Full text of "Bulletin of miscellaneous information"

TEINIDAD. ^""^^J "" ^ ' ^ ''>t/'

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDE

P;kcellmieaits ItifonM&n.

No. 1. JANUARY, 1895. Vol. II.

CONTENTS.

No. 90.— The Parasol Axit.—( An exterminator.)
„ 91.— Coffee Machinery.

„ 92.— The MangOSteen.—fGarcinialfangostana, L.)
„ 93.— The 'M.a,ngO.—fMangiferaIndica,L.)
„ 94.— Circular Notes.

No. 10.— Banana Disease.

No. 11.— Cane Disease.

No. 12.— New Canes.

No. 13.-Cola Nut.

No. 14.— An Animal Parasite.

„ 95.— Cane TiiseSiSe.—f Martinique, d:c.)

,, 96. — "Para Rubber." — (Hevea BrasiUensis, Muel.)

„ 97.— Natural History Notes.

1.— Note on the "Mygale."
2.— A Forest Rat.
3.— The Mosquito Worm.
4.— An Orchid Beetle.
98.— The Chrysanthemum.
99.— NicaragTian Cacao Shade.
100.— The Cashew and Poultry.
101.-" Cassava."
102.— Bermuda Arrowroot.
103.— The Peach 'Falni.—( Guilielma Speciosa, Mart. )

Edited by the Superintendent Royal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HAET, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN.

1895.

VOLUME II.

HEN first issued the " Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information "
consisted simply of "fly sheets" which were published at
irregular intervals. A gradual improvement was effected
during the past year, the numbers were continuously paged, the
arrangement somewhat altered, and the Bulletin itself brought into
a more handy and complete form, which it is proposed to continue with
with very slight additions.

The Bulletin has been well received by the agricultural
community, and the demand for it has been large. Copies are
allotted, free of charge, to residents in the Island who choose
to register their name and address at the office of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, and persons outside the Colony can obtain it at the rate of
twopence per copy. Postage extra.

The columns of the Bulletin are open to correspondents who are
willing to contribute matter of interest to Botanists, Agriculturists,
and Horticulturists in general, either in the form of articles or letters,
as the Bulletin is specially maintained to further the development of
these interests, to form a means of inter-communication and exchange
of ideas with Colonies similarly situated, and to secure a complete
record of facts and experiments which it is hoped will be useful for
future reference.

WATTS' ASPHYXIATOR.

90.— THE PARASOL A^T.— (An Exterminator.)

One who has not seen the work of devastation which the little
creature known as CEcodoma cephalotes or Parasol Ant, is capable of
doing to the vegetative organs of trees and shrubs, can hardly
realize the difficulty such attacks present to the cultivator in countries

■where they are plentiful. In Trinidad, constant care is necessary to
keep doAvn their numbers, and many means have been devised from
time to time for their extermination.

Under the name of " The Asphyxiator," Messrs. Watts & Co. of
Bristol have introdiiced a handy machine which can be used for the
purpose of killing nests with deadly effect.

In the agricultural districts it is a well known fact that large
nests can be exterminated, by ordinary means, only at an enormous
cost ; sometimes as much as twenty or thirty dollars having to be
paid for a single nest. With the machine I now illustrate, the same
work can be accomplished for a tenth of this sum, if the nest be fairly
accessible. The machine can be worked by anyone possessing ordinary
intelligence. It can be seen at the Royal Botanic Gardens where it
can be fully examined, and all necessary particulars ascertarined.

The machine will destroy alike, nests in the ground, in walls, or
in hollow trees, or in fact in any position in which they may be found.
It is the duty of the planter however, after a nest has been destroyed,
to effectually stop up the old entrances, so as to prevent a fresh colony
gaining access thereto, for it is a well known fact that ants about to form
a new colony prefer to go to a house which has been already occupied,
than to provide one by their OAvn labour, and especially so, if remnants
of the fungus on which they feed are left in the old nest. Some people
destroy them by fumes which kill the insect, but do not affect the
fungus in any way, hence there remains a plentiful supply of food for
the next party of ants that come along intent on establishing a new
domicile ; and this readily explains the reason why a nest quickly
becomes active again after a fumigation of such a character. In our
method, fumes are used which destroy the fungus as well as the
animals in the nest, and for this reason it is much more effective, as
there is certainly not the same temj^tation for ants to occupy an empty
house as there would be for them to occupy a house with a larder
well provided.

Through the kindness of Messrs. Watts & Co. I am able to
illustrate the form of the machine. It will be readily seen that it is
qtiite handy and can be carried and worked by one man, even in the
most difficult places.

Mr. Bulmer, Postmaster-General, writes as follow of the action of

the machine : —

" The Parasol Ant Destroying Machine did its work in a most efficient
manner. Tlie largest nest M^as in the walls of an old well long since filled up
■with earth.

" The smoke from the machine in escaping from the ground showed that the
nest extended in a circle about 10 feet diameter. After using the machme about
15 mmutes a small snake came out and died immediately. , It is about three
weeks since the nest was destroyed and there is not an ant to be seen near that
place now.

"The next largest nest was in the roots of a large tamarind tree and although
for several days afterwards no ants were seen, I noticed a few yesterday and I
think it will be necessary to give them a second smoking.

"The smaller nests were completely destroyed and I consider the machine
-an excellent and inexpensive mode of destroying these pests.

"Yours, truly,

"J. A. BULMER."

Since writing the above the Machme has been worked befon; a Committee
of the Agricultural Society of Trmidad, and the results considered highly
favourable.

9 1 .—COFFEE MACHINERY.

Little can be done in growing Coffee extensively unless suitable
machinery is available for the preparation of the produce. We are aware
that in some Coffee-growing countries, there is great conservatism as
regards the use of modern machinery, and old and antiquated
pulpers are still to be seen in use. Where, however, the grow-
ing of Coffee has been started in new countries, modern machinery
has been adopted in preference to the old and lumbering mills for-
merly erected, and it is found that by their use the produce can be
sent on the market in a superior style and with a smaller expenditure
of labour than by the older methods.

Having been once introduced, the modern machinery, to use an
Americanism, " comes to stay," as it is found that on short acquaint-
ance it can be much more easily and economically managed than
wooden mills of a by -gone century. No one firm has introduced more
improvements in Coffee machinery than the firm of Messrs. John
Gordon & Co. of New Broad Street, London, as was mentioned in
article No. 56 on Liberian Coffee, Bulletin No. 2'6, July, 1894.

Feeling certain that their machines only required to be better
known to be more generally adopted, I wrote to the Messrs. Gordon
for figures, and they have kindly placed the illustrations given in this
number at my disposal. No. 1 represents a machine suitable tor
pulping Liberian or Arabian Coffee. No. 2, a machine especially
designed for larger estates, having a rotary screen and elevator
for carrying unpulped berries a second time through the machine.
No. 3 represents Smout's patent peeler and polis^her, and No. 4
shows the fan used for cleaning the dried produce.

Besides these machines Messrs. Gordon manufacture one specially
designed for cleaning CoiFee dried in the cherry, and a pulper intended
for small proprietors, who grow Arabian Coffee only, which will pulp
12 to 15 bushels per hour, costing only £14 f.o.b. in London.

Messrs. Gordon also manufacture separators for Coffee and Cacao
and other agricultural machinery in numerous classes. At the Eoyal
Botanic Gardens we have one of Messrs. Gordon coffee pulpers which
has been doing satisfactory work for the past six years. It can be
seen at Avork during the season for harvesting Coffee, and special
instruction in its use will be freely afforded to any planter making
application. Smout's peeler is also in use, and can be seen at any
time.

For producing Coffee for the English market, all that is required is
a pulping machine, as once pulped Coffee can be dried in the parch-
ment skin and shipped, to be cleaned in London, where it can be done
much more economically than in the Colonies (i.e.) at a rate of some
2/6d. per CAvt. When shipped dried in the cherry it will cost probably
four times this amount to clean, in either London or Liverpool.

For home use and for Arabian Coffee, the machine known as the'
" Jamaica," the smallest made, would do satisfactory work, but it
would be necessary to use a small size Smout's cleaner to take off the
parchment skin after the pulping and drying has been completed.

Sufficient has been said to show the value of projjer machinery
for the preparation of Coffee, and it is clearly certain that no increase
in our production of this staple can be expected until Gordon's or
other satisfactory machinery has been introduced for the preparation
of the produce.

It is not expected, however, that the introduction of such
machinery can be otherwise than gradually effected, but when it
is shown by its introduction in one or two places, how superior it is
to the pestle and mortar methods still in use in our country dis-
tricts; Ave may then expect a decided increase in the groAvth of
a produce Avhich our Trinidad lands are so Avell able to yield in
abundance, and of a quality Avhich Avill rank high in the Avorld's
markets. (See illustrations.)

(No. 1.)

(No. 2.)

^~^^^^^^^^^^M

(No. 3.)

(No. 4.)

10
92.— "THE MANGOSTEEN."— 6?aranm Mangostana, Linn.

The tree growing in the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, a notice of
•which has appeared more than once in Annual Reports and elsewhere,
still continues to thrive and produce fruit.

It is, we believe, the largest specimen in existence in the Western
World, being over 35 feet in height and some 40 feet in diameter in
the spread of its branches. It first fruited under the care of my pre-
decessor Mr. H. Prestoe in the year 1875, since which time it has
fruited at irregular intervals, but generally during the later months of
the year, commencing generally in September and continuing to ripen
fruit daily for nearly two months.

The frviit produced by our tree is of excellent quality, and in
September, 1891, a sample was taken to JEngland by His Excellency
Sir F, N. Broome, K.CM.G., and presented to Her Majesty the Queen,
who was pleased to say she found them " quite excellent." They
have also been pronounced to be of excellent quality by several who
have eaten the Mangosteen in the Straits Settlements, to which
country they are indigenous.

