204
£
7. Nearly all the shrubs and trees that were planted on the ground that has been recently added to the New Garden have made vigorous growth. Many of them yield valuable economic products, and deserve special mention, being new introductions to Hongkong that seem to be well adapted for cultivation here. The most important are: Styrax Benzoin, which yields the resin called 'Benzoin'; Bassia butyracea, the indian butter tree or Phulwara'; Caesalpinia coriaria, Diva Diva,' the pods of which are used for tanning purposes; Musa textilis, Manila Hemp; Manihot glaiziovi, a rubber producing plant; Chrysobalnus Icaco, the Cocoa plum, the oil from the kernels of this fruit being used in medicine; Brya Ebenus, West Indian Ebony; Bursera gummifera, which produces gum mastic; Brosopus juliflora, the pods of which are used in Jamaica for feeding cattle; Pavetta indica, the leaves and roots of which are used in medicine, and the root is also used for making knife handles.
8. A number of the Tree Tomatoe,' Cyphomandra betacea, were planted this year in the Vegetable Garden. This plant seems likely to do well in Hongkong; its worst enemy is a species of red ant which burrows under the ground and attacks the plant at the junction of the root and stem. The first lot of this plant that was raised last year was killed by the ants. An additional lot of seeds, however, was sent by the Director of the Botanic Gardens, Jamaica, and extra precautions were taken to protect the plants. We have now a number of strong plants from five to seven feet high, which I expect will yield a crop this summer. We have also a reserve stock of the plant for sale, and distri- bution. Respecting the merits of the Tree Tomatoe' Mr. MORRIS, Director of the Botanic Gardens, Jamaica, writes, "The fruit should be eaten when ripe only; then it is most refreshing. For cooking take out all the seeds, remove the skin, cut in half and stew as nectarines or peaches.'
9. Another plant of considerable interest, Vitis Martinii, a new tuberous rooted vine from Cochin- China, fruited this year in Hongkong for the first time. The seeds were procured from the Botanic Gardens, Saigon, in 1883. The seedlings were planted out the same summer and made several shoots, each of which died down in the winter. They began to make fresh shoots about the middle of April, 1884, and grew well during the summer, but showed no inclination to flower; and again died down in the winter. Last summer they started vigorously and showed flower about the end of May. Many of the bunches however failed to develope fruit, owing apparently to imperfect fertilization, but there was a good average crop of bunches on the canes irrespective of the failures. The fruit was ripe in October; many of the bunches weighing a pound each. The berries, when ripe, are jet black, and rather under the average size of ordinary grapes. The seeds are large in proportion to the size of the berry. The flavour is a peculiar blending of sweetness and acidity, very pleasant, but tending, in my case, to leave a curious smarting sensation on the tongue; others might not find this peculiarity at all objectionable. The flavour might be altered as is well known, by varying the mode of cultivation, but the size of the seeds is likely to prevent the grape becoming popular as a table fruit; it may, however be very well adapted for a wine producer. A number of seedlings of this vine were distributed amongst residents of the Colony, but I learn that none of these plants have fruited. A few remarks as to the mode of cultivation may therefore be useful. The tubers should be planted at a distance of twelve feet apart in well manured soil, taking care to keep the manure near the surface, as the tubers take a horizontal direction and do not penetrate the soil to any great depth. When the shoots appear in the spring, it is well to cut off all the weak ones, leaving only four strong canes; these should be trained along a trellis or a wall, as the case might be, leaving a width of three feet between the canes. All the lateral branches should be pruned back to within one bud of the main rod, except those laterals that show bunches; but it will be found that very few bunches will be developed on the lateral shoots, most of the bunches springing directly from the main rods; but in the case of a bunch springing from a lateral branch, the branch should be stopped at the second bud above the bunch. The laterals might be allowed to grow till they are two feet long. It will then be seen if they are likely to throw out bunches or not. If not, prune them back as described, and also pinch back all subsequent growth as it appears. It may be found necessary to thin out the leaves to allow the sun to get at the bunches, but in doing this great care should be taken not to break or otherwise injure the leaf directly above the bunch. If this leaf happens to be accidentedly removed, the bunch below it will ripen immaturely and soon shrivel up. It is an advantage to thin out the bunches, leaving a space of fifteen or eighteen inches between them. It is also advantageous to thin the berries, leaving hardly one half of the original quantity on each bunch; but I am afraid this process would prove impracticable if the vine were extensively grown, owing to the labour it would entail. After the fruit is gathered, the vines require no farther attention till spring. By way of experiment one lot of plants was allowed to grow at will. Some of them threw up as many as a dozen suckers and produced laterals in profusion, but they all failed to flower. Another lot was transplanted into well-manured ground just as the crowns began to push in the spring; they too failed to flower, and presented rather a sickly appearance during the summer.
The Horticultural Press has already suggested that this vine should receive the attention of vine growers in the wine producing countries of Europe where the phylloxera has denuded the vineyards of the old class of vines. There being no phylloxera in Hongkong, I cannot say whether the dreaded insect would spare this vine; but in view of the wonderful improvements that have been and can be brought about by skilful and persistant cultivation, it is not unreasonable to surmise that this new vine may ultimately become a wine producer. It is easily cultivated, and seems to be well adapted for a tropical climate, or a climate in which the resting season is comparatively cold and the growing season hot.