Se ae 4 : oe AL BOTANIC GARDENS, AND WD ew il allied atl wellele ge lluall Ss manage RUT me epee Ou Creeper (rym AR CPS eC Ak ; oF ua ae bay ca Bb yt ui et < >e<_ ex PMR gem NAT AT PEM TTT A TN colonial jferbarium, AHO AN FOR THE \ ox YEAR 1900, ka AU ree CeSeey yale roe ry Ly Bd (aa hai i Ti a J. MEDLEY WOOD, A.L.S., Corresponding Member of the, Pharmaceutical Society ARS SA RTS , of Great Britain. ATRYN LATA ++ CURATOR. + ) SF tubilicws SR AT wll Uy . ! EMMA ROR HN DURBAN: Bennett & Davis, Printers, 345, West STREET RHETT FTN LD tdi at 1901, - PTE: 7” Bila iti had ws we witout vil ula wlll oul ils willy PO peg y ey Urey Tar Orgmrey URD a aN a wl lg aM a AL SSS ESF AO AT LT SI SPA SR CA CPE TRS MD Nt PRT SETA TCA TAS RR RCD RB A arS | as aR aE am OO SSE FREY IN ERNE SEA DA NOP PSSST PARAS SOO TSS SSD NI FTL ONS DOSE HOUND RSE Durban Botanic Society. eS vq: amar ae Py ee OC) Ee NATAL BOTANIG GARDENS, FOR THE Pe aya A E119 0 0) a. J. MEDLEY WOOD, A.L.S., Corres ponding Member of the Pharmaceu tical Society of Great Britain. D2 HO aru ee Poe eee ©) dee, +eeres= DURBAN BOTANIC SOCIETY. President : B. W. GREENACRE, ESQ., M.L.A Cominittee : Mr. T. W. EDMONDS. Mr. M. S. Evans, M.L.A. Hon. R. JAMESON, M.L.A. Mr. H. H. PUNTAN. Mr. G. RUTHERFORD, C.M.G. Government Members : MRE aS. STEER. Mr. J. D. BALLANCE. Mayors of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, ex officio. Ser, & Mrcoiurtant : Creasuvrer : Mr. F. W. Dore. Mr. J. MEDLEY Woop, A.L.S. Eurator : Mr. J. MEDLEY WoobD, A.L.S. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from Field Museum of Natural History Library http://archive.org/details/reportonnatalbot1900wood DURBAN BOTANIC GARDENS. S=-@=32 4% BYE -LAWS. 52+ 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. 9. 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. 11 The Curator is hereby authorised to prosecute offenders under the foregoing Bye-Laws whenever found to be necessary. sess, Semteeane Goneeeeeiene a 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 5.380 p.m. in summer ; from 2.30 p.m. to sunset in winter. +§ REPORT. Natat Borantc Garpens, Dourpan, January, 1901. To the President and Committee, Durban Botanic Society. GENTLEMEN, I regret that in offering this, my Nineteenth Annual Report on the Botanic Gardens and its work, that J have to chronicle one of the driest, if not quite the driest year on re- cord, and following a year like the last in which the rainfall was 12.37 below the average of the previous 26 years, the effect is much more felt than it would have been had the rainfall for 189» been at all near the average. By the record given below it will be seen that the last year’s rainfall was no less than 13.20 inches below the average of the last 28 years. RAINFALL AT BOTANIC GARDENS, DURBAN, FROM 1873 to 1900 INCLUSIVE. 1873... 42.21 Bes [S89 eo.26 1874... 55.06 me SOO) owe 32, 0) 1875... =—(84.78 Me 1891... 45.45 NEN Mi cee) pean use ISO2 Oo! RS ee) OOO S66 Lohse nen bof ear 1878 ... 28.24 Bs SOA aera’ 1879... 44.46 sae PE95 yin Gol sov 1880... 47.63 SSE E896) Giant) 139.68 1881... 35.65 “es 1897 a4. 34.39 SSZuhe.| 30.2) oa 1898... 42.48 1883... 44.52 . ae 18995 je 28-/9 1884 ... 44.56 ahi — 1885... 34.06 tsi ome MOOT: Bf ISSGuyier alice aa — LSS7 jy) BEST ae 40.44: 1888 ... 37.74 a L900) ix, 27.24 Below average 13.20 8 It will be noticed that the lowest fallin any of these 28 years was that of the year just closed, the nearest to it being that of 1878, which was exactly one inch more than that of 1900, but in 1887 the fall was 35.67, while in 1899 it was only 28.75. The ground has therefore been gradually drying up for the last two years; the rain that we have had has_ not penetrated the soil to any great depth, and the trees and shrubs are feeling the effect of the drought to a considerable degree, and I fear that our losses will be very severe unless copious rains fall very soon ; as it is we have lost several plants, a list of which will follow. We have been in the habit of sending out from year to year from 4 to 7 tons of Mangoes, plucked green for making chutney, &ec., but last year none were gathered, and but very few are left on the trees. The crop of Litchis also was a complete failure, and all other fruit trees suffered in a similar way. We have again had several visits from swarms of locusts, but they have done no appreciable damage, as their stay was not of long duration, but we have been much troubled by birds, notably by the ‘‘ Weaver” bird or ‘* Hloko-hloko” (Hyphan- tornis sp.); these birds damaged the young palms in the nursery to a considerable extent by stripping them of their leaves, which the birds appeared to find admirably suited to their requirements for nest building. Many of the palms had to be carried to another locality where a lookout could be kept, and I obtained from the Corporation a permit to use a gun in the Gardens, and in this way the colony was somewhat thinned, but the birds are stili more or less troublesome. The Jubilee Conservatory has, under Mr. Wylie’s supervi- sion, been kept in thoroughly good order, and has been visited by large numbers of persons, many of whom have expressed their warm appreciation of the luxuriance of the vegetation, and of the opportunity afforded them of admiring the many valuable plants contained in the building. The old conservatory is still standing, and is used for keep- ing plants which are for sale. I had thought that when the Jubilee Conservatory was erected that it might be possible at small expense to remove the old house to a less conspicuous position, and then enlarge the Fenery which is at the back of it, bringing it out almost to the main walk of the Garden, and providing it with an ornamental front, but on examination of the building, which has an iron framing, it is found that it is too much rusted to allow of its being again erected if it were taken down, and as we are still somewhat short of room under elass, it will have to remain for some time longer, though it can hardly last very long. 4) There are in the Gardens a large number of trees which should be removed, such as Mangoes (Mangifera indica), Rose apples (Hugenia jambos), Flaterowns (Albizzia fastigiata), and others ; this has been in contemplation for some time, but we have not yet been in a position to commence the work on account of the want of native or Indian labour. It is to be hoped that during the year which has now commenced we shall succeed in getting one or more of the blocks cleared, and thus find room for other trees or shrubs, some of which we have in stock, or can procure from time to time, and which will be of more use in a botanic garden than trees which are now well known in cultivation, and of which two or three specimens are amply sufficient. Of course it is not contemplated to cut down the old Mango trees which were, I believe, the first introduced into the colony, nor the row at end of the main walk, but only those outhers which have been sprinkled with a hberal hand over the ground, and which are of no use to anyone, and which interfere with the growth of other trees, and fill ground which might be more profitably employed. It is intended during the present year to import a number