The fruit seldom produces more than one or two mature seeds.
These grow readily, but so far as we are aware, few trees have
been established from them. Our experience shows that after
appearing above ground the seedling grows freely for some one or
tAvo years, but afterwards generally assumes a sickly appearance and
gradually dies out. We can only account for this by attributing it to
imperfect fertilization ; and it is quite possible that if two or three
more mature trees were present this difficulty would soon disappear.
This hypothesis seems to be strengthened by the fact that, seedlings
received from the East (Singapore, &c.), grow very much better than
those raised upon the spot, and we have one young imported plant
which is doing well, and we trust will soon be beyond the dangerous
stage. We are particularly anxious that it should be so, as it would
be a great acqusition to secure regular supplies of such excellent
fruit for our local markets. I have written a correspondent in the
East to send me a case of these plants next year, so that we may be
able to secure their permanent acclimatization — an object well worthy
of the best efforts we can make.

Many West Indian residents are under the impression that this
fruit is allied to the Mango, and we are often called upon to show the
difference. The idea of course arises from the similarity of names, but
the fruits are quite different, for instead of having a large seed in

the centre covered with fibrous material, the Mangosteen possesses a
thick, brittle, bitter-tasting outer covering Avhich readily cracks off and
exposes a white pulp divided in quarters or "pegs" like an orange,
vrhich is the edible portion. A fact which speak volumes for the
character of the fruit is, that among the many who have tasted it in
Trinidad, not a single person has declared they did not like it, but
all unite in singing its praises.

93.— THE MANGO.— (Mangifera Indica, L.)

Probably no fruit is better known throughout both the Eastern
and Western Tropics than the Mango, 3Iangifera Indica, L., and it
is also probable that in no fruit known, is there a greater variety in
the form and size and in the quality of the fruit.

The Mango was first introduced into Jamaica in June, 1782, being
among a number of valuable plants taken in a French vessel bound
from the East Indies and St. Domingo by Capt. ^Marshall of H.M.S.
Flora attached to Lord Rodney's squadron. There being a great
number of plants they were regularly numbered, and hence one of the
most esteemed sorts became known as I^o. 11, which is still one of the
best flavoured of all Mangos cultivated in the West.

The date of introduction into Trinidad is more uncertain, but it
probably occurred somewhere about the same time.

Various kinds of Mango were also introduced to the French
Islands, and some of these possess kinds of the highest value as
dessert fruits.

My predecessor during the twenty-two years of his incumbency
did mlich to bring forward the Mango by introducing the best varieties
from neighbouring Islands, both French and British, and in 1880
wrote: — "During the year fifteen (15) varieties of grafted plants of
"new varieties of Mango have been prepared and planted out per-
" manently. The collection of Mangos of snch as may be considered
"fruitful as well as superior varieties, now numbers twenty-one."

He then complains of the unfruitfulness of the Mango as planted
in the Garden, and certainly not without cause, in my opinion, as it is
a fact that several trees which are believed to be specimens of the
finest imported kinds, have not produced a single fruit during the
past seven years, although growing with vigour and in good health,
and we are thus quite unable to determine whether they are valuable
or not. To one who has been accustomed to the fruitfulness of the

tree as seen in tlie various climates and soil of neighbouring Islands
this is a curious circumstance, and can only be attributed to unsuita-
bility of climate or soil of our garden. Throughout the Island
however the production of the Mango tree generally is much below
that of Jamaica and other Islands, but at times trees are seen which
carry good crops. I am inclined to think that the deficiency in lime
in our soil has much to answer for in this respect, and we are about
carrying out experiments to test the matter fully. It has been noted
in Jamaica, that the Mango, fruits much more seldom, and the crops
are invariably smaller in the damp districts, and this result will also
be evidence that our humid climate tells against the production of
heavy crops by the Mango tree.

The idea that the deficiency of lime is one cause of the want of
fruitfulness is further borne out by the fact that in town gardens
where there is an accumulation of building rubbish and consequently
lime, the Mango tree may be seen bearing good crops.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks the cultivation of the Mango is
on the increase. Seedlings from the best sources or well-known
trees of imj)orted varieties are always on hand at cheap rates, but
for those who j^refer the named kinds, grafted plants in considerable
quantity have been always kept on hand, and for these as well as the
cheaper seedlings there is always a brisk demand.

The operation of grafting the Mango is a very simple although
rather a tedious one, as the grafts have to be carefully tended daily
for s'.me months before they are ready for sale. The operation can be
seen at any time on application at the Gardens and, if desired, will be
explained in detail to enquirers.

Enquiries for seeds have been received on several occasions from
persons living in the warmer portions of the United States, and a
report on a consignment sent to Florida last year shows that a great
deal is expected there from the cultivation of this fruit, and the
success attained has surpassed expectation.

One word to the visitors to the "West Indies. The Mango fruits
in many places at abnormal seasons. These seasons are just those
periods of the year selected by visitors, and the trees that produce fruit
in this manner are generally the worst of their kind. This gives rise
to the tale of West Indian Mangos being nothing but " tow and tur-
pentine." Let the visitor however come in June and he will find
Mangos that will be relished by the most delicate palate, and whose
luscious sweetness and aroma, are things, once tasted, to be remembered
for a lifetime.

The Mango may be transmitted to Europe in good condition if
proper care is taken with it during transit, and if picked in the con-
dition known to West Indians as " Full." The writer sent some home
on one of the Eoyal Mail Steamers from Jamaica to Sir Joseph Hooker
of Kew, in the year 1879. The variety sent being the celebrated
though tender No. 11. They reached home in good condition and as
Sir Joseph Hooker put it, completely disposed of the Tow and Tur-
pentine theory.

There is always maintained at the Gardens a large stock of seed-
lings and of grafted Mangos of the best named kinds. Among which
are Mango d'Or, Grand Verte, Gordon, Peter's, Prestoe's Choice, Puir
Jamie, Peach, Belle Marie, Malda, and others.

94.— CIRCULAR NOTES.

Since sending to press the previous Number of the Bulletin, five
" Circular Notes" have been issued by the Botanical Department.
No. 10 had reference to a disease affecting Bananas which has been
discovered to be caused by a fungus ; and No. 11 Avas issued in refer-
ence to a specimen of cane which shewed a stage of the attack of
Trichosphceria sacchari which had not previously been observed in
the Colony, viz., the " Colletotrichum stage." Nos. 12, 13 and 14
treat of New Canes, Cola Nut, and the " Mosquito Worm " respec-
tively. They are given in full.

Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 10.

The cultivation of plantains and bananas has suffered consider-
able check during the past few years from disease or diseases which
have been hitherto somewhat obscure as shewn in the Bulletin of this
Department for January, 1894 — No. 21.

I have lately had an opportunity of observing diseased plants
more closely and continuously, and found among them specimens of a
destructive fungus which I at once submitted to the authorities at the
Eoyal Gardens, Kew.

Through the kindness of Mr. W. T. Thistleton-Dyer, C.M.G.,
Director, I have received the Report of the Pathologist Mr. Massee on
the subject which runs as follows : —

"Banana Disease, Trinidad" — The fungus growing on the leaves is
Marasmius -semiudtu-i, B «£• C. The numerous minute yellowish grams present in
the tissue of the decaying portions of the leaf are the schrotia of the fungus.
Those propagate the fungus after a period of rest ; but for this stage the fungus
could not I'each the axils of the leaves. Collect and burn all decayed jjortions.

(Signed) G. Massee.
24th August, 1894.

It has not yet been ascertained whether the disease which exists
in many parts of the Island is in all cases identical with that dis-
covered at the Gardens, but it is clearly sheAvn that Ave have with us
a destructive pest which care and attention alone can eradicate, and it
is quite probable that the other districts may be affected by one or
more similar destructive diseases — but this requires further obser-
vation.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.,
Supt. Royal Botanic Gardens.

12th September, 1894.

Botanical Department, Trinidai). — Circular Note No. 11.

During the year 1893 one of the experiments carried on in
connection with the investigation of Sugar Cane Disease consisted of
infecting a healthy growing Cane plant with the microconidia of
Tricliosplioeria Sacchari, Massee.

The Cane selected Avas a healthy stem in which no borer or other
insect enemies Avere present, and the system of inoculation adopted
AA'as simply to insert the spores into broken surfaces made for the
purpose in the midrib of the leaf.

The Cane continued to groAv apparently unaffected for some time,
and eventually reached some six feet in length, but it gradually
assumed on unhealthy appearance, lost its leaves and dried away into
a shrivelled condition. In this state it AA^as sent to Kcav and the
report on the specimen is appended hereto. It proves, on the spot'
that the Fungus is 'capable of totally destroying a cane Avithout the
aid of insect agency of any kind.

"Diseased Sugar Caxe from Trinidad. — Communicated by Mr. J. H.
"Hart, August, 1894.

" The folloAving phases in the life cycle of Trichosphceria Sacchari are present
"in the cane.

"Conidial Conditions — 1. Melanconium stage.

2. Macroconidial stage.

3. Colletotrichum stage.

" Ascigerous Condition. — In small quantity and accompanying it, perithecia
"formed of purple polygonal tissue and enclosing large brown. 1 — septate spores
"not produced in asci — or stylospores. These structures have also been observed
"united Avith the ascigerous form on canes sent from Barbados by Mr. Barber
"and complete the usual sequence of phases in the life cycle of species allied to
' ' Trichosphceria Sacchari. "

J. H. Hart, F.L.S.
13th September, 1894

15
Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 12.

Throngli the kindness of Mr. G. S. Jenman, Government Botanist
of British Guiana, we have received cuttings of a number of the best
seedling varieties of Sugar Cane. These varieties have been on trial
in the fields attached to the Demerara Gardens for several years past,
and the best of the selection, so far as Ave can at present judge, are
four canes known respectively as Nos. 102, 74, 95, 78. Of these canes
Messrs. Jenman and Harrison in their latest report wrote as follows : —

'•A comparison of the yields of Sugar in the expressed juice of
" these canes, with that of the Bourbon in the same soil and during
" the same year is interesting."

Taking yield of Bourbon as 100 we get following results : —

Bourbon 100

No. 102 110

No. 74 1127

No. 95 118

No. 78 127-6

This result, if maintained, and we see no reason why it should not be,

shows clearly that seedling canes are likely to prove better sugar pro-

^ ducers than the older cultivated varieties, a resvilt Avhich Avas to be

anticipated by the increased constitutional and vegetative vigour

shown by the new kinds.

The canes Avill be propagated as rapidly as possible and then

placed in the hands of Planters to test their suitability for cultivation

on Trinidad Estates.

