uncultivated and common. Alt. 3 to 4. Grows to a tree about
forty to fifty feet in height, and bears a bright red fruit, shaped
like a date. I t is very acid, but being of a pleasant flavour, is
eaten by children, &c, Seeds abundantly.—Hab. S. Africa.
Mangifera, Linn.
151. M. indica, Linn.—Three kinds of Mango grow in St. Helena
at low altitudes, C. -8 to 1'4, and bear fruit to perfection. The Yellow
Bast Indian Mango (of which there is a tree at Maldivia Gardens
which has borne fruit since 1827, and whose branches extend over an
area forty feet in diameter), bears fruit abundantly, and is considered
by travellers and others capable of judging to be equal
in flavour to any Mangoes in the world. I cannot help here remarking
on the absurdity of importing these and other Tropical fruits
into England, where they are no more like the real fruit than a
turnip is like a peach. There can be no doubt that a Tropical fruit
must be eaten in a Tropical country, if its characteristics are to be
appreciated and enjoyed, and the endeavour in the present day to
place these fruits on the English dinner-table is a failure as well as
an injustice to the natural .production itself.
There is also in St.. Helena the large Green Mango, which is nearly
as good as the Yellow; and also a small bastard kind growing at
The Briars, which is not eatable. The Mango is not one of the most
abundant fruits, as there are scarcely more than half a dozen trees
in the Island, but they bear abundantly in the months of March and
April, and the seeds germinate readily. Bot. Mag. 4510.—Hab. E ..
Indies,
Pistacia, Linn.
152. P. Terebinthus, Linn.—Cypress Turpentine tree; recently
introduced from the Boyal Gardens at Kew.—Hab. Mediterranean
region.
. Rhus, Linn.
153. R. sp. P—Called Wild Mango; one tree only growing at
The Briars.
154. R. sp. P—A small Sumach plant, recently introduced from
Kew to Plantation Gardens.
Pittosporum, Banks.
155. P. tobira, Ait.—China Box; grows to a shrubby tree about
ten feet high, uncultivated, and is common. Alt. 4. A good deal
used as hedges in shrubberies, &c. Bot. Mag. 1396.—Hab. China.
156. P. undulatum, Vent.—Tree Pittosporum; uncultivated
and rather common. Alt. 3’8. One of the handsomest trees in the
Island, growing large and bushy to a height of thirty or forty feet,
and flowering profusely. The rich perfume of its blossoms extends
over a considerable area.—Hab. Hew South Wales.
157. P. viridiflorum, Sims.—One of the most abundant shrub
plants, growing wild about St. Paul’s new churchyard and other
places at alt. 3'8, where its delicious perfume, when in blossom,
easily reveals its locality. I t attains a height of ten or twelve feet.
Bot. Mag. 1684^-Hab. Cape of Good Hope. All these species seed
well.
34. ViTACEiE {Vine Family).
Vitis, Linn.
158. V. capensis, Thunb.; Cissus capensis.—Velvet Thorn; grows
uncultivated and fruits well at Rosemary Hall, Plantation, &c.
H. L. Alt. 3. Rare.—Hab. Cape of Good Hope.
159. V.vinifera, Linn.—TheGrape was introduced in 1718. Pour
kinds grow in the Island; cultivated for the sake of the fru it; rather
common. C. and M. Alt. '4 to 3. I t thrives best in the hot valleys,
such as James’ Valley and that below Longwood. I have seen
splendid grapes grown at St. Helena, but lately they appear to
have been somewhat blighted. In some places where gardens
formerly existed, the Vine now grows in an almost uncultivated
state. There is no record of any attempt having been made to cultivate
the plant for the purpose of making wine in the Island. This
is remarkable, inasmuch as the climate and soil of St. Helena are very
similar to those at Madeira. I t is possible that the energy of the
islanders may not have been directed in that way, because of the
facilities which exist for obtaining wine from the Cape of Good
Hope.
35. R h a m n e . ® {Buckthorn Family) ,
Noltia, Reichb.
160. N. africana, Echb.—A small Birch-like shrub, growing