of labels for the trees onal shrubs, the enamelled labels imported some years ago, though very conspicuous, are not found to stand well, and many of them require renewal ; the unequal con- traction of the metal and enamel causes the enamel to fly off in chips until the lettering becomes illegible ; another label made of block tin and iron was sent to me by the same maker for trial, and after more than a year’s exposure to the sun is quite as good as when first placed out; though not so conspicuous as the white enamelled label, I Pine i will stand our climate much better. The “ Guide” to the trees and shrubs in the grounds 1s still in demand, and many persons profess to find it useful. It will, however, be necessary before long to write a supplement, and I hope to commence it at an early date. The numbers attached to the plants corresponding with the numbers in the Guide are on teak lables and are rapidly becoming illegible, and will require replacing with something more permanent: probably the metal ones just alluded to will be the best, and I have written for quotations for them. In consequence of the prevalence of “scale” and other insect pests on the fruit trees it was determined to build a house for the purpose of fumigating all plants requiring it befove sending them out. The building is of brick with iron roof, and is 20) feet by 15 feet, divided into two rooms of unequal size ; either can be used, or both together, according to the number of plants to be treated ; one half of the building is open at the side and closed at both ends, and this is used as a potting shed, which was much required at the nursery and has been found of much PN / 2h OP ey Ry % foe t ; i yea es . had mK Jel Wye T Wines yy u bwivesaasdi ly all’ sre | Tia cee i hie | rn we are viv itt m0 eA sy igen hi Ai wh! 1 y i Fa S RaRAD, i wit i A sid ny » i, a fee” a ae =: & 5 = . — 2s ; — | mes -*~ - . —— « — = =, = _— — “ a fs Mins: ry. et AAT I, roe ahs ; ¢ 7 maine laa ape y} Meer A Wh Beta, vei br oP a ae) Jit t ea fs / 12 The only plants received during the year were as under : - Professor MacOwan, Government Botanist, Capetown, 5 curious Cape plants. Plants were sent away as follows :— W. Thorpe, England, 1 box Asparagus plumosus. Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, 1 case containing 44 plants Reasoner Bros., Florida, 3 Kaempferia Hthele. J. O’Brien, London, 12 plants Gladiolus oligophlebius. The following Institutions were supphed with plants free to the amounts stated :-— Durban Home Be Hebe sl kiss 0) St. Faith’s Mission 3 tae AQ) Addington Hospital J he 50 urbati Corporation (Waterworks) | AY LOO) Baptist Church O26 Queen's Hospital, Eshowe. tore Wesleyan Church, Greyville OM yi bel 13°70 In taking credit for plants supphed free to Govornment Institutions, Missions, &c., I prefer to state value, not number of plants supplied, as to give number only would most likely be very misleading. During the year 1899 we received 166 plants and 490 packets of seeds as stated in my Report for that year, the result was as under :— PLANTS. Dead on arrival seep uili(0) Died afterwards... 6 Planted in Garden 16 Still in pots ... 119 Previously in stock... 15 166 SEEDS. Failed to germinate ... ee kai0) Germinated but diedafterwards 115 Distributed DO Still in pots ae Annuals and vegetables . 108 Not suitable for our climate .. 20 4.90, In consequence of the long coniinued drought but few plants were put out during the year. The following were, however, planted at different times, and are still growing :— NAME. Ayropyron scabrum, Beauv. Aruniinaria Hookeriana, Willd RECEIVED FROM O. E. Menzel. Cambridge 13 NAME. RECHIVED FROM, Bambusa arundinacea, Willd Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. 5} burmanica, Gamble " st y Ae nana, Roxb. $, 4 ws 5 Oliveriana, Gamble 4 ie ‘5 ee stamensis, Kurz a ” i » vulgaris, Schrad. var. colorata ,, a n » sp. (Theekwa) " >. r Psp. (Fainiumica) G. H. Wilkinson & Co. sp. (Hachikiz) o2 ? sp. (Hokonechekir) is 2? sp. (Jadaka) . Po sp. (Kimneichika) Psp. (Swochtkit) ‘3 Dendrocalamus Hamitonii, Nees & Arn, Botanic Gardens, Calcutta strictus, Nees y FP s Melica latéfolia, Roxb. 3 » Mauritius Modiola decumbens ? Dr. Franceschi, California. Oxytenanthera, sp. Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. The following have flowered in the Gardens for the first we Barklya syringifolia, F. Muell Queensland. Brachystelma. sp. Professor MacOwan. Coffea. sp. from EH. Coast of Africa R_ Beningfield. Cyrtanthus Galpint, Baker M. Matthews. Echium gigantum, Linn R. Jameson. 5» ~~ nervosum P . a Hibiscus armanget ? Max Leichtlin. Ischaemum angustifolum, Hack Kew Ieora parviflora, Vahl Saharunpur PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED. NAME. DONOR. Bulletins, Jamaica. Current numbers... Director. a Trinidad a Aes hs ” Kew 9 SI Bench grafting resistant vines United States Govt. Catalogue of trees and shrubs in Experi. re ental Farm, Ottawa .. Director. Cockle Burr, The (oc anthium strumarium) J. H Maiden, F.L.S. Catalogue a economic plants United States Govt. Co- -operative experiments with grasses & forage plants, by P.B. Kennedy, Ph.D. - - a Century book of gardening, 13 Nos. ... Hon. R. Jameson. Culture and diseases of the Orange tree Kew. mr aM Nera. hak ae +1 if i fy rea eh i iene vet ss } +) ze 4 f eens ws | Deed git Ea), PYAR ath Pri PA". estat . ¢ att ; AA Bc | ek 1/4 ‘ | ee a yt oa wih ih both - amok tinea alos. mie ‘ @> WRPbary ROR ORTE CANTY f i @ Leckey hy : ue 4 a BL Ste Oh) Vl ry ba see nea) “iy fy . } " k mil b RTO, ; oY “ne 5 ars ‘i one ae By. ray ra Bir LAR: OF a ’ ih a gat! Petre iat ale (Op! PVC Soc cast, if by mts ait Fh [ on AL an re oe \ 1 aon ely ities j ‘ th. om 4 , APRS i y iq? las petal Ui “es ¥ plea nn od wt ikl 4 io teat Pa RA y uN pee a. ; j ie ee a Shae rh “jealyelt ie why ¥ he ea Sap 1 Ly ui aa wri. ' T A ee kay i yoo eC Lean li cae Cees ae } Beige} , ae | oe THT Wi Wh DD tA TE Me is) . A Bs av ui | Lait its Ri y i { 4 PS 4 ay rian pei) \ ‘ Tae a 4 eh Me ices HT cirri ay: a A yar 5 py | Ae phy ay “?. bebe hy lel ries ‘ 4 Riki ; hee Ag if ; ea) 4 ld # ae ans é ‘ 6 2 pees al aries ae a6 vy ; - 0 pile fe iiis Ly’) Cr jet. 7 y Ag ay odyh) s PATHE it Le BEE a : \ VE a a Mr iti ys le i ig be F : ery re Aa 1s eis Lad teas mift. ¢ hi ‘ ar : ad } q ' i ea aN =. 7 if we iis ate: A Hen tc 3 “Lee We ingeree Oh Bi Ly) GF i ar is ; Clue & c a 2 Y ans ) ‘i atti ly oo HR ih ee CWS ao ary hae nas - —, 16 reared, but as we had not sufficient ground ready on which to plant them, they were handed over to Mr. W. R. Hindson, of Stanger; we put out 23 plants only, they were planted on Hebruan y 27th, 1899, and on February 12th, 1900, the stems were cut, and when green they weighed 20 Ibs., drying to 5 lbs. On June 22nd they were cut a second time, the weight of the green stems being 19 lbs., drying to 5 lbs., and they are now ready for cutting again. It seems, therefore, that two cuttings can be made in favourable seasons, perhaps three, but the last season was as unfavourable as any that we have had for many years. Oinnamomum cassia (Blume).