J. H. Hart, F.L.S.
20th November, 1894.

Botanical Depariment, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 13.

Late advices shoAV that dried Cola Nut is now worth in London
from 1/- to 1/5 per pound.

Enquiries for this article have lately been received by the Govei*n-
ment, and also by local Firms, from some of the largest European
dealers.

It has been fully proved that the Cola tree grows well in Trinidad,
and it is hoped that the increasing price will draw the attention of
planters to the advisability of planting on a more extended scale.

A sample of this product grown and cured at the Eoyal Botanic
Gardens lias been valued in London (October) at 1/3 per pound.

The tree is easily cultivated, and thrives in the same soil and
unde'^ the same conditions as Cacao.

Plants can be obtained at the Eoyal Botanic Gardens.

The curing of the product is very simple and inexpensive.

J. H. Hart, F.L.S.
24:th November, 1894.

Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No 14.

On Saturday, the 13th of October, I had brought to me a specimen
of the Spiny Rat — Loncheres Guiana — which had been found feeding
on a fruit tree in the Eoyal Botanic Gardens.

On examination the animal was found to be affected with the
parasite, known in Trinidad as the " Mosquito "Worm," whose life-
history up to the present has been but imperfectly known.

The Eat was placed in a finely netted cage, and on October 22nd,
or nine days after it was captured, the animal rid itself of the parasite,
and the latter assumed the chrysalis stage, in one of the cage corners.

The chrysalis was a hard body, almost black, with nine segments,
and in form slightly tapered to opposite ends. It was over one inch
and a quarter in length, and measured five-eighths of an inch in
diameter in its broadest part.

The chrysalis was kept in damp earth, and on December 3rd, the
perfect insect emerged. The insect proved to belong to the Order
Diptera or the two-winged flies — and it is among the largest of its
class. It measures over one inch in length, and in spread of wing,
nearly two inches, the body having the thickness of an ordinary lead
pencil. The insect is to be placed with the CEstridce, a well known
family, parasitic on animals.

The puncture in the skin of the Eat on which the fly was
developed healed in two or three days.

The Eat, the Fly, and the Cocoon from which the latter emerged
can be seen at the Gardens.

The term " Mosquito Worm" is therefore proved to be erroneously

applied.

J. H. Hart, F.L.S.
3rd December. 1894.

95— CANE DISEASE.

It may be mentioned in connection witli this subject that cor-
respondence has recently reached iis shewing that a Government
Commission of Enquiry has been appointed in Martinique to investigate
the nature and character of the diseases now affecting the Cane.
Application was made to this department for information by the
Director of Botanic Gardens at St. Pierre, and the course taken by us
was to refer the questions to the representatives of the Sugar Industry,
at the Meeting of the Agricultural Society. Replies have been
received from prominent planters to the questions sent, and these it
is intended to print in the proceedings of the Society, a copy of which
will be transmitted to Martinique.

The attempt of the Agricultural Society to initiate concerted
action among West Indian Colonies in securing a thorough investiga-
tion into the several diseases affecting the Cane and Banana; has not
been supported to the extent expected, and Barbados is the only place
which has expressed a Avillingness to unite with Trinidad in holding a
conference on the matter. Some Colonies incline to the view that —
although the cane disease is known to be present, a public investi-
gation would cause a sense of insecurity in the future of sugar, which
would not tend to the benefit of the planting interest. Whether they
are wise in taking such a view, the future will reveal ; but one thing
is certain (viz.), that the presence of a destructive cane pest has been
made known. Whether it has been recently introduced, or whether
it has been present for years, are debateable points, and what is now
required is, not only further investigation on this point, but well-con-
certed action, for, no matter how certain those persons may be who
have studied the matter, as to the means to be adopted for its exter-
mination, it requires something more to get such measures adopted ;
and the difficulty of doing so can hardly be comprehended except by
those who are intimately acquainted with the facts, and the object in
proposing to institute further enquiry, is believed to be, not so much
the expectation of finding fresh facts, as with the view to emphasize
the views already expressed as to the methods of treatment to be adopted.
There are not wanting those among our planters in Trinidad who
declare that no extreme measui'es are necessary, Avhile on the other
hand there are others who would gladly adopt any measure which
promises success, but are unwilling to start alone. If the pest could
be proved an old one, no extraordinary danger need be anticipated ;
but if new, the possibilities are truly alarming. The evidence so far,

is happily most in favour of the formpr theory, viz. : — That the pest
is an old one which has been abnormally developed in recent years,
but until discovered by us, unknown to science.

It may be the case, that this destructive Fungus only assumes
serious development in some cases, and under certain conditions ; and
it is clear that further enquiry would tend to clear up such a point.
It is not to be doubted that the disease is present in greatest
force on those estates where continuous cultivation has been the rule,
and where constitutional Aveakness in* the cane plant, has been
generated by such a course of culture.

As to Banana Disease — from Reports Avhich have reached this
office — the necessity for further inquiry is becoming daily more
urgent, as the most prevalent disease now appears to be quite diffei-ent
from that mentioned in Circular Note No. 10.

96.— PARA RUBB'E'R.—Hevea BraziUensis, Muel.

The tree known by the above name is one of those producing the
article known in commerce as " Para Rubber" or " Caoutchouc," Fr. —
Kautschuk, Ger. Eevea guianensis, Eevea Spriiceana and Hevea
jjauciflora are also known as producing Rubber of the same class.

Our largest tree, whose age we are unable to ascertain, has a stem
which at the ground line and four feet above, affords diameters measur-
ing 22 and 15 inches respectively ; the tree itself being some forty feet
in height.

Para Rubber is second to none in the world's markets and realizes
good prices. In European markets Para Rubber usually heads the
list, and in October last the quotations of the " Public Ledger" were.
Para 2/ll|, Colombian 2/6^, Central American 2/8, and Bornean 1/9
per lb.

Apart from its value as Rubber the tree promises to be useful as
a shade tree for Cacao estates. The process of harvesting rubber is
simple in the extreme, and was described in a late article by Dr.
Ernst of Caracas, reprinted in our Bulletin No. 18, June, 1893. The
tree mentioned as growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens is m
extremely poor and unfertile soil, and there can be no question there-
fore of the suitability of our lands and climate for the growth of
Hevea braziltensis, MueJl. But the main question with cultivators
and one we are the most often called upon to ansAver in such cases is —
How soon will it give a return ? This question we are obliged to
confess we cannot answer with that accuracy we wish should always

attach to our reports, as we have no data to show the age of our trees,
or when they were planted. It is clear however that the tree is a
rapid grower, from the progress it has made during the past seven
years, and the probability is that its age from planting does not
exceed fifteen years. Such a tree is however capable of being made
to yield a gross return of some 6s. per annum, and the calculation is
an easy one for planters to ascertain what the produce would be per
acre or per quarree, supposing them to be planted as shade, or as a
main crop. If planted for a main crop the trees would of course be
planted very close, say not more than 15 feet apart, which would give
some 193 trees to the acre, which at 6s. per tree gives a gross return
of £57 18 per acre. The initial expense in planting is the largest
outlay that would fall upon the intending planter, as after the trees
reach a certain height, they would need but little cultivation, all
that is necessary being to prevent any of the native trees over-
growing them, and to give them an occasional clearing of the under
brush. Once formed, a forest of Hevea braziliensis would be a source
of revenue to a planter very hard to equal, and probably not to be
surpassed by any crop that could be cultivated.

What is most against the initiation of such a cultivation is the
length of time to wait before a return is made upon the money invested
in planting, and this is without doubt an unsurmountable objection to
the many ; but at the same time there is a rich harvest for those who
can invest quietly and afford to wait for a return.

The Heveas are said to do best in a country where '' the atmos-
phere is densely vapour -laden," and to flourish best on rich alluvial
clay slopes by the side of running water where there is a certain
amount of drainage ; and those growing on land periodically inundated
to a depth of 5 feet or more, are said to be more prolific, than those
on very low, or on elevated ground.

I have given the case shortly, for and against, the planting of
Hevea hraziliensis, Muell., and I am clearly of opinion that the
balance of the argument is largely in favour of planting up suitable
areas with these trees at the convenience of the planter, following the
old advice — " to be aye sticking in a tree Jock." " It will be growing
while ye are sleeping ;" but if an investor has money at his disposal to
plant up a large area and can afford to wait, I feel satisfied that he
Avould be richly repaid by planting Hevea braziliensis.

20
97.— NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

1.— "The Mygale," or Tarantula.

An interesting occurrence took place in our herbarium on Octo-
ber 22nd, 1894. A large spider commonly known as " The Taran-
tula," a species of " Mygale," was placed in the rooms for the
purpose of destroying the numerous living specimens of the genus
Blatta Avhich unfortunately for us, so persistently make their home
among our cabinets and shelves. The animal took up its residence on
a shelf at the back of a volume of Brown's Natural History of
Jamaica and spun a small white web. On the morning of the day in
qiiestion it was observed hanging on the outside of the book cover,
its legs and body covering a fair sized mouse which was partially
covered with web. The head of the mouse was hanging downwards
and the tail was twisted in a strand of the web connecting with the
nest and pointing upwards. The spider Avas grasping the mouse at
the back of the neck just behind the ears. The mouse appeared to
have been but a short time dead when first discovered (7 a.m.) and
had probably been caught during the night hours. The spider
remained covering the dead mouse for the whole of the 22nd, and at
night had 'reduced the head into a shapeless mass. Next morning the
mouse was found on the floor, the head and shoulders mostly eaten
aAvay, but the intestines untouched.

These spiders are usually regarded in Trinidad with the greatest
horror, but Avell authenticated records illustrating the dangerous
character of the animal are wanting.

In the Gardens they are not alloAved to be destroyed, the
workmen being strictly charged to protect them whenever disco-
vered, and to prevent others from injuring them ; as it is practically
certain that they do a large amount of good in ridding us of numerous
destru.ctive pests.

So far I have never seen anyone bitten by this animal, which in
general inclination appears very timid and runs at the appioach of
danger ; but it is possible, however, that if trodden upon or inadver-
tently squeezed it would then use its mandibles, and perhaps with
considerable effect.

