The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-09-17
correspondence of the Journal of Commerce.
SEEDS AND PLANTS FROM sotTrH AFRICA
UMTwALUME, NATAL
Saith f.soo

| "'" NH'cH, Aprh IL, 1857.
Some three years ago, you will remem-
Der, sent to you few seeds Of the Chi
ma Sugar Cane," or "Sorgho," called by
the Kafirs, Imye." I have not seen your
report of your trial at cultivating it, but l
am pleased to see that it is becoming quite
popular in the United States. 1 do not
know whether had the honor of first call.
ing the public attention to it, but in your
paper of December 9th, 1856, in the notice
of the Agricultural Report of Patent Office
you speak of it as having been introduced
into the United States from Natal, South
Africa. 1t will please those who cultivate
1t to know that here it has been granulated
into beautiful sugar; but l am not able
now to give the minutia of the process
AT the same time sent the seeds to you,
forwarded few to Prof. Hopkins, of Will
liams College, Mass, which he cultivated
with gratifying results, and the juice of
which he pronounced nearly as highly
charged with saccharinc matter rs the rcgu-
lar sugar cane, but he was not able to granu-
late it. I have the second crop growing in
my garden this year from one planting
numerous shoots having come out from the
roots, after the cutting of the first CROP
The cultivation Of sugar is attaining great
importance in this little colony. Last year
the average yield was ts0o tons of good su.
gar per acre, which sold at from ESQ to f54
per ton, making about $500 worth per
acre.
1 commenced this paper for the purpose
OF introducing to your notice another in
digenous product cf Natal. 1t is said to be-
long to the Apocynads," and is called by
the natives, Aungalu. 1t grows chiefly
near the coast; is thorny shrub or tree,
reaching in favorable situations ten or
twelve feet in height. 1t is at all FONTS de-
Tended by numerous thorn., strong and
sharp. Many Of the thorns branch, twice
or thrice, always throwing out the branches
opposite and at right angles. Wherever
the bark is punctured, there issues an abun-
dant milky juice, which soon concretes into
a substance resembling India rubber. The
leaf is rather thick, is oval, and deep green
on the upper side, and considerably lighter
on the under side. The flower is perfectly
white, with five distinct petals, each petal
being about three fourths of an inch long,
and not unlike jasmine petal. The flow
er emits a faint but delicious fragrance. 1t
is evergreen, and forms when cultivated a
beautiful and impenetrable hedge, and is
considerably used in this colony for that
purpose. But its chief value is its delicious
and abundant fruit, which is oblong, about
two inches long and from one inch to one
and half inches in diameter; and when
perfectly ripe is in the mouth melting
mass of delicious sweetness. 1t has not
unaptly been compared to 'tstrawberries
and cream" for while the pulp and the
skin of the fruit is red, it is filled with a
white, cream-like juice. In the center and
embedded IN the pulp, arc few small seeds,
few Of which send you. hope you
will plant them, or send them to some of
your friends, who live in the "Sunny South," !"
and will take good care to develope them,
and export in due time. 1t takes some four
to six years to bear fruit. Whether they
will flourish far from the sea, do not
know. I have seen them growing fifteen
miles inland, but their natural home seems
to be along the sea shore.
should say that the itungula is eaten
in large quantities with perfect impunity,
and is also excellent for preserves, jams,
jellies, &c.
Sincerely yours,
H. A. WILDER,
(American Missionary. }
p. S. There is one other Natal shrub
which, because of its exceeding utility for
hedging, wish to bring to your notice
Its species of Solanum. Its native name
is Umstuna. When standing alone, it Of.
ten reaches the height of IL feet, but when
sown in hedge, rises to the beiglit1of TO
10. It throws out many branches which
interlsce, and the trunk, the branches, and
the leaves, are covered with strong prickles,
or spines, which eAectually repel even the
smallest animals that undertake to pene-
trsts It. It produces large orarge-shaped
frpit which contains each 400 or 500 seeds.
But the greatest recommendation of It for
hedging Is the rapidity Of its growth. In
or 10 months, or year at most, from the
planting Of the seed, it forms a hedge which
neither man nor beast can penetrate. Qt
never dies, 90 far as I know there are
hedges Of It in this colony e5 years old. -
Ib leaves fall in The winter, aud hence It is
not to be commended for its beauty. II
sudures moderate fFosts, but how far North
in your climate It would flourish in the
United States. ! do mol know, I should say
it would grow we'll IN ths Carolina, ,--per.
L.,..s. q. Usvcvs.;a