—This is the tree that yields the ‘Cassia bark”? of commerce. In the year 1885 I received, by the kindness of Mr. C. Ford, Director of Botanic Gardens at Hong Kong, afew plants of this species, two were put out in the Garden, bu have never thriven well, the climate being evi- dently unsuitable for them, and I think it may be taken for granted that the tree will not succeed in the coast districts. Two plants were sent to the Botanic Gardens, Maritzbure, for trial there ; these plants grew well, one of them was I believe removed some years afterwards to make room for a building, the other has made good growth, and has I beheve borne seed more than once. I hime that the tree is well suited to the midlands of the colony, but whether its cultivation would be profitable I am at present unable to say. Chrysophyllum cainito (Linn), ‘‘ Star Apple”’—This plant was alluded to in my Annual Report for 1899, and we hoped that we should during last season have had a larger crop of fruit, and to have been able to report on it more fully, but in consequence of the long drought all the fruit fell from the trees when quite young, and not a single one came to maturity. It is now again in flower, and we hope during the present, year to be more fortunate. Oola acuminata.—This is the tree which produces the Cola nut of commerce, and I regret to have to report that all the plants are dead ; the soil and climate do not appear to be suit- able to the growth of the tree. Dipterya odorata (Tonga or Tonquin bean).—One of these plants died during the year, probably from attack of White Ants, but the other two are doing well and are now more than 5 feet high, and will probably succeed if they survive this very long drought. Jacaranda mimosifolia——For several years after its first flowering in the colony this tree failed to produce any seeds, but last year a quantity of seed was collected, and it appeared to me that it would be worth trial as a timber tree. Baron IF. 17 v. Mueller writes of it as follows :—‘“‘ This tree with J. brazi- ‘liana, and J. obtusifolia furnishes a beautiful and fragrant ‘kind of Palixander or Palissandre wood, and so do probably ‘“ some other tropical American species. ‘This wood is bluish- “red traversed by blackish streaks. J. mimosifolia is hardy ‘“at Melbourne, soon recovering from the injuries of our slight ‘* nocturnal frosts, and they may perhaps be reared with advan- “tage in many of the warmer and moister regions of the tem- ‘‘ perate zone, if it were only for its ornamental grandeur.” I therefore made it known that seed sufficient to provide plants for an acre of ground would be supplied free to any person who would give it a trial. The offer was accepted by Mr. G. L. Jenkinson, of Zululand, and the seed duly forwarded. I under- stand that the first sowing was successful, and hope in another report to be able to say that the ground has been planted and the trees doing well. Oxalis crenata (“ Oka of the Peruvians).—I regret to have to report that this plant has not been found suitable to the coast districts of the colony. I had hoped to have been able to send some of the tubers to the midlands for trial there, but we lost the whole of them and were therefore unable to do so. Ozxycoccus macrocarpus (‘Cape Cod Cranberry ’’).—At the request of a correspondent who thought that the locality in which he lived was very suitable for the growth of this plant which is said to be much superior to the ordinary Cranberry, I succeeded in obtaining from America a packet of seeds with full directions for sowing and after treatment, but I regret to say that the experiment has not been a success. My corre- spondent says:—‘ lam sorry to say that the Cranberries are ‘“ not a success, as I could not get the seed to germinate ; half ‘of the seed I had in a shallow box on top ot some chopped ‘moss, and I kept it constantly wet, but could not get them to ‘“ grow ; the other half I planted in a peat bog near the house, ‘“ but up to now I have not been able to find any young plants.” I am sorry for this, but shall try to obtain a few more seeds for another trial. Sapota achras (“‘ Sapodilla’’).—The remarks made as to the Star Apple apply to this plant also. A few fruits are now on the tree which we hope will ripen, but with two such unfavour- able seasons as we have had in succession, anything like a crop could hardly be expected. Strophanthus hispidus——This plant grows vigorously and bears flowers in abundance, but so far has not produced a single seed. The seeds are used medicinally. Swietenia macrophylla (‘Large leaved Mahogany ”).—This plant seems likely to succeed, and is now more than 5 feet high. 18" Widdringtonia Whytec C Mlangi Cedar).—Plants of this valu- able timber tree have been distributed for trial to different parts of the colony, and reports on them are on the whole very favourable. From Karkloof I learn that a plant suppled by us 5 or 6 years ago is now 12 feet high, and one 4 years old is 7 feet high. One on the Berea is at least 6 feet high, and one sent to the Botanic Gardens, Maritzburg, for trial there is now about 13 feet high, and the Curator reports that if the leading shoot had not been accidentally broken it would no doubt have been higher still. We have sent out a number of the plants at later dates, most of them appear to be doing well, and are now 12 to 24 inches in height. | regret, however, that plants put out in the Gardens have been destroyed by white ants. There is, I think, no doubt but that as a timber tree the Widdring- tonia will succeed in most parts of the colony, especially in sheltered valleys; as an ornamental tree opinions differ about it, but as a timber tree there can be little doubt of its value. Theobroma cacao.—l regret to have to report that all the. plants placed in the open ground have since died; two were reserved for the conservatory, and these are alive and healthy. I have never thought that this plant would succeed in the colony, as our climate is not sufficiently tropical for it; in the summer it is warm enough, but the cold winter months are not suited for plants of this kind. I have several times had sent to me fruits which were said to be Cocoa grown in the colony, but they have always turned out to be those of Carolinea, or Pachira alba, a plant in no way related to the Theobroma. PINEAPPLES, Manurine or. --I have several times been asked as to what is the best manure to use for Pineapple plants, and from want of practical experience I have not been able to give a satisfactory answer to the question, but a paper on this matter appeared in the Jamaica Bulletin, from which I venture to make copious extracts, omitting, however, several portions which are not applicable to Natal, and also a long list of the quantity of the fertilisers used on each of 51 plots of land, selecting only those which appear as Ist class. On 5 of the lots ‘‘ Muck” was used along with other fertilisers, but none of these blocks rank better than 3rd class, except one on which it was used in combination with “ Blood and Bone,’ which is placed as 2nd class. The article from which I make the ex- tracts may be seen at my office by anyone who may feel suffi- cient interest in the matter to wish for further information. “The following is a communication received from Mr. C. EH. Smith, Bog Walk, and it is hoped