2. — A Forest Rat. — Oryzomys velutiuus, All. & Chap.

This little Rat, caught in the Gardens by my son, proves to be one
of the new species recorded as being captured at Princestown by
Frank W. Chapman in 1893, and fully described in the Bulletin

of the American Museum of Natural History, Sept, 21, 1893. Pro-
bably a search in the woods of St. Ann's would reveal that it is not
uncommon. Mr. Chapman records it as living beneath the roots of
trees and stumps, and he obtained some eight or ten specimens
of various ages.

3.— The "Mosquito Worm."*'-

*o^

It is commonly, though erroneously supposed by some that the
" Mosquito Worm" is deposited by what is called the large Mosquito
(probably a Tipida or " Daddy long legs") which is common in some
districts.

I have in my possession a specimen of Tipxda, which was brought
to me by a gentleman from Cedros, as the veritable parent of the
Mosquito Worm ; but we have ample evidence that this insect has
nothing in common with it ; and has larva of an entirely different
character.

On the loth October a small Rat, the Loncheres Guian(e of
Thomas, was cauQ;ht in one of the Garden trees. In the side of the
body of this animal and jvist over the hip bone was seen one of the
well-known Mosquito worms. I say ' well-known,' for the larva stage
is common, but no one appears to have followed the life history of the
organism so far as to have been able to obtain the determination
of the mature insect until the present experiment.

The Rat was kept in a cage under close observation, and on the
morning of the 22nd October, or nine days after being caught, the
larva of the insect was seen to have left the animal. A search in
the cage brought to light the pupa of the insect esconced in a snug
corner. This measured l^ inches in length by f ths of an inch in
breadth at its Avidest part, and narrows towards each end, the anterior
being the smaller, the head being distinguished by the occurrence of
two distinct small yellow spots. The body has nine segments, and is
encased in a hard and horny imbricated scaly covering — brownish
black in color. In form the pupa may be likened to that of the
common house fly, but very much larger in size.

The Chrysalis was kept in damp earth and on December 3rd or
42 days after leaving its host, the Imago left the coccoon, proved to be
a large two-winged fly, having characters common to the CEstrida?, a
well known family, parasitic on animals.

The specimens have been sent to an authority on this section of
Natural History for determination, and we hope in a future issue to

* See Circular Note, December 3.

be able to publish the name of the insect. It is probable however
that more than one species of this pest to wild and domesticated
animals, exists in Trinidad, some of which attack the human body
when exposed. A. specimen of the latter was recently brought to me
which was extracted from the knee of a young gentleman who had
been traversing the country woodlands.

4. — A Beetle destructive to Orchids.— Centrinus s^y.

Tins is a very small dark colored beetle belonging to the Cur-
culionidcB which is a large order, having as many as 200 sps. described
in it twenty years ago, and it is probable that the members of the
family now known have largely increased since that time. The insect
in qviestion Avas found upon plants of the well known Biacrium
bicornutum so common in the Bocas Islands, Trinidad. It infested the-
leaves, and by its attack destroyed the even green colouring and
rendered them rusty looking. When badly attacked the leaves died
away. The best remedy found was regularly syringing with clear
spring water, and hand picking the mature insect. The latter was
found none too easy a task, for they are lively little creatures.

98.— CHRYSANTHEMUM.

Of the many species of Chrysanthemum known to science the
general favourite amongst Eviropean cultivators is Chrysanthemum
Sinensis, Sabine, by which appellation the Chinese or Japanese
Chrysanthemum is botanically known. The shows of these plants
which take place annvially in the Temple Gardens, London, are of world
wide reputation, and the cultivation of the plant is popular both Avith
amateurs and professionals. These plants are groAvn by home culti-
vators in most cases Avithout the aid of glass houses, and in cool and
sheltered positions out of doors until late in the autumn when the
occurrence of frost renders it necessary to give them protection. It
Avould probably appear to those only accustomed to its cultivation in
Europe, that the Chrysanthemum as a plant would be very unsuitable
for tropical cultivation on account of the great heat it Avould have to
encounter. This is the view, I must confess, I entertained for many
years ; but having seen plants HoAvering freely in the verandahs
attached to dwelling houses in the Town of Port-of-Spain — and from a
cultivator's point of view doing remarkably Avell — it Avas determined
to procure a set of the best varieties from Europe for trial at
the Gardens. Our first year's growth was a decided failure. Our
second year we gave the plants more protection and we succeeded

much better. The third year, having ascertained by experiment the
peculiar needs of the plant under tropical cviltivation, we have suc-
ceeded beyond expectation and we have, at the time of writing,
(Novr. 1st) probably the finest collection of Chrysanthemum blooms
ever seen under a "West Indian sky.

This gratifying success has been accomplished by the erection of
a glass roof on posts for the protection of the plants in the following
simple manner : —

V V V

Glass Roof on Posts for the Protection of the Plants.

The experience of preceding years taught us that the plant was
unable to stand tropical rains, and that when given a sheltered
position, plenty of light, and protected from wind, the Chrysanthemum
may be grown to give a supply of blossoms sufficient to make it well
worth the time and trouble expended on its cultivation. "We have at
the time of writing over 800 expanded blooms of different varieties.

The yellow kinds, as a rule however, have done the best with us
so far, but there are several of the Pompone and other varieties which
make a most creditable appearance.

It is singular to note that with a temperature such as we expe-
rience the usual flowering period of the plant does not appear to have

changed in tlie least degree, but that it still maintains its season of
flowering the same as if it had remained in a temperate climate. If
anything, the flowering season is likely to be of longer duration than
in Europe, as it is there cut short in some cases by cold weather.

The culture of the Chrysanthemum has increased in Europe to an
enormous extent of late years, and in some English nurseries it is said
that as much as two acres of ground are devoted entirely to its culture.
It is recorded that the first show of this flower took place in the city
of Norwich in 1830 when nine varieties were shown ; while now, there
are probably as many hundreds of varieties under cultivation. The
prices of Chrysanthemum plants of the different varieties, range from
9d. to 3/6d. per plant in England — but some of the very finest, are
charged at considerably higher rates.

In growing the plant, we find it necessary to give it a rich vege-
table mould with plenty of drainage at the bottom of the pots or
tubs, and to do the potting early in April or May. The early growths
should be repeatedly stopped, by pinching out the heads with the
finger and thumb, so as to induce a bushy growth, but after the
month of July it will be advisable to let them grow on for the
flowering stage. After this season all that is required is regular
attention to the watering to keep them free from insects, and to sup-
port the growth with neat wooden sticks, so as to preserve the plant
in good shape during the flowering period.

Plants can be safely imported to the West Indies in April and May,
by parcel post from any British or Continental nurseryman, as they are
then of small size and pack readily into suitable parcels for this kind of
transit ; and it should at the same time be remembered that it is far
better to import half-a-dozen really good kinds, than a larger number
of cheaper varieties.

99.— NIOARAGUAN CACAO ^B.ABE.—Lonchocarpus sp.

The seedlings of this tree were distributed during the month of
October, and it is gratifying to us to be able to state that considerable
interest was taken in the matter by our cacao planters, some having
applied for the plants by the thousand. Our supply Avas, hoAvever,
an extremely limited one, and we could only give a few for trial to
each planter, and it is to be hoped we may receive in due course
their report.

100.— THE "CASHEW" (Anacardium occidentale)

AND POULTRY.

In number 24, article 79, there was published a few notes on the
above tree. After reading the above a lady writes : — '' I am inte-
" rested in what you say about the Cashew, but do you know the old
*' superstition that if the nuts are burnt anywhere near young
"chickens it will give them the yaws? I have seen rather convinc-
" ing proof, and it is curious that the strong oil should be a remedy
" for skin diseases. That it takes off the skin I have often found to
" my cost when I was a child." Although not mentioned in Art. 77
we were aware of the old tradition mentioned by our correspondent,
and our opinion is that it has some truth in it, and that it cer-
tainly deserves further investigation. The "yaws" in chickens
certainly occurs at the same period, of the year in Avhich the cashew
ripens, and poultry are attracted by the sweetness of the nut. What
is more likely therefore that the blistering oil should so excoriate the
surfaces, as to form a suitable lodgement for the germs of the infec-
tious disease known as "Yaws ;" the history and nature of which is as
yet (so far as I am aware) undetermined. There can be little doubt
that the disease is highly infectious and it has been known to appear
in places where no Cashew were present ; it is therefore not
unlikely that it is due primarily to some other cause, but we consider
it highly probable that the disease may be increased in its intensity
and perhaps the infection carried to wider distances by the presence of
the "Cashew." An eff'ective remedy for the "yaws" on poultry of
any kind is to daily dress the infected surfaces with Iodoform ointment,
after gently cleaning away the dried scabs.

101.-" CASSAVA."

Under the above name are cultivated the Euphorbiaceous plants
known to Botanists as Manihot Aipi and M. utiUssima, which by some
are considered synonymous. Mr. Fawcett of Jamaica in his " Economic
plants" states that " there are a number of varieties according to colour
" of stem and division of leaves. There is also one with a wo?i -poisonous
"juice in the root. But the plant generally known as Sweet Cassava
"is without wings on the fruit and has a reddish root, {Manihot Aipi
" Pohl.)" He further adds that — •• Bitter Cassava root ahonmU in a
" miU-i/ poisonous juice and does not become soft hi/ hoiling or roasting."

And again— " Sweet Cassava has a non-poisonous jiUce. has tough
'' portions in the centre, hut becomes quite soft hij boiling, and is eaten
" like potatoes." " Cassava meal is prepared from both kinds.
" Tapioca is prepared by heating the moistened starch of either kind
" on hot plates."

Cassareep is the juice of Bitter Cassava roots concentrated by
heat, Avhich dissipates the poisonous principle, and this product forms
the basis of the well known West Indian " Pepper-pot," as well as of
many celebrated sauces and relishes. In Trinidad the subject of
poisonous and non-poisonous properties of " Cassava" was taken up by
the late Ernest Francis, Esq., Island Chemist, Avho published the results
of his work in the proceedings of the Scientific Association of Tri-
nidad. Mr. Francis records that, a paper was published by him in the
London Analyst for April, 1877, showed the amount of prussic
acid yielded by a number of different samples of Bitter and Sweet
Cassava. This table gave the mean, highest and lowest percentages of
fifteen (15) samples bitter, and ten samples Sweet Cassava as follows : —

Amount of Prussic Acid yielded by Cassava roots.

