Argan Tree.—

The account given of this interesting and useful tree (Argania Sideroxylon) in the appendix to the book by myself and Mr. Ball on Morocco and the Great Atlas has been reproduced in the gardening journals, and has excited a renewed interest in its cultivation. It is only known in the native state in an exceedingly limited area of Morocco, where the husk of the fruit is greatly valued for cattle food, while the Seed kernel is the source from which an excellent oil is extracted.

At different times the seed has been procured and distributed to various colonies, where, however, its slow growth has led to disappointment. In 1870 a supply was obtained through the kindness of Mr. C. W. Carstensen, H.B.M. Vice-Consul, Mogador.

Amongst other places the Botanic Garden at Saharunpore was supplied, where, however, the plant, though probably well suited for N. W. India, does not appear to have survived. I am glad, however, to hear from Mr. F. Abbott, of the Royal Society of Tasmania's Gardens in Hobart Town; that the Argan tree has been fruiting there for some years.

Columbian Barks.—

As stated in the Kew Report for 1878, p. 10, the number of plants of the Calisaya of Santa Fé was reduced to 15, and of Hard Carthagena bark to 10, at the close of the winter of 1878-1879. These plants were, however, fairly vigorous, and it was therefore judged desirable to make the attempt to transmit part of them to India during the summer and autumn. Under instructions from the India Office, one plant of the Hard Carthagena bark was intrusted to Mr. W. B. Liddell, the managing director of the Nilgiri Tea and Cinchona Company (Limited). The case containing the plant was shipped for Madras at the end of July, but the plant succumbed during the voyage.

Subsequently to this it was arranged that Mr. Adolf Biermann, the Curator of the Royal Botanical Garden, Calcutta, who was returning to India after absence on sick leave in consequence of the severe injuries he had received from a tigress which had escaped into the Botanical Garden, should take with him all the plants of Calisaya of Santa Fé and of Hard Carthagena bark which it was prudent to send out. The former were destined for the Nilgiris, the latter for Sikkim. He accordingly left Kew on October 29 with two cases which had been carefully packed under the superintendence of Mr. Cross (the gardener employed by the Government of India in the culture and preparation of these plants at Kew), and which contained seven plants of the Calisaya of Santa Fé and four of the Hard Carthagena bark. On November 12, Mr. Biermann wrote from the Isthmus of Suez that so far the Cinchonas had travelled safely, and that "if nothing particular happens, I hope they all will reach their destination in fair condition." The four Hard Carthagena bark plants reached the Cinchona plantations at Darjeeling in capital order. Mr. J. Gammie reported (January 11 of present year): "There is every probability of their yielding a nice lot of cuttings soon after the warmer weather sets in. They have all lost their tops from canker contracted on the voyage, but the roots and lower parts of the stems are in excellent condition for yielding cuttings, which are what we want. They will give us a better start than twenty small u plants would have done. I had them taken out of their pots at once and planted in a bed of good light soil under glass. With us page 13 Cinchonas are most apt to die of canker if kept long in pots."

Dr. King subsequently wrote:—"The last reports of the Carthagena Cinchonas are that they are growing vigorously. The sending of this species here is another matter for which the Indian Government is deeply indebted to Kew."

As a measure of precaution, in order to preserve the species in cultivation, and with the approval of the Secretary of State for India, a plant of the Hard Carthagena bark was also entrusted to Mr. Morris, Director of Government Gardens and Plantations in Jamaica, who succeeded in conveying it to that island, for which he left England on November 10th.