that others who are experi- menting in any direction will contribute their results for publication :— 19 “T would not care to express an opinion as to the best ferti- lisers to use in Jamaica because the soils vary so greatly. Here in St. Thomas ye Vale I have experimented extensively with all sorts of ingredients, and all kinds of combinations of the same. The severe storms of last fall made these experiments decidedly inconclusive, but the best results I have so far ob- tained have been from 550 Ibs. of Cotton Seed Meal per acre, supplemented with 100 Ibs. high grade (9U to 95 per cent.) Sulphate of Potash at time of flowering. I do not seem to get any results whatever from application of phosphoric acid. Of course I cannot say how it might be in other parts of the island. As a matter of fact I find the whole subject of fertilisers much more complicated here in Jamaica than on the comparatively barren sands of Florida. I feel that careful experiments are of great importance, for I think it 1s easy to apply uselessly ex- pensive ingredients which are not required. ‘“‘ Stable manure should never be used on pines—no matter how thoroughly rotted. I mean by “stable manure”’ the droppings from horses and mules ; nor should that from poultry, except as a liquid dissolved in water. The manure from cows and oxen may be used with splendid results. In Florida we used to “Cow pen” our land. We would run a temporary fence about say an acre at a time, and then every afternoon drive into it as many cattle as could be confined within the fence, keeping them there over night. This would be done for two or three weeks, when the fence would be removed to enclose as much more land to be treated in the same way. This system of course had to be supplemented with the chemical elements, but it supphed both humus and the most expensive ingredient nitrogen. ‘‘ Above all no fertiliser should be used for pines in which the phosphoric acid has been rendered “available” by use of sulphuric acid This seems to be poison to the pineapple. As I say above, my land shows no result from applications of phosphoric acid. Other land may require it, in which case I would advise use of the finest eround bone meal. It is also possible that the phosphatic guanos may do well. Personally I have had no experience with them. ‘The Florida Agricultural Hxperiment Station has published lately a Bulletin on this subject by Professor P. H. Rolfs. A summary of these experiments was read by Prof. Rolfs before the Florida Horticultural Society as follows :— PINEAPPLE LAND. ‘“Tn pineapple growing, as in other forms of horticulture, the tiller of the soil has had to learn by dear experience what kind of land was best adapted to this particular crop. Our veteran pineapple grower, Captain Richards, has told us repeatedly how 20 he attemptefi to grow pineapples on the moist and fertile island soil. Finally ending in failure and almost despair, he planted a few on the sand ridge on the west bank of the Indian river at Eden. To his surprise this soil proved exactly what the pines wanted. From this small beginning, we may say that practi- cally the whole pineapple industry on the spruce pine land of the Indian river section had its origin. FERTILISERS. ‘In visiting the various sections of the Indian river country during 1897 diligent enquiries were made of the principal pineapple growers as to what forms of fertilisers they would recommend for use on pineapples. The enquiry ended in find- ing out that very few people agreed on using the same fertilis- ing substance. Those who mixed their own fertilisers seemed to be as much in doubt in regard to the action of particular substances as anyone else. By far the greater number of pine- apple growers, however, seemed to be depending on ready mixed formul for their use, the composition of these being in no case known. While the fertiliser houses always appended the percentage of nitrogen, potash, or phosphoric acid present, there was no evidence as to the origin of the nitrogen, potash or phosphoric acid. “A few points in connection with fertilising pineapples seem to be admitted by a considerable number of pineapple growers. However, there was no one form of nitrogen which was accepted by the majority of the extensive growers; and the same was true of potash and phosphoric acid. It was not difficult to find pineapple growers of more than local reputation who would condemn a certain form or forms of ammonia, and their neighbours would condemn certain other forms, and probably advocate the forms condemned by the first neighbour. By compiling the opinion of various growers every form of am- monia was condemned, and the opposite of the proposition was also true; that is, every form of ammonia had its advocates. The same was true of potash. Acid phosphate was quite gene- rally considered a bad fertiliser. Of course everybody ferti- lised, and everybody was dissatisfied with the action of certain forms of fertilisers. Very few were entirely satisfied with the forms of fertiliser that they were using, and the greater num- ber of those that were satisfied with their fertiliser were people who had not been in the pineapple business very Jong. OBJECTS OF THE EXPERIMENTS. “ At this juncture the Experiment Station offered to set aside a certain amount of money from the Hatch fund to con- duct experiments on a sufficiently extensive scale that they might be of value to the pineapple growers. Application was 21 made to various people interested for help in this connection. The Experiment Station agreed to purchase all fertilisers and superintend their application. The owner of the field was to furnish the labour, to cultivate it and receive the fruit when it had ripened on the field: Under these conditions many acres of pineapples were offered for experimental use. After making a diligent enquiry into the condition of the fields and of the soil, it was finally decided that a field belonging to Ballentine & Moore was the most suitable for experimental work. Ac- cordingly the work was commenced on the field, which had been set out in pineapples the previous July or August on re- cently cleared spruce pine land. Chemical analysis of the ‘pineapple soil”? indicates very strongly that all the essential elements of fertility are wanting in it. Consequently it was thought that no plots would produce a good crop with an in- complete fertiliser. Therefore the plots receiving an incom- plete fertiliser were laid out in hundredth-acres, and plots receiving complete fertilisers were laid out in twentieth-acres. As many forms of nitrogen as were common on the market were secured ; also of potash, bone meal and dissolved Florida phosphate. Hach form of nitrogen was combined with each form of potash and conversely. The phosphoric acid was used in this connection as extensively as the fund would permit. “The fertilisers used gave approximately the following formule .— Nitrogen... 450 sie 2, 3 per cent. Potash cee eee aoe : coe a 9 99 Available Phosphoric Acid ... 