Sweet.

Mean ...

Highest

Lowest

•0168
•0238
•0113

Mean ...

Highest

Lowest

Bitter,

•0275
•0442
•0132

Mr. Francis remarks that the samples indicated in the Table were
obtained from as many soui-ces as possible and care was taken to avoid
substitution of one kind for another, and calls attention to the dis-
covery that the so-called sweet or harmless Cassava not only yielded
Prussic Acid but the quantity obtained from it so nearly equalled that
from the bitter that no line of distinction could be dratvn between them.

Many and grave are the doubts to which a record of this kind
gives rise, and when we find it stated that, there is also one ivith a
non-poisonous juice, the subject becomes one of further difficulty.

1st. It becomes fairly clear that, either we have not the true non-
poisonous variet}^ in Trinidad, or that Francis did not find it, or
2ndly. That there is over confidence in attributing non-poisonous
properties to the Sweet Cassava.

To carry the investigation further I have written to Jamaica to
try and obtain roots of the said "non-poisonous^^ kinds which will be
grown side by side with those which are taken for Sweet Cassava here,
from which experiment it is hoped a further light may be shed upon
this most difficult question. It may be mentioned that the writer and
his family suffered poisonous effects from eating what in Jamaica is

known as Sweet Cassava, and it is considered quite possible that
poison will be found in the juice of that plant as known in Jamaica,
as well as in the roots of the bitter variety, in the same way as in
Trinidad. There can be no possible doubt that the manner of cooking
has a very sensible influence on the presence or non-presence of the
poisonous principle, as by the iise of some methods the Bitter Cassava
is said to be used as fearlessly as the sweet. The methods referred to
are those which dissipate the peculiarly volatile principle of Prussic
Acid, and thus render the starchy portions quite suitable for consump-
tion, and this may be accomplished in the case of Bitter Cassava by
frequently changing the water during the boiling process.

Francis gives the analysis of typical of specimens of each kind as
follows : —

Bitter Cassava.

Sweet Casava.

Water

6-2 -07

Water

58-73

Sugar

2-67

Sugar

0-81

Starch ...

29-39

Starch ...

33-38

Fibre

2-01

•Fibre

2-04

Salts

0-59

Salts

0-71

Fat albumen

3-27

Fat albumen ...

4-33

100-00

The comparison of results in this analysis is very striking —
especially so in the amount of fibre present. One of the distinguishing
characters has been stated in public to be the amount of fibre present
in the root ; but it is clear if the analysis is reliable, (and we have no
reason to doubt it), this character is of little value. It will be safer
for those eating of the presvimed non-poisonous Sweet Cassava to be
careful that it is boiled in two or three waters, as by so doing it will
in any case be I'endered perfectly safe, and should (as may happen)
the poisonous kind be in any way substituted this method will
remove the greater elements of danger.

102.— BERMUDA ARROWROOT.— ilfaran^a Anmdinacea.

In the annual Report of this Department for 1892, the subject of
the growth of "Arrowroot" was discussed. It was shown that the
variety growing in Trinidad previous to 1892 was a very unproductive
one, and that since the introduction of the St. Lucia variety good
starch and in paying quantity has been produced. Subsequently to
this, plants were introduced from Bermuda, a place celebrated for the
high quality of its arrowroot, and the product of these plants has been
proved to be superior to any hitherto known in Trinidad.

The starch is characterised when seen under the microscope, by
larger and more uniform cells than the other varieties. It will be our
object to introduce the plant throughout the Island, as Bermuda
arrowroot ; as it is now clearly evident that starch excellent in quality
and in quantity can be produced in Trinidad as well as in the more
Northern Islands — a fact which has been previously doubted. A
moderate quantity of roots can be had at the Gardens gratis by any
planter who wishes to commence the cultivation.

lOa-GUILIELMA SPEOIOSA.-Mart.

Bactris Minor — Jacq.

The "Peach Palm."

This Palm which is according to the Kew list published in 1882,
the Bactris Minor of Jacq.. is a very interesting one in many par-
ticulars. Mr. Prestoe in his report for 1880 makes mention of having
raised it from seeds contributed to the Garden by H. Darling, Esq.,
of Lothian's Estate, Trinidad, in the tvoods of ivhich Estate this Palm
occurs loild. The latter statement I have not verified, but it is
certain that it is a plant whose range is wide spread. I have seen
it on the Isthmus of Panama ; on the Atlantic side of the Province of
Veragua ; and also in the Republic of Nicaragua. It is known,
according to Seeman in his "Popular History of Palms" as the Piritu
or Pirijao in Venezuela. The Pupunha of the Amazon district, and
the Paripou of Guiana. It is commonly sold in a cooked state in the
markets of the Town of Port-of-Spain under the name of Peewah,
which may possibly be a corruption of its Spanish name. The
plant usually bears two crops a year, one crop (that of October)
producing nothing but abortive seeds, with a greatly enlarged fruit,
and the other, producing small fruits containing little else but the
hard fertile seed. The fruits of the October crop contain a large
amount of nutrient matter suitable for human food, and are much
appreciated by all classes native to the country, and even by visitors.
They are eaten with salt after being well boiled.

The Palm thrives well in a poor soil, but is readily responsive to
the application of suitable manure, and by its growth alone the pro-
ductiveness of a soil may be fairly judged. If planted in a poor soil
the plant developes few and weak stems, but in a rich soil its growth
is abundant, its stems are more numerous and it soon assumes a heavy
growth of luxuriant foliage.

This Palm, like others of its genus, throws up numerous suckers
around the base of the first or seedling stem which, if left, also
gradually form stems and the original plant becomes a large clump.
In a good soil, the stems of such a clump will sometimes number
twelve or more, of nearly the same height as the original, each with
its own suckers growing to replace it when it shall have finished its
course.

TRINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

BULLETIN

P^iscellEiteoiis |tifarnmti0m

No. 2. APRIL, 1895. Vol. 11.

CONTENTS.

No. 104.— A Freak of Nature. .^^^-'-v^ 'K'

„ 105.-Circ;ilar Notes.-Nos. 15 and 16.^ '"V^ "<

„ 106.-Piper ovatum, Fa/*/.-"Poutt." /?"V fttcBvtD
,, 107.— Simaba Cedron. //

„ 108. -Spathelia simplex, i/. fj'^ |V, /i, v 2 4 1895

„ 109.— Sabal mauritiforniis, Gr. and Wmc^
„ 110.— Coccidee, or Scale Insects. \ ^ oepar^'MEnTC'
„ 111.— Oreodoxa regia, Kth. \. Qp> t ^\ f^ "'

„ 11 2. -A Sunshine Recorder. X.^"^'OUj--

„ 113.— The Botany of a Tree. "

„ 114.— Natural History Notes.

No. 5.— The "Manicou."
„ 6. -The "Manicou Gros Yeux."
„ 7.— Actinopus scalops.
,, 8.— Pseudidiops Hartii. (Pocock.)
,, 9.— Argiope argentata.
115.— Aristolochia gigas, var. Sturtevantii.
116.— Flowering- of the Bamboo.
117.— Our Garden Soil.
118.— Roses.
119.-" Yams."

120.— The Gardens Ordinance.
121.— Attalea Cohune.
122.-" Kola."
123.—" Eucalyptus."

Edited by the Sujierintendent Royal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HART, F.L.S.

TillNIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN.

1895.

104— A CURIOUS FREAK OF NATURE.

URING the montli of December, 1894, Mr. J. Graham Taylor
called my attention to a curious growth of fruit on one of
the smaller varieties of Banana known locally as " Figue
The plant was growing in a small garden in the Belmont
district, and the bunch of fruit — much under ordinary size— was
produced from the side of the stem about six feet above the
ground; the plant itself being some twelve feet in height not
including length of leaf. "When the flower first appeared it grew in
an upright direction and the bunch developed with the younger
portion uppermost, contrary to the usual manner ; but when the
bunch approached the ripening period it gradually assumed the
natural pendant position. It was at first thought that the protrusion
of the flower from this point was due to some contraction or obstruction
existing in the stem above the point of issue, which prevented its
making its appearance in the usual way from the apex of the plant,
but after ripening, the stem was examined and it was found that no
obstruction was present, but that an open space existed of sufficient
size to allow the escape of the flower stem in a natural manner.

It has therefore been concluded that the issue of the flower from
the stem of the tree was caused by some injury having occurred to
the stem at this particular point, and that the flowering parts appeared
from thence as the point of least resistance.

A photograph was taken of the plant showing the position of the
fruit upon the stem of the plant.

105.-CIRCULAR NOTES.

Circular Note No. 15.

For the past five years a regular account has been kept of the
daily yield of the nutmeg trees under cultivation in the Royal Botanic
Gardens. This was carried out for the purpose of ascertaining the
proportion of the crop which may be expected during the successive
months of the year. The following Table will, I believe, supply the
required information. The annual rainfall for each year is also

appended, and it appears to show that the amount of rain has a
striking influence on the total crop for each year.

Month.

AVERAGK YIELD PER DAY.

Five years
Daily Average..

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

1890.

151
180
250
159
421
527
473
445
341
121
33
46

1891.

41
53
283
478
443
136
145
160
162
1-25
101
45

1892.

81
120

75
165
240
758
691
405
264
173

1893.

46
184
370
398
403
588
358
511
531
546
63
31

1894.

20
19
145
671
505
201
260
508
223

"ss

51
116

1890-1894.

65-8
111-2
224-6
374-2
402-2
442-0
405-4
405-8
304-2
210-6
65-8
55-6

Mean per month per annum . . .

262

181

257

335

234

Rainfall in inches

82-90

53-74

91-14

92-49

52-21

Mean daily average for five 1
years ... i

...

255-0

J. H. HART.

Jariuary 1st, 1895.

Circular Note No. 16.

