassica napi... 459 on Hewittea bicolor, W. eA! 467 on Phaseolus. cage on Acokanthera spectabi- lis, Bth ... 6450 on Millettia caffra, Meisn 70 on (7) 49 on Garass te. abe