5 ,, ,, ‘The following amounts of fertilisers were applied February 7 and 8, 1898. A second application of two and a half times that amount was made June 27 and 28, 1898. A third appli- cation of one and a half times the amount was made November 4 to 12; 1898, at which time the photographs were taken. “The appended table will give the plots in such a way that they may be compared with one another to better advantage : ° rB2 @ rb) hei S$ Gk chil) Beare. | bois gS eM ba seh Sus ee eee ee aa #2 | a 3 = aso ee Ree 6th 4th 6th 3rd Ath Bone Meal Class Class Class Class Class rede eal 6th 5th 3rd Ath Ath WesdlPidephate Class Class Class Class Class Am. Pret ae 31d ond 3rd 4th 30d Bee Nreal Class Class Class Class Class Am. cae tae ond ond 6th oh 3rd Acid{Phouphate Class Class Class Class Class ee anes (ae Onde). aah 5th 5th eid hos phate Class Class Class Class Class a Tabs sel: Letts Goi scletes Wea eee Blood & Bone. Class Class Class Class Class aaa Bone ua Acid Phosphate lass EXPLANATION OF THE TABLE. The above table shows the composition of the fertiliser applied to each plot and the class to which each plot belonged in December, 188. (Nore.—In consequence of the omission of the previous table the numbers of the different plots are omitted from the above table.) 23"! “The plots marked Ist Class were better than one is accus- tomed to see in pineapple sections. Plots marked 2nd Class would pass for fine. 3rd Class good 4th Class indifferent, with some spiky plants. 5th Class poor, with considerable percentage of spiky plants. 6th Class practically worthless, over 40 per cent, spiky, and the rest doing poorly. CONCLUSION. Ammonia.—For young pineapple plants growing on spruce pine Jand which has not been fertilised before, blood and bone furnish the best form of ammonia used. Nitrate of soda comes next to blood and bone, but there is a strong difference and a considerable step between these two. Bright cotton seed meal gave better results than sulphate of ammonia. Our experi- ments therefore seem to indicate that, as a source of ammonia, blood and bone stand first, nitrate of soda second cotton seed meal third, and sulphate of ammonia fourth of the substances with which we have experimented. Potash.—While there is a great variation in the different plots treated with different forms of potash, there seems te be a greater difference due to the combination than to any par- ticular form cf potash. Summing up the whole anu noting the character we find that potassium magnesium carbonate proved the most efficient. Low grade sulphate of potash, frequently called the double potash salts, stands second in the list. While none of its plots are anusually good, it has the good character of having very few poor plots. High grade sulphate of potash stands slightly below low-grade “sulphate of potash in the potash list. Muriate of potash stands fourth in the list when all its combinations are considered, in spite of the fact that the best plot in the field was fertilised with muriate of potash. Phosphoric acid.—As a whole, the experiments indicate that a small amount of soluble phosphoric acid will suffice. Acid phosphate is decidedly an unprofitable fertiliser in nine-tenths of the combinations. Its bad effects cannot be ascribed to the pressure of sulphuric acid or other caustic material. Bone meal lias shown itself a very efficient substance. No fertiliser ingredient used in the above ex}eriments is absolutely bad in itself, but becomes bad by being combined with certain other forms. The detrimental effect of the ferti- lisers cannot be said to be due to some caustic substance in the combination. The facts accumulated are not sufficient to war- rant any further conclusion to be drawn ”’ The European staff employed at the Gardens remains un- changed, Mr. Blunden, one of the under gardeners, was a 24, member of the Durban Field Artillery, and when the Vclun- teers were called out he left us and remained at the front until October 8th, and a day or two afterwards resumed his work at the Gardens. To Mr. Wylie especially my thanks are due for lis valuable services, and efficient supervision of the work in the Gardens and Nursery, aud to all the Huropean members of the staff for faithful service efficiently rendered. To the mem- bers of the Committee I have much pleasure in again tendering my thanks for their unfailing courtesy and assistance in every matter on which [ have found it necessary to consult them. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient servant, J. 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FOR THE YEAR 1900, 3¢ BY J. MEDLEY WOOD, A.L.S., Corresponding Memter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, CURATOR OF BOTANIC GARDENS, DURBAN. OE te peat, ee URTE Rey NCH Ney nae ; ane i RL 8 mx ) py Oe. ae Sa b. COLONIAL HERBARIUM. ee GS During the year now ended the specimens in the herbarium have increased from 24,268 at the close of 1899 to 26,040 of which 17,347 are foreign, and 8,693 South African species, and there are a number already in stock which will be mounted and placed in the cabinets as soon as time can be spared for the purpose. In addition to these, I have received advices of parcels already in transit, and of promises of others to be sent. The cabinets being inconveniently full, I have obtained four new ones at cost of £11, and these are now fairly well filled. In all there are are now 34 cabinets, and more will have to be obtained before very long. I wish once more to call attention to the fact that the whole of the property belonging to the Herbarium is contained in a building of iron lned with wood, and which is the property of the Botanic Society, and which is urgently required for other purposes. In addition to the hability of destruction by fire from various causes, not the least of which is that the spirit lamp is in constant use when plants are being dissected, the building is already much too small, the cabinets, bookcase, &c., occupying so much space that there is scarcely room for the workers. I have a number of carpologi- cal specimens in bottles which have perforce to be packed away out of sight, since there is no room for them on the shelves and no place where more shelves can be put. ‘The books belonging to the library have increased considerably, the solitary book- case 1s quite full, and there is not room for another one even if we had it, quite a number of books require binding, but | can- not have this done until we have more room for them, these books are, therefore, inaccessible without considerable trouble being taken to unearth them, occasioning much waste of time and vexation of spirit. The building being of iron lined with wood affords ample space between the wood and the iron for cockroaches, silver moths, &c., which damage the specimens and the paper on which they are mounted, and also the bind- ing of the books. I had the room fumigated, but the improve- ment was not at all apparent, a few of these noxious insects were no doubt destroyed, but in a few weeks afterwards they were aS rampant as ever. It is much to be hoped that a larger, better and safer building will soon be provided. A ® Dried and named specimens of the Natal Flora have been sent to correspondents as under :— Biltmore Herbarium, U.S. America ee se) OOO) British Museum _... : By ey LOO Calcutta, Royal Botanic Gardens! is cow 112 Colonial Museum! Haarlem oe ay soo LS Field Columbian Museum, Chicago AB ee B30 Fowler, J., Canada.. ao oe ae ete 41 Co) Menzel, O. K., Mastralia ae fe LG Racoun! J. M. ,, Geological Survey, Canada pies 57) Philadelphia Museum, U.S. America... eng. Stl Saharunpur, Botanic Gardens, Herbarium coe Sydney 3 is OS Trelease, W. St. tonss: Wiseoart is i: pee 16) wes: hGaericn, National Herbarium a poet) ls) 2,445 Specimens have been received as under :— Bolus, H., F.U.S., Capetown ee 3 MPP has cos} Calcutta, ‘Royal Botanic Gardens 150 Central Africa, collected by the late i. Bachar nan, O.M.G. a 224 Galpin, E. E Queenstown, Cape Colony Be be Shy) Macoun, J. M., Geological Survey of Canada ... 