During 1894 the Logwood trees growing on the boundaries of the
Queen's Park were culled of dead and dying wood. The cleaned dye-
wood from this cutting has recently been sold, and has realized prices
26/- above the quoted prices of best Jamaica wood, and nearly equalling
best Honduras and Nicaragua marks, selling, as it did, at £7 16 per
ton in Amsterdam,

The attention of planters has been called to the excellence of this
product as grown in Trinidad on several furmer occasions, and T would
again mention that there appears no reason why Trinidad Logwood
should not become as famous in the future as Trinidad Cacao.

Logwood is essentially a poor man's cultivation, as it requires no
capital to commence Avith ; all that is required to start is to put out
two or three hundred plants into ordinary land and leave them to
themselves. Logwood however, responds to cultivation as well as

most other products, and the more attention it receives, the quicker it

grows, and if such cultivation is well carried out a crop may be

reaped in a very few years.

Seed may be had gratis in March of each year, and plants are

always on hand at the Gardens at low rates ; the seed must be sown as

soon as ripe, for it quickly loses its vitality.

J. H. HART.
January 5th, 1895.

106.-PIPER OVATUM, Vahl.

" Putt" or " Poutt."

From the Chemist and Druggist of the 29th December, 1894, it is
■noted that joint papers were presented to the Chemical Society at its
December meeting by Prof. Dunstan and Mr. H. Garnett. The sub-
jects were — " The Chemical Constituents of Piper ovatum, Vahl," and
" The Pellitory of Medicine," the latter paper having arisen out the
work of the former.

Some interesting discoveries have been made, the full text of
■which will be published later,'-' but without anticipating it may be
stated that a crystalline substance has been extx*acted from Piper
ovatum "which possesses certain characters corresponding with
■piperine, to which it is proposed to apply the name of " Piperovatine."
The physiological action is being studied by Prof. Cash of Alterdten,
and one of its properties has been found to be the production of
spasmodic movements similar to those set up by the injection of
rstrychnine. From the leaves a volatile oil was obtained containing a
sesqui-terpene. The indefinite character of the active principle of
pellitory, Anacyclus pi/rethrmn, D.C., induced the authors to re-examine
that drug in view of the results they had obtained from Piper ovatum;
with thei-result that they also separated from this plant a crystalline
body to which it is proposed the name of " Pellitorine" should be
given, forming the subject of the second paper.

Our interest in the investigation arises from the fact that the

specimens of Piper ovatum were sent from the Royal Botanic

■Gardens, Trinidad, for special examination to W. T. Thistleton-

.Dyer, Esqre., C.M.G., Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, by

whom it was handed over to Prof. Dunstan.

In the Annual Report of the Department for 1890 I wrote the
following : —

Piper ovatuvi has for many years the •reputation of being possessed of
.medicinal properties, while to this day the hunters in the Trinidad forest use a

* Published March, 1895^

tincture of the plant to dress their dogs previous to starting on an expedition.
It has a strong and pungent odour and when chewed leaves a peculiar deadening
sensation on the tongue. It undoubtedly possesses peculiar properties, and well
deserves the examination that is now being given to it. Cruger, a former Botanist,
collected specimens of the plant, and Purdie in 1S48 affixes to a specimen the
following note : —

The root of the plant dried and powdered is used as a remedy for glanders
and hydrophobia in horses and dogs.

It is said to be remedy also for the bite of venomous snakes.

As stated in the report referred to, the matter was first
brought to my attention by the late Prof. Macarthy in 1888, and
again by Mr. G. F. Bourne in 1890 — and to the latter I was indebted
for the collection of the first material sent. Later on a large batch
of material was collected by Mr. C. W. Meaden at my request, and'
some was procured from hunters.

107.-SIMABA CEDRON.

This tree flourishes well in the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, growing
to a height of 50 feet. It produces seed annually. The seeds are
said by some writers to be useful as a febrifuge and we have
on several occasions had enquiries for seeds in small quantities
for medicinal purposes. Young plants grow rapidly from seed and
can be planted in the open in ordinary soils. It is said to have beert
brought from the mainland by "Purdie" many years ago.

108.-SPATHELIA SIMPLEX, L.

This tree also grows well in the Gardens. It is known in Jamaica
as " Mountain Pride," being very common on the sides of hills com-
posed of the white limestone. It takes some 8 or 10 years from the
seed to the flowering stage, but its large and handsome panicle of lilac-
coloured flowers, once seen is not easily forgotten. The leaves are
simply pinnate from 2 to 4 feet in length, and fern -like in appearance.
When young, the plants are very useful for decorative purpt)ses, owing
to their fern -like appearance. "When of mature size the plants reach,
to the height of 30 to 35 feet. They are seldom branched, and generally
die away after ripening seeds from the first flowers produced. Seen
on the hillside in their season they form a glorious mass of delicately
tinted flowers essentially tropical in character. Those now growing
in the Trinidad garden were raised from seed sent from Jamaica
by myself, when in charge of the Botanical Department of that.
Island, in 1886.

37
109.— SABAL MAURITIPORMIS, Gr. & Wendl.

"The Carat."

To this name we refer a common palm of Trinidad. The tree
grows to some 50 to 60 feet in height. The leaves are palmate in
form, sub -orbicular, and the lobes are cut two-thirds of their length
the entire portion being nearest to the leaf stalk. It is probably the
same as that known under the name of Sahal glaucescens, Lodd.
The under side of the leaf is glaucescent or whitish green. It is used
in the country districts for thatching the houses of the peasantry, for
which purpose it is very serviceable, cool and lasting.

We have in the Gardens specimens of a stemless Sahal, which
seeds on pedicels the apex of which are not more than 4 feet high
from the ground. The leaves, however, are very much smaller and
stiffer, though much like in general appearance to Sahal Mauritice-
formis, G. & Wendl. It is possibly the species referred to by Grise-
bach in his Flora, p. 514, under Sabal.

IIO.-COCCID^, OR SCALE INSECTS.

In the December number of the Agricultural Record for 1892 I
gave a list of species of the scale insects of Trinidad so far as they had
then been examined by Mr. S. D. A. Cockerell. This list is now
reproduced with recent additions found in the Royal Botanic Gardens,
and elsewhere.

(1.) Icerya montseratensis, Riley and Howard. On Clusia alba. See Insect
Life, IV., p., 407.

(2.) Orthesia, sp, incert., on Crobon. See Jour. Triu. Field Nat. Club, 1892,
p. 64. See also Insect Life, IV. , p. 24.

(3.) Orthesia proelonga, Douglas. On capsicum. See Ent. Mo. Mag., 1891,
p. 247.

(4. ) Lecanium hemisphmricum, Targ. Tozz. ',0n guava. See Jour. Trin. Field
Nat. Club, 1892, p. 65.

(5.) Ckionaspis citri, Comstock. On orange and lime. See Jour. Trin. Field
Nat. Club, 1892, p. 66. Insect Life, IV., p. 214.

(6.) C/iionas^is mmor, Maskell. On Pelargonium. (Collected by J. H. Hart.)

(7.) Aspidiotus, sp. incert. See Insect Life, IV., p. 24.

(8.) Aspidiotus hiformis, Cockerell, n. sp. On Ejndendrum and Oncidium
sprucei. (Collected by J. H. Hart.) Scales dark; female scales cir-
cular or broadly oval, male scales much smaller, elongate, narrow.
Feniale with three pairs of terminal lobes.

(9.) Mytilaspis citrocola, Packard. See Insect Life, IV., p. 214.

(10.) Pinnaspis pandani, Comstock. On Pandanus, (Collected by J. H. Hart.

(11.) Ischnaspis^M/ormis, DonglaiS. On Pandanus. (Collected by J. H. Hart. )

See also Eut. Mo. Mag., 1889, p. 350, and Insect Life, Vol. II., p. 368.

(12.) Planchonia oncidii, Cockerell, n. sp. On. Epidendrum. (Collected by

J. H. Hart.) Scale yellow, with pinkish fringe. (Will be described

more fully elsewhere.)

(13.) Asjiidiotus articidatus, Morgan.

(14.) Asjndiotivs dictyospermi, Morgan. Both in Dictyospermutn. In Ent.
Mo. Mag., 1889, p. 350, Mr. Morgan records them from Trinidad, but
on pp. 352, 353, Demerara is said to be the locality. Mr. Morgan
also records Mylilaspiii buxi from Trinidad ; this is the same aa
Pinnaspis pandani (No. 10 above).
(15.) AspidioUis destructor, Signoret. On leaves of Bassia latifolia. (Hart.)
(16.) Lecanium mangiferce, Green. On leaves of Bassia latifolia. (Hart.)
(17.) Asjjidioius palnue, Cockerell. Jour. Field Nat. Club, p. 306, 1894.
(18.) Chionaspis hraziliensis. Sign. ,, ,, ,,

(19.) Lecanium oleoi, 'Kevn. ,, ,, ,,

(20.) Ortheziainsignis.'DoviS^AS,. „ ,, ,, and Hart,

[1895.
(21.) Viiisonia stellif era, 'Wesitv.'oodi. „ ,, ,, and Hart,

[1895, on Sfanhopea.

(22.) Lecanium depressum, Turg. ,, ,, ,,

(23.) Asterolecanium miliaris, Boisd. „ „ „

(24.) Diaspis lunatus, Ckll. ,, „ ,,

(25.) Asterolecanium urichii, n. sp. Ckll. ,, ,, ,,

(26.) Inglesia vitrea, n. sp. Ckll. ,, ,, ,,

(21 .) Pidvinaria pyriformis n. s,^. CkW. „ ,, ,,

(28. Pulvinaria simidans, n. sp, Ckll. ,, ,, ,,
(29.) leery a Rosce, R. & H. (J. H. Hart) on Amherstia.

lll.-OREODOXA REGIA, Kth.

The " Cabbage Palm."

Several species of Palm are known as " Cabbage Palms," from
the fact of their producing an edible portion at their growing points ;
but the Trinidad palm commonly used for this purpose is Oreodoxa
regia.

