Gum, Acacia Arabia.-This drug may be very extensively collected and of a very superior quality. Coffee.-The Mocha coffee grows on the African coast, and the berry has been successfully tried at Natal. Every cottager should grow his own, and export several hundred weights to England. Natal appears to be well suited for it, not being subject to frost. Tea-will probably do well, Natal being exactly the same latitude south as the China tea district is north. The plant grown by the natives for tea, and another used by the Dutch, are aromatic, agreeable, and refreshing. Unless people are fastidious, importations of tea are unnecessary. Olive Oil.-Much of Natal resembles the country about Seville, in Spain. The wild olive grows now, and no doubt the true olive will thrive: but it will require six to ten years probably before it will carry fruit. Coal-is in abundance in localities. Copper supposed to be so. Bees' wax and honey-are found extensively. Sheep's Wool-may be grown in the mountainous parts and also collected in the interior. Before the Dutch left, Natal exported 4200lbs. Tallow-should be an article of export even after making their own soap and candles. Ivory. Some in the country, and great quantities will be collected from the Dutch, and the Zoolus. Hides.-Great quantities;-Natal should make its own leather. Wheat. I have been requested to reiterate the fact that Natal will produce fine wheat.-In 1844 Natal exported wheat. The upper districts are the best for wheat, but I have seen fair wheat grown within twenty miles of the Port, on a soil thrice turned and without any dressing. Beans-should be extensively cultivated: they pay well for the Mauritius. ditto Mules.-A most profitable animal to rear for Mauritius. Horses.-Fine horses should be reared in Natal; and then the demands of the East India Company may be met there, sending them forward in the emigration ships and thus saving considerably in freight. The East India Company's last shipment of horses to Madras cost £23 14s. 4d. in the Cape, which would be a remunerating price for the farmer of Natal. While giving these hints for the future, let me hope that the agricultural societies in the colony will be encouraged to pursue their efforts so well begun. Practically, Mr. Morewood, near Umvoti has done much for the colony, while the adjoining land, equally good, exhibits no improvement. Mr. M. has shewn that the land is capable of producing almost every kind of grain, vegetable, and fruit. Some of his land is like a Middlesex nursery. Reader, are you a bounty laboring emigrant of twenty-five or fifty acres? Go and do thou likewise. If properly treated as regards your lot, you should make your freehold a garden. I have heard a Scotchman in Natal say that there was many an acre in the Colony which would support an industrious family. Names. Statement of the various Woods growing in the Cape of Good Hope and Natal. Do. 1 Used only for firewood 20 1 Like fir. Chests, drawers, &c. 12 15 1 to 9 in. Veneering 12 14 9 Hard and close. Not much used 12 20 1 to 3 ft. Hard 25 45 4 Very hard.. Callodendrum. Kiggelaria Africana. Not much used; but a fine wood Schotia speciosa. Ploughs and axles (Sideroxylon Mela nophelos. Sideroxylon (?) Euclea (?) Sophora Capensis. Stone Ash 24222 12 7 to 9 in. Tough bark, like silk 1 to 2 ft. Very hard, stands water well 20 35 3 5 Like dark Mahogany 12 15 3 Soft and porous 8 to 10 in. Hard and short Thorn (Mimosa 8 10 1 to 3 ft. Hard and tough Wild Pomegranate 12 8 in. Short No particular use Wilde Vier.. 10 Furniture Little used Gum, bark for tanning, firewood Mimosa Karroo. Chairs, table feet Plank Spars, rafters, &c. Balks, beams, planks *Notwithstanding this name, the assagai wood is not used by the natives for their assagais or lances-these are usually made of a species of salvia. † A species of the teak. § African Lignum vitæ-when large the heart is quite black. SYMPTOMS OF LIFE. PORT NATAL AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The Committee of the above Society gives notice, that the First Exhibition of Produce, &c., will be held at D'Urban in July or August, 1850,-the precise date will be published in a future advertisement. 4 5 6 7 For the second best ditto Coffee-For the best 10 lbs. :::::: Sugar from Cane, Maize, or any other source, for the Tobacco-For the best 25 lbs. 8 Wheat-For the best Schepel.. 