150 Sydney, Herbarium at Botanic Gardens .. 407 U.S America, National Herbarium a MeN ate) 1,261 In addition to the above, all of which are named specimens, I have received a number of specimens of our own flora for identification, often single specimens only when information has been required as to the uses or properties of the plant sent, in several cases larger number of plants have been sent by persons wishing to know something of the plants growing in the vici- nity where they reside, or picked up in their travels. The largest contributor in this way has been Mr. G. H. Davies, of Qudeni, Zululand, who sent about 40 different species, chiefly shrubs or trees, the specimens sent have been excellent, well prepared, and in sufficient quantity, but they often suffered considerably in transit through the post. Amongst them are several new species, some rare ones, and a few that are not yet fully determined I should be very pleased to have a few more such valuable correspondents as Mr. Davies in other parts of the Colony, and I may again repeat that parcels of specimens will pass free through post, provided printed direction labels are attached to the parcels, these labels will be forwarded on ' 4) application, and also printed directions for preparing the specimens if required. In consequence of the disturbed state of the country espe- cially in the upper districts, but little collecting has been done. I have made two trips only, one in the early part of the year to Lidgetton, and one near the end of December to Ladysmith, on both occasions securing specimens for exchange; a larger number has been collected from time to time in the coast dis- tricts, so that our stock of duplicates is still a fairly large one. In consequence of the time of my Assistant being fully occupied in making the drawings for ‘‘ Natal Plants,” I obtained for a time the services of a young lady who is a refugee from Johan- nesburg, and her time was fully occupied for about three months in mounting specimens and looking out parcels of plants for exchange, work which otherwise would have to have been done by my Assistant, Miss Lauth. The preparation of the plates for ‘“‘ Natal Plants’ had to be suspended for about two months in consequende of the serious illness of the artist, still the second part of Vol. 2, containing 25 figures and descriptions of Graminee, and the first part of Vol. 3, containing 25 figures and descriptions of miscellaneous plants has been published; the second part of Vol. 3 will be issued early in the coming year. Altogether 43 drawings have been completed during the year. It was intended that Miss Lauth should keep to the grasses until completed, but chiefly in consequence of the war Mr. Haygarth was compelled to give up evening work in consequence of two of his assistants being at the front with the Volunteers, he could no longer give his attention to it, I therefore decided to leave the grasses for a time so as to finish Vol. 3, after that we shall probably return to Vol. 2 until completed. During the past year further additions to the ‘“ Preliminary Catalogue of Natal Plants” have been made, and I now give the names of 61 which have been added to the lst :— Aioe natalensis, Wood & Evans ... ... Liliaceae Androcymbium decipiens, N. HK. Brown mi Anthospermum rubicante, K. Schum ... Rubiaceae Argyrolobiwm reflecwm, N. K. Brown ... Legumincsae vartoptle, N. K. Brown ae i Aristida anugustata, Stapf Ss ... Gramineae eesti), “Maley wee aa He a Asclepias Gerrardi, Schltr * ... Asclepiadeae Athriwia Gerrardi, Harv ... Compositae ae ar aennoieas Wood & Evans Lae a Athanasia montana, Wood & Evans uF Boerhaavia ascendens, Willd “ .. Nyctagineae Celastrus albatus, N. EK. Brown _... concinuus, N. KH. Brown ... Oyrtanthus Galpint, Raker Dipcadi Clarkeanuwm, Schinz Disperis oxyglossa, Bolus ss Macowanz, Bolus » stenoglossa, Schltr Huphorbia cuspidata, Bernh Ms livida, WH. M. Geranium robustum, Kunze om Geigeria natalensis, Wood & Hvans rivularis, Wood & Kvans Gladiolus oligophlebins, Baker... Helichrysum Wood, N. Bh. Brown Hermannia longifolia, N. EK. Brown Indiyofera rostrata, Bolus Lasvosiphon splendens, Meisn Lobelia erinoides, Thb. iT scabra.. Whi: Loranthus Sandersoni, Harv Lotononis adpressa, N. H. Brown .. Haygarthi, N. K. Brown Waocelia tenurfolia, Nutt Lyperia crassicaulis, Bth. is Lythrum rivulare, Wood & Evans. Mystrorylon euclaefolium, HK. & Z.... Nesaea Schinziz, Kohn Olea Woodiana, Knoblach ee Ornithogalum Saltmarshit, Baker ... Othonna plutyphila, N. KH. Brown ... Physalis minima, Linn he Pterocelastrus echinatus, N. HK. Brown rostratus, Walp. Ptern ygodinm hastatum, Bolus a tricuspidatum, Schlechter Pygeum africanum, Hook, f. Rhus cuneata, N. E. Brown Satyriwm aphyllum, “chlechter Senecio seminivea, Wood & Hvans... » tugelensis, Wood & Evans.. Streptocarpus angustilobus, N. HK. Brown ny Coopert, Clarke : i Daviesii, N. KE. Brown Haygar thit, N. KE. Brown Strychnos Henningsi, Gilg : Syncolostemon macrophyllus, Gurke Tylophora lycvotdes, Dene mY Ursinia brevicaulis, Wood & Evans Oelastrineae Amaryllideae Inliaceae Orchideae 99 39 Euphorbiaceae 9 Geraniaceae Compositae 6 Irideae Compositae Sterculiaceae Lequminoseae Thymeleae Campanulaceae 9 Loranthaceae Leguminoseae Bk a .. Scrophu'arineae 9 Lythrarieae Celastrineae Lythrarieae Oleaceae Inliaceae OCompositae Solanaceae Celastrineae Orehideos 99 Rosaceae Anacardiaceae Orchideae Compositae 99 Gesneraceae bh) 99 99 Loganiaceae Labiatae Asclepiadeae Compositae Vitex Zeyhert, Sond... i ... Verbenaceae Zaluzianskya ovata, Walp. i, ... Scrophularineae The following publications have been received :— NAME. DONOR. Annual Report on New Remedies ; by HK. Merck ia i. Author: Australian Saltbushes ; by M. EK. Jaffa Govt. U. S. America. Acta Horti Petropolitani Director. Beitrage zur Kentniss der Afri canscher Klora))) 4: Prof. Dr. Schinz. Flora of Tropical Africa, Vol.V. , Part IL. Director, Kew Gardens Illustrations of Flora of Congo, ‘Vol. 9 Authors. Icones Plantarum, Vol. VII, Parts 2,3 Director, Kew Gardens Journal of Botany. Current numbers LEditor. Memoires de L’ Herbier Boissier, No. 10 Prof. Dr. H. Schinz. Merck’s Digest, No.8... Author. Monograph of Disperidee; by R. Schlechter es Monograph of Podochilines ; by R. Schlechter New or little known African Orchids ; by R. Schlechter New or little known African plants ; by R. Schlechter .. New S. African plants, decades 8, 9: by R. Schlechter Notes on Potamogetons ; by A. Bennett Plant covering of Ocracoke Island ; ; by Th. Kearney, Jr. ... ... Govt. U. S. America. Plante