It is a curious fact that when plants of this palm are grown in
the more northern islands the stem assumes a pyramidal form which
makes it rather conspicuous. In Trinidad it only assumes this form
when planted on unfertile ground and under conditions where it
becomes wind blown. The stem may in fact be induced to grow
in various forms by suitable treatment, and the size of it can be
reduced by starvation at one period, and enlarged by the application
of manure at another pei'iod. If a plant grows in godd soil in its
younger stages with ample nutriment, the base will be large, but if aa
it grows the nutriment becomes exhausted, the plant gradually

•decreases in tlie diameter of its stem from the bottom upwards, and if
when this is seen to be the case manure or other nutriment is applied,
the diameter of the stem will again become enlarged.

In some instances where plants of this kind of palm are sown
naturally in thick bush, the seeds having been carried by birds or
animals, the base of the stem will usually be small, as the plant in its
youthful stages suffers from too much shade, from the effects of
drought and from the abstraction of nutriment by other plants.
When, however, it has grown above the surrounding bush and has
well established itself, we see that the size of the stem increases, and
afterwards, as the nutriment is exhausted, the size again gradually
decreases, the trunk assuming a spindle-sbaped appearance. This is
also a well marked occurrence in another "West Indian Palm known as
Acrocomia sclerocarpa, Mart., and descriptive characters have been
founded upon it which are of little value.

The " Cabbage" of Oreodoxa regia is an excellent vegetable when
cooked. It may be eaten fresh as a salad, and it also forms one of the
principal materials for making some of the best brands of West Indian
"' hot pickles."

112. -A SUNSHINE RECORDER.

Temperature in the tropics depends in a great measure upon the
number of hours the sun shines daily. The importance of sunshine
to planters is evident, and the degree of open sunshine experienced
during the year is intimately connected with that of rainfall and tem-
perature, which together go to form what is generally termed " the
weather."

The importance of keeping a record of the duration of sunshine is
seen when it is shewn that it enables the planters to estimate the
causes of success and failure in the various cultivations, and I quote
from the Eeport of Messrs. Jenman and Harrison of British Guiana on
Agricultural Work for 1892-3, that our readers may see what estimate
is placed upon such record by these well-known observers :

" Sunshine. — Next to Rainfall, or rather co-paramount with it, as success iii
agriculture and vegetable culture generally depouds on the approximately near
balancing of both — is the degree of open sunshine experienced in the year. Sun-
shine is never in excess providing it is accompanied liy sufficient rain. Were it
to rain only at night, of which we have experience in some seasons here, the sun
might shine all day long throughout the year with advantage to crops. It is
only in the final maturing processes during which the essential characteristic
chemical changes take place, that an excess of sunshine over moisture is required."

Messrs, Jenman and Harrison are here referring principally to
the requirements of the sugar crop.

It is well known that the season for the ripening of canes differs
considerably in the Colonies of Trinidad and British Guiana, and the
cause will probably be much more definitely shown Avhen the record
of sunshine is kept on similar lines, in addition to other ordinary
meteorological returns. And it will probably be found that the
canes are planted so as to ripen at the season of greatest sunshine,
with dry weather.

To secure further comparison, the recording instrument has been
selected of the same pattern and by the same maker as that used in
British Guiana, and it is intended to keep a regular registry in future
which will be published with our Monthly Meteorological Returns, so
that planters will be afforded the means of making their own
deductions as to the reasons for the different periods at which the
sugar crop ripens in Trinidad and Demerara.

113.— THE BOTANY OF A TREE.

( Continued from page SOJf., Vol. I.)

In No. 24, p. 80, October, 1894, I promised to enumerate as far
as possible the different vegetable growths which accumulate on the
trunk and branches of one of our largest trees. In redemption of
that promise the following list, which is far from complete, has been
compiled : —

EhipHolis cassytha, G.
Polypodium decumanum, Wild.

,, vaccinifolium, Fischfe Langs.

,, incanum, Sw.

,, aureum, L.

Anthurium lanceolatum, Kth.

,, species. (Palniatinerved.)

Epidendrum lanceolatum, Bradford.

,, ramosum, Jaxq.

Oncidium luridum, Lindl.
Polystachya luteola, Hook.
Catasetum tridentatum.
Ficus sp. (Narrow-leaved. )

Ficus sp.

Anrjuria ambrosa, Kth.

Cereus triangularis. Haw.

,, pertivianus. Mill.
Guzmannia tricolor, R. P.
Clusia species. (Large ovate-leaved. )

,, ,, (Small-leaved.)

Cedrela odorata, L.
jEchmea (?) sp. (?)
Tillandsia compressa, Berter.
PolyporiLs, sp. (Fungus.)
Musci. (Three or more species.)
Lichens. (Many species. )

Cedrela odorata was 10 feet high, growing on fork.
Cereus peruvianum on the upper side of branches in quantity,.
6 to 12 feet high.

.Mchnea species is in great quantity on branches.

Some roots of C^itsta^ species are over 30 feet in length, hanging
downwards in the air.

AntJiurium lanceolatum is very abundant.

114.-NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No. 5. — The " Manicou," BidelpTiys marstipialis, Linn. — These-
animals are frequent visitors to our Gardens and annually destroy quan-
tities of all kinds of fruit and seeds. They are especially fond of the fruit
of Flacourtia Eamontchi or " Governor Plum," and also of the Pomme
Malac or " Malacca Apple," Eugenia Malaccensis. They are also
frequent visitors to the fowl roosts of the vicinity, and the screaming
of poultry in the dead hours of the night is not an unfrequent
occurrence for once in the grip of the animal a chicken has but little
chance for its life. At some seasons of the year the animals are very
numerous and do considerable damage, as many as eight or ten full
grown animals having been destroyed in one week in the garden.
The animal is a true marsupial, and carries its young in a pouch like
the Kangaroo of Australia. Our local readers are of course conversant
with the habits of the animal under discussion, but some of our
correspondents abroad to whom our bulletins go in exchange will
learn perhaps for the first time of a depredator with whom every
Trinidad cultivator has, more or less, to count.

No. 6. — " Manicou Gros Yeux" or " Manicou Big Eyes" is another
animal which preys upon our fruit, although in much less degree
than its larger brother. This animal has lately been named by Mr.
Oldfield Thomas from a specimen sent home from the Gardens to the
British Museum in 1891 as Didelpliijs trinitatis, Thomas, (new species)
as it has been found to differ in considerable degree from a similar
species found upon the mainland. Our animal is about the size of an
ordinary rat, and is curious and ungain looking. It is especially fond
of the fruit of the Mango, from which it eats a small piece of the
ripest side while hanging on the tree, thus causing the loss of
numerous fruit. From the proximity of our Gardens to wood lands we
are much more subject to the inroads of such visitors than on estates
where a large extent of cleared ground exists on the outskirts.

Another species much resembling D. trinitatis but much smaller,
named Didelphjs murina, Linn., has been captured in the neighbour-
hood of Princes Town, but has not yet been seen within the boundaries
of the Gardens.

4:2

No. 7. — ActinojJus scalops is the name of the common "Trap-
door Spider" of the Botanic Gardens. This is a source of much
interest to visitors from the curious construction of its nest.

No. 8. — Under the name of Pseudidiops Hartii Mr. Pocock of the
British Museum, (Vol. XI, Ann. & Mag. Nat. History,) has described
a "Tree Trap door Spider" found in the vicinity of the Gardens.
It builds a beautifully constructed nest so covered with lichens as
almost to render it indistinguishable from the bark of the tree on
which it is found.

No. 9. — Another large spider common in the Garden, which may
be readily known by its resting with its legs in pairs in the form of a
St. Andrew's Cross, is known as Argiope argeniata. The cocoons
shew a remarkable variation in colour, which varies between bright
green and yellow.

115.-ARISTOLOCHIA GIGAS, var. Sturtevantii.

A PLANT which was received from Kew in 1893, has lately pro-
duced a numerous succession of flowers. These flowers are some
twelve inches or more in Avidth and some fifteen or eighteen inches in
length, with an appendage or tail some two-and-a-half or three feet
long. The peculiar foetid odour of this class of plant when in bloom
is well maintained by the one under review, so much is this the
case that it attracts flies in the same manner as carrion. The flower
itself is very handsome, and is like in many respects the native
Aristolochia grandiflora, Sw., but about four or five times the size.
Our plant promises to produce a supply of good seed in due course.*

116. -FLOWERING OF THE BAMBOO.

" Bambusa vulgaris," Schrad.

It is a very rare and unusual thing to find the Bamboo in flower
or fruit in the West Indies.

In the East Indies the fruit of the Bamboo is sometimes used for
* A fine supply has been harvested. — April 2.

food, and the composition of the hugked grain is given by Prof.
Church in his " Food Grains of India" as follows : —

Water

Albuminoids

Starch

Oil

Fibre

Ash

11-0

11-8

73-7

0-6

1-7

1-2

100

It is said that in 1864 the Bamboo furnished food for upwards of
50,000 persons in Kanara in 1864, and that in 1812 in Orissa a general
flouring of the Bamboo prevented a famine.*

Our plant is now in flower (January 26th), but it remains to be
seen whether it will ripen its fruit in our climate. It is a general
'idea that the fruiting of the Bamboo is the harbinger of an extremely
dry season, but as the flowering is not general among the plants,
perhaps this will not apply.

The plant or rather the stems die out after flowering, and the
clump is wholly renewed by young shoots from the base.

The larger number of the stems of the clumps now in flower were
cut away in November last, to provide fencing for the Race Course,
and only a few mature centre stems remained, and it may be that the
letting in of light and air to these is the cause of present abundance
of flower on this particular clump. Other clumps near by, which
were not touched, have shewn no sign of flowering at the time of
writing. During twenty years continuous residence in the West
Indies I have only seen the Bamboo in flower on two previous occasions.
In Jamaica in 1885, in Trinidad in 1887, and the present instance, 1895.

117.-OUR GARDEN SOIL.