9 Barley-For the best Schepel.. Butter-For the best keg of not less than 28 lbs., and at 11 12 Cheese-For the best 13 Hams-For the best two 0 10 0 All the above named Specimens to be the produce of the District of Natal. 18 For the best Essay on the cultivation of Cotton, based on 20 For the best Essay on the Agriculture in general of this District 3 21 For the second best ditto 22 To the introducer of the greatest number of useful Plants and Seeds, not previously introduced 23 For the best Kiln for drying Grain .. 24 To the exhibitor of the best Horse-hoe or Ox-hoe for weeding Cotton, &c. 25 To the exhibitor of the best Drill Machine for sowing Beans and other Seeds Should any difficulty be experienced in deciding on the relative merits of any specimens of Cotton, they are to be sent to England to be valued by some respectable Broker or Manufacturer. The value per pound of the Cotton will be one point only of merit; should it be found that a cheaper kind can be grown more economically or profitably, it will rest with the judges which should carry the prize. Competitors are therefore requested to send in Statements of the Produce per acre, Expenses of Cultivation, &c. The merits of the Essays will be estimated not so much by their literary perfection as by the amount of useful information, records of experiments, facts, figures, and dates which they may contain. D'Urban, May 30th, 1849. JOHN TURNER, SECRETARY. SEEDS, &c. All Seeds are adapted to the Colony of Natal; but the following, from their prolific and hardy qualities, will be good in making an assortment : Peas,-all kinds of dwarf in preference to runners. Beans, ditto. Carrots,―short red and long Altrigham. Broccoli or Kail,-all sorts. MangleWurzle,-not wanted for cattle. American Cress. Cucumbers, Melons, and Pumpkins, thrive well. Vegetable Marrow,-fine useful vegetable, and will suit the country well: one kind is indigenous. Turnips, no use. Cabbage, all sorts. French Beans,-dwarfs. Parsley,-curled. answer well. Lettuce, all kinds. Rhubarb. Parsnip,―red, best. Spinach,-not wanted. Kidney Leeks, Shallots, and Onions, All kinds of Herbs thrive well, and not cut by the cold. Grain.-Wheat,-choose those kinds not liable to rust, and having solid stalks. Barley,-short straw. Oats,-ditto. Tobacco,-(Indigenous,) Havana and Virginia seed. Indigo,- ditto India and Guatemala. Fruit Trees, all sorts, including Nuts, Acorns, Fir and Larch in the Cone. (All these should be fresh, and packed in sugar.) Seeds generally going a voyage should be mixed with straw fine chopped; and packed in dry brown-paper and wicker baskets, hung up in the cabin. The importation of a few Devonshire and Short-horned Bulls, (not more than three years old,) small size, may be recommended. Good Dogs valuable. An improved breed of Pigs is desirable. TOOLS. The following List of Tools may be recommended to those who have the means, by which one is rendered independent and able to accomplish one's own work, almost unaided, except with the assistance of a black servant. Woods being hard, Tools should be good. A set of Harrow Teeth, with necessary iron work. 1 Scotch Plough complete, and iron work; or one of Ransom's. 1 Steel Mill. 2 Flour-sieves. 2 Spades. 2 Shovels. 2 Grubbing-axes. 6 Sickles. 1 Cross cut Saw. 2 Hand Saws. 2 Axes. 1 Adze. 2 Claw Hammers. 12 Augers. 2 Gimblets. 2 Spike Gimblets. 1 Screw-driver. 1 Spokeshave. 1 Jack-plane and spare iron. 1 Smoothing-plane and spare iron. Doz. Chisels. 6 Tumbler Padlocks. 6 Hasps and Staples. Bolts, Hinges, Latches, Locks. 1 Gross Screws. Nails, Hurdles, Batten, Paling, Shingle, and Rafters, each 14 lbs. 7 lbs. Flooring Brads. 7 lbs. Spikes, various. Clout and Clasp Nails. The above may be procured of Messrs. F. Barnes & Co., 109, Fenchurch-st. To which may be added, if means allow: American Axe, Hoes for clearing ground, Pit Saws, Mason's Tools, and Gardener's Tools. Thrashing Machine, and one for cleaning Mealies. Mill-stones. Wagon-maker's Tools, Drag Chains and Iron 24in. wide. Brick and Tile-making Machine may be very profitable, as clay and water may be found all over the country. Rough Earthenware may also be manufactured. Machine for cleaning and pressing cotton. L |