Utowane; by C. F. Mills- paugh, M.D. ... Author. Revision of the genus Holothrix ; by R. Schlechter oe Recent literature on piv piece by E. Merek be Studies of American grasses ; by F. L. Scribner bs Govt. U. S. America. Stigmatose, a disease of Clarion: and Pinks; by A. F. Woods Two diseases of Cedar caused by fungt; by Hermann von Schrenk es West Indian Asclepiadacee; by R. Schlechter Author. Wilt disease in Cotton, Water Melon, and Cow Pea ; by K. F. Smith... Govt. U. S. America, 8 PURCHASED. Trimens Flora of Ceylon, Part V. Text Book of plant diseases ; by G. Massee. Agricultural Botany; by J. Percival, F.L.S. Glossary of Botanic terms; by B. D. Jackson. In my annual report for 1899, I repeated the descriptions of the third decade of new Natal Plants described by Mr. M.S Evans and myself, and published at Home in the Jowrnal of Botany. It was intended to publish a fourth decade, but the outbreak of war and press of other business prevented our ob- taining specimens from the upper districts, we therefore deter- mined to send what remained for publication in the Kew Bulletin, and not to continue the decades at present. The fol- lowing descriptions were therefore sent for publication some months ago, and may possibly appear before this report is published, but as few people in Natal see that publication, I think it best to include them in this report especially as all the other species have already appeared in former reports. New. Natat Puants. Senecio tugelensis, Wood & Evans. Annual, herbaceous, erect, stems simple, striate, glabrous. Leaves oblong-lanceolate, or ovate-lanceolate, acute or obtuse, lower ones tapering to a winged amplexicaul petiole, upper onesamplexical, margins closely serrate, glabrous, purple beneath. Heads solitary, or 2-3 on some- whatelongated glabrous peduncles bearing 2-3 scattered lanceolate bracts, radiate, calycled with 6-7 linear bracteoles. Involucre of 12 to 14 glabrous scales. Ray florets 12 to 14; 4-5 lined, yellow ; disk florets 60 to 80. Achenes (unripe) glabrous. Hasitat: Natal; sources of Tugela, summit of Drakensberg, near Mont aux Sources; 10 to 11,000 feet altitude, March, 1898; M. S. Hvans, No. 750. The whole plant 6 to 14 inches high ; leaves ] to 2 inches long, = to ¢ inch wide; Involucral scales 2 + inch long; Heads spreading to 1 inch diameter. Senecio seminivea, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose, ascending, branches curved, glabrescent below, glandular hairy in upper portion. Leaves crowded, alternate, sessile, half amplexicaul, pinnate, 5—7 lobes on each side, young ones very densely white woolly tomentose, mature one sub-glabrous, leaflets simple, entire or 2-3 lohed, acute, margins entire Heads solitary, radiate, pedunculate, calycled with 2-3 linear glandular brac- teoles. Involucral scales 10-15, glandular hairy, with mem- branous margins, 3-4 nerved in central portion. Disk florets 40 to 50; ray florets 10 to 12; 4-lned. Achenes glabrous, om Stems 5 to 10 inches high ; mature leaves 2 to 2 inch long, lobes 15 to 2 lines long. Involucral scales 3 to 4 lines long. Ray florets extending to 1; inch diameter, yellow ; disk flor ets yellow. Hasirat: Natal; summit of Drakensberg, near Mont aux Sources, 10 to 11,000 feet altitude, M.S. Evans, No. 752. This species is apparently closely allied to S. tanacetordes, Sond, but can at once be distinguished from that species by the peculiarity of the fascicles of young leaves being snowy white with woolly tomentose pubescence, while the adult ‘leaves are dark green and almost glabrous, and this may be as well seen in the Andie specimens as in the living ones; and also by the glan- dular hairs on the upper part of the stem, peduncle. and out- side of involucral scales. We have only observed this species on the summit of the Drakensberg, while S. tanacetordes is plentiful at the foot of the mountain. Athrixia arachnoidea, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose, Stems solitary, erect or ascending, occasionally branched, terete, leafy to apex, arachnoid. Leaves alternate, erecto-patent, sessile, linear, acute, margins reflexed, glabrous or thinly arachnoid above, very densely so beneath. Peduncles 1-headed, short, terminal or axillary near apex of stem, swollen towards apex, clothed with scattered subulate, arachnoid scales similar to those on the involucre. Heads turbinate. Involucral scales pluriseriate, arachnoid, subulate, squarrose. Ray florets 20 to 30, disk florets about 1'0. Pappus uniseriate, without interposed scales, the bristles persistent, thinly clothed. with minute hairs. Ripe achenes not seen. An undershrub 6-12 inches high. Leaves in centre of stem {-l inch long, 13-2 lines wide, gradually shorter to base and apex. Peduncles 3-6 lines long. Heads 9 lines diameter. In- volucral scales 3-4 lines long. Ray florets 6-7 lines long, purple ; disk florets 4 lines long, yellow. Hasirat: Natal; amongst grass, Polela, about 6,000 feet altitude. July, 1895. M.S. Evans, No. 513. Aloe natalensis, W ood & Evans. Shrubby, copiously and repeatedly branching from the very base, each branchlet ending in a dense rosette Poe leaves, occa- sionally producing adventitious roots from the lower branche Leaves 30 to 40 in a rosette, linear lanceolate, falcate, acute, sub-glaucous, neither spotted nor lined, margined with deltoid curved pricles. Peduncles usually simple, bracts broadly obovate, veined. Racemes densely many flowered ; pedicels erecto-patent. Perianth bright red, cylindrical. Stamens finally shghtly exserted. Stigma exserted., 7 10 The whole plant, 8 to 12 feet high, with a diameter of 12 to 15 feet. Rosettes of leaves very numerous. Leaves 18 to 30 inches long; 13 to 2} inches wide; 3 to } inch thick at the base ; prickles 1 line long, ¢ to { inch apart. Pedicels 1 to 1} inch long. Racemes 5 to 10 inches long, spreading to 3 inches wide, bracts ; inch long and wide. Perianth 15 to 1} inch long. Shoes Natal; Midlands from 800 to 3,000 feet altitude, usually, but not always on cliffs or rocky hills. Differs from any species of Aloe known to us, or described in the Flora Capensis, and well distinguished by its copiously branching habit. It forms large clumps, and covers a large extent of ground in comparison with its height. The rosettes of leaves in moderate sized plants number from 200 to 300 or more, with a still larger number of small ones. Athanasia montana, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose, much branched. Stems erect, terete, clothed with scars of fallen leaves, finely arachnoid, pubescent. Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, acute, broad based, margins deeply and sharply serrate ; thickly covered with glands; with axillary tufts of small, entire, linear leaves. In- florescence a compound corymb, many headed, pedicels brac- teate, bracts linear-lanceolate. Involucral scales minutely ciliolate, sub-similar. Pappus of several short papillose scales. Achenes (unripe) striate, papillose. Plant, 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves 5 to } inch long, 2-4 lines wide ; axillary entire ones, 1; to 2 lines long; heads 4 lines diameter. Hasirat: Natal; Drakensberg, Source of Bushman’s River, 6-7000 feet altitude. June, 1896, M.S. Evans, No. 662. The nearest species to this known to us is A, leucoclada, Harv, from which it is distinguishable by its more robust and branch- ing habit, and also by its inflorescence being a compound corymb of many heads and not “ simple, dense, few headed.” Getgerta rivularis, Wood & Evans. Suffru ticose, erect or ascending, glabrous, clothed with leaves from base to apex. Leaves linear, tapering to base and apex, entire, flat, impress-dotted, glabrous, acute, midrib incon- spicuous. Heads lateral and terminal, subsessile or shortly pedunculate, subtended by many leaves. Involucral scales, outer ones linear from a broadened base, with swollen midrib; inner ones lanceolate, coriaceous, shorter than the outer ones. Pappus, outer of oblong, blunt, and inner of oblong bristle _ pointed scales. Receptacle covered with stiff bristles. Achenes very villous. 11 Stem 6 to 8 inches in height. Leaves 1; to 2 inches long. 1 to 1} line wide. Heads lj inch diameter. Outer involucral scales § to 1 inch long. Flowers yellow. Hapirat: Orange River Colony, near Harrismith, 5-6000 feet altitude. March, J. M. Wood, No. 4784. This plant is very closely allied to G. Burkei and G. Zeyeri, but differs from the former in indument, shape and size of involucral scales, and fimbrils. This is not strictly a Natal plant, but being found so near the border, and the district having not yet been very closely botanised it is yery possible that it may yet be found on the Natal side of the border, it is the only one of the series that has not been actually collected in Natal. Geigeria natalensis, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose from a thickened woody root, Stems branching, often from base, slender, erect or ascending, glabrous, leafy to base. Leaves narrow linear, glabrous, punctate, entire. Heads subtended by leaves Involucral scales, outer one subulate from a broad base; inner ones lanceolate, coriaceous, ciliate on npper portion, longer than the outer ones, Pappus scales, outer ones oblong, obtuse, inner ones oblong, bristle pointed. Receptacle covered with stiff bristles. Achenes very villous. The whole plant 9 to 12 inches high. Leaves 1-17 inch long, 3 to 3 line wide. Involucral scales outer, 3 lines, inner, 5 lines long. Hasirar: Natal; Dry stony hill Whitecliffe near Greytown. April. J. M. Wood, No. 4317. This plant differs from G. rivuiaris, W. & E., by its generally much more slender habit, size and shape of leaves, and com- parative size of involucral scales, and in the much smaller size of the flower heads. Flowers yellow. Ursinia brevicaulis, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose. Stems 1 or more, erect or ascending, short, unbranched. leafy from base to apex, leaves crowded, pinnati- partite in upper portion, segments about 6, opposite or alternate, linear, simple or occasionally bifid, elabrous, punctate, acute at apex, petiole elongate, gradually filated foe ards base, semi- amplexicaul, glabrous. Pedunele 1- headed, elongate, thinly clothed with minute hairs. Involucral scales olabr ‘ous, outer ones dark edged, inner larger, amply membrane tipped, all obtuse. Palae a little constricted below apex, terminating in a rounded membranous lobe. Stems ;-l inch long. Leaves 1-1} inch long, petiole below lowest segments, 572 inch long; segments 2-3 lines long. Peduncles 23-5 lines long. 12" Hasitat: Natal. Summit of Mont aux Sources, 10-11,000 feet altitude. March, 1898. M.S. Evans, No. 744. Lythrum rivulare, Wood & Evans. Suffruticose, erect. Stems many from a woody root, copiously branching ; leaves scattered, petiolate, lanceolate, acute, entire, margins reflexed, glabrous. Peduncles axillary, solitary 3- 1 flowered by abortion, the one flowered peduncles with a pair of bracts above the middle, the 3-flowered peduncles with smaller bracts, the lateral flowers only, having a pair of bracteoles below the calyx, the central flower without bracteoles. Bracts linear. equalling the pedicels, bracteoles smaller. Calyx 8-costate, 4-toothed, Petals 4, ovate, Stamens 4, exserted. Flowers pink. : _ The plant 15 to 18 inches high. Leaves } inch long, less than 1 line wide. Calyx 1 line long, petals equalling calyx. Hasirat: Natal: Province of Zululand near Tugela River, J. Wylie (Wood, No. 5689). This plant difters from L. sagittaefoliwm, Sond, which algo has 4 stamens, by form size, and indument of leaves, and also in inflorescence, and from L hyssoprfoliwm in size and position of leaves, mode of inflorescence, and number of stamens. Inpigenous Foop Puants.—In my Report for 1894 I gave a list of indigenous plants with the uses to which they are applied by the natives. This lst, however, referred chiefly to medi- cinal plants, though a few others were included in it. It occurs to me that a list of the plants used as food by the natives would be interesting, and though I cannot hope that the list will be a complete one, still it may perhaps call attention to the subject, and elicit information that may lead to the publication of a supplementary list on a future occasion. I have thought it best now to divide the list into two sections, the first including the wild fruits of the colony, the second those plants which are used as vegetables or in other ways as food. It can hardly be said that our list of indigenous fruits is a large one, or that many of them are of value, still there are some that might per- haps be improved by cultivation, and it may therefore be of use in this way to enumerate them. Some of the plants noted can scarcely be considered to be really of value as food, though probably in times of great scarcity they may have been so used ; now, however, they are only eaten by children or herd boys when out with the cattle, and some of: the more insignificant ones I have for the present omitted altogether. It will be seen that in this list the plants are for convenience arranged alphabetically ; in a future and more complete list it may be as well to arrange them systematically in botanical sequence. ‘13 FRUITS, Antidesma venoswm, E.M. isi- Bamuloti. Huphorbiaceex. A small tree whose fruits are eaten by natives and children, they are not very palatable, and probably might be injurious if eaten in quantity. Anona senegalensis, Pers. i-Rabija. Anonaceez. A small tree bearing a fruit something like the custard apple, but much smaller, both this plant, the custard apple, sweet and sonr sops, and cherimoyer,,belong to the same genus, but the fruit of A. senegalensis is much inferior to any of them. It is also a native of S. America. Aberia caffra, Hk. & Harv. um-Qokolo. Biaxineae. A small tree or shrub, often used for hedge purposes, the fruits are large, and very sour, except perhaps when quite ripe. They are often used for preserving, and Baron Mueller suggests that they might perhaps be dried “ by which means the sour- ness might be lessened.” Arachis hypogaea, Linn., Ground Nut. Leguminosae. This plant is cultivated in most tropical countries, and is too well known to need further description. The legumes are de- posited beneath the surface of the ground, and the seeds yield a bland oil which is but little inferior to that obtained from the olive.