Mt immediate predecessor Mr. Prestoe on several occasions drew
attention in his Reports to the inferior character of the soil of the
Koyal Botanic Gardens. While the position of the Gardens is an
admirable one in every other respect, we are considerably hindered
and placed at great disadvantage in many cases in the cultivation
of various plants by the inferior character of the soil, and especially
so by the character of its subsoil. One practical lesson is however
apparent. It is this — that if plants thrive in our poor and barren

* "Food Grains of India. "—Church.

soil, it is patent that they be expected to do far better when placed
in a soil of good quality. Compared with the soil existing in the
Botanic Garden, Grenada, our soil is practically barren. There, a
surface soil exists which is highly fertile to a depth of three feet
or more ; while with us the surface soil is fertile only some four or five
inches in depth, and below this we have nothing but an iron clay
almost destitute of ordinary plant food. I have lately obtained the
opinion of an eminent geologist on the latter, and the substance of his
Report is as follows : —

This is a dark red of chocolate-coloured powder, among which are dissemi-
nated pebbles of slaty rock often of very fine gram with the materials disposed in
thin laminte. This soil consists of the debris of micaceous and slaty rocks. It i3
composed chiefly of silicates and iron. Silicate of alumina is abundant, and iron
exists in various forms, e.g., silicate, carbonate, etc. Mica abounds in minute
scales. Lime only exists as a silicate. Graphite is distinguishable in the pebbles,
and there are some angular grains of quartz.

This soil is an extremely poor one, and it is only in a climate like that of
Trinidad that anything but the scantiest vegetation would grow on it.

As it has not been possible to ascertain that the characters of the
soil have ever been determined by chemical analysis, permission has
been obtained from the Government for an examination to be made by
the Government Analyst, which, will probably afford further infor-
mation and thus enable the Department to initiate an improved
course of culture for the various sections.

Success has in many cases it is true, attended the efforts made
to render the soil more fertile, but such results cannot be obtained
except by the expenditure of a larger amount of labour and
manure than would be requisite Avere the soil a fairly good one ;
and it must be confessed that in some few instances the staff is too
heavily handicapped, and cultivation has not reached a standard
such as the modern cultivator is ambitious to arrive at.

In a former number I mentioned the unproductive or unfruitful
character of the Mango trees of the Gardens, but that was only a
single instance, and might be easily multiplied many times over ; and
we might also mention the fact of the deaths which often occur among
our cultivated and introduced trees as another instance of the unfer-
tile character of our soil, as it is clear such deaths are in the main
to be attributed to its barren character.

With such difficulties before us, in the form of a poor and unpro-
ductive soil, it is not to be wondered at that failures will sometimes
occur, and we owe it to ourselves and to the community by whom the
Garden is supported, that the reasons for such results should be
fairly and fully stated.

Our soil is what is known to the general cultivator as " a hungry
soil, i.e., it will take up an almost unlimited supply of ordinary
manure, the effect of which disappears in an extremely short space of
time ; and the difficulty of procuring frequent supplies of such, is one
which has to be overcome, ere crops can be reaped and plants in
general be made to put on a well cultivated appearance.

In the course of time much may be done to render the tillable
area of the Garden more fertile, and it is hoped that when its con-
stituents are fully known from mechanical, chemical and cultivator's
analysis, measures may be devised which will render it much more
productive than it has ever been during past years, and enable us
to grow our plants with better results.

It is quite true — as mentioned by our geological friend — that it is
only in a climate like Trinidad that our soil would produce anything
" but the scantiest vegetation," and it is a fortunate circumstance
that we are blessed with a climate which enables our plants to
make the most of the food which is available from atmospheric
sources, and upon which they in a great measure depend to carry out
the ordinary functions of growth.

118.-ROSES.

To grow roses well in the West Indies, two things are essentially
necessary. The first is a well sheltered but unshaded position ; and
the other a great depth of rich and fertile soil not occupied by the
roots of trees or other gross feeding plants. Unless these two con-
ditions are present, the return of the rose grower is but a poor one,
and will hardly compensate for outlay upon plants. The conditions
of climate render it impossible to grow those kinds of roses which
in temperate climes are grafted or budded upon what is there
a hardy stock, for it is certain that the stock used — either " Briar "
or "Manetti" — is much more feeble in a tropical climate than the
rose itself, and it is therefore much better to use plants which are as
nurserymen term it, " on their own roots," i.e., struck or propagated
from slips or cuttings of the branches of the rose itself. Even when
this is done, the kinds selected should be those which are known to be
natives of countries having a warm climate, or have been raised by
hybridization from such plants. What are known as Hybrid per-
petuals are — in the main — of little use for tropical growth ; although it
is true there are a few notable exceptions. The Tea and Bourbon

varieties are without question the plants which are most permanent
and give the best return of blossoms. Mareschal Niel stands pre-
eminent as a tropical rose, but unless the soil is an exceptionally good
one, it requires frequent renewal, i.e., the plants gradually fail after
about three or four years' growth, and will die out in that time
unless the soil is carefully renewed.

In our collection of plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad^
there is nothing that requires greater care than those sections devoted
to roses. We have a poor and unfertile soil, and although a large
quantity of manure is regularly used, we cannot possibly produce the
same result as where a fertile soil naturally exists. From our diaries,
however, it may be seen that our results are not insignificant, for, aa
many as 400 blossoms of Mareschal Niel have been cut in a single
month, and other kinds in like proportion. We cannot, however^
attempt to compete with the little Botanic Garden of Grenada in
Rose culture, for there they have an almost inexhaustible soil well
suited for rose growth, and plants become large bushes in as few-
months as it would take years to grow them here, and yet, as Mr.
Broadway, the Curator, who was formerly Assistant Superintendent
in Trinidad, says — " They don't get half as much attention as they do
in Trinidad."

Koses planted in newly made ground yield a rich return in
blossoms for the first few years in Trinidad Gardens, but in the
long run the soil becomes exhausted, and the beds have either to be
renewed entirely or a new plantation has to be formed elsewhere.
Our experience is not singular, but on the contrary, in the neighbour-
hood of Port-of-Spain it is a common condition of aflfairs, especially
where the same class of soil exists as at the Gardens. It is no
uncommon thing for residents in the vicinity of Port-of-Spain to
produce a fine bloom of roses — of which they are not a little proud —
provided they have a newly planted garden with fresh soil ; but the
time surely arrives when the reverse is the case and they seek for
advice as to what is to be done, and the only remedy we can supply is
— manure heavily, procure new plants, and provide fresh soil. In
rose culture generally the rose tree should be allowed to grow quite
strong before blossoms are allowed to be culled from it, as nothing
so surely weaJcens the plants as continuous cutting, and plants can
never become good fiower-producers if they are allowed to be cut
daily. Roses, like all other plants, should be allowed a period of rest,
and this can best be given in the dry season, and during this period
all blooms, as they appear, phould be removed in the bud with the

view of throwing the strength of the plant into its vegetative organs,
so as to produce wood which will afford a more abundant supply of
bloom in the folloAving season.

119.-YAMS.

Our crop of yams was harvested in February, and the results
were nearly equal to last year's return. Last year our return was
0*68 lbs. per square foot or thirteen tons to the acre, Avhile this year
our return stands 0*63 lbs. per square foot which is slightly less.

In addition to the Barbados " Water Yam," which was the
variety groAvn last year, we have been successful in procuring several
other varieties from Jamaica, St. Vincent and Demerara, some of
which have proved of excellent quality and far superior to the Water
Yam. The varieties aie named as follows : — "Negro Yam," "Yellow
Yam," "Afoo or Afou Yam," Horn Yam," "Buck Yam," " Cush-
Cush," " Snake Yam," " Barbados White Yam," " Dominica Yam,"
" Devil Yam," and one or two other unnamed varieties. The heaviest
weight of "Negro Yam" — one root — was 30| lbs. "Yellow Yam"
gave roots weighing II lbs.; "Afou" 14 lbs., and "Devil Yam"
20 lbs. to 25 lbs. The "Buck Yam" is an excellent variety and
splendid for table, but does not yield a heavy return. The " Yellow
Yam," which is the same as the " Dominica Yam," yields an excellent
table dish. The "Negro" and "Barbados White Yam," the "Horn
Yam" and the " Snake Yam" proved to be of excellent quality, and
superior in many respects to those commonly grown in Trinidad. It
is intended to extend the notes upon this subject in a future number
when the question of the nomenclature of the various kinds will be
fully discussed. At present for convenience, the various kinds are
termed varieties, but there are three if not more distinct species
included under this term. A plant received during the year under
the name of Dioscorea sj). proves to be a yam of poor quality common
here under the name of " Cut and throw away." In common with
several other varieties, it produces ajrial tubers on the vines generally
from two to four inches in diameter.

120.-THE GARDENS ORDINANCE.

The Royal Botanic Gardens Ordinance of 1S94 has given power
to make Rules and Regulations for the proper management of the
Gardens.

1. The public portion of the Gardens is 41 acres, rood, 6 perches

in extent.

2. The private grounds attached to the Governor's residence,

9 acres, 3 roods, 24^ perches.

3. Private grounds attached to Superintendent's residence,

2 acres, 3 roods and 39^ perches.

4. The enclosures reserved for administrative purposes, 8 acres,

2 roods and 32 perches.

The total area of the whole Botanic Garden is 62 acres, 2 roods,
22 perches. A Plan of the same is deposited in Office of the Crown
Lands Department, and one may be seen at the Gardens' Office at any
time during office hours.

Eegulations have been made under the Ordinance which are
similar in character to those adopted by such Institutions in all parts
of the world : these have been published in the Boijal Gazette and may
also be seen at the Gardens' Office at any time.

121.-THB "COHUNE" PALM.

" Attalea Cohune," Mart.

Our first acquaintance with this palm Avas in the grounds of a
private residence situated some two miles above the site of the Public
Garden at Hope, Jamaica, in 1876. The specimen was a fully
developed one standing some 70 feet in height, and bearing an
abundance of fruit. In Bulletin No. 6 I published the weight of a
bunch of fruit taken from one of the trees of Trinidad Garden as
287^ lbs,, and the number of fruit on the bunch as 2,203, and in
Bulletin No. 12 I reported having found the palm common in the
Island of Tobago. It is also indigenous to Trinidad, and is found
generally through large portions of Central America, where it reaches
immense heights. The tree bears a fruit about three inches in length
and one-and-a-half inch in diameter, ovate in form, with three ovules
in each. As in the coconut, however, it is found that in some cases
only one seed is present and occupies the whole interior. Attempts
have been made to extract the oil from these seeds, but although it is
of good quality, the proportion yielded is too small to pay for
extraction, which is peculiarly difficult owing to the indurated
character of the shell which surrounds the kernel.

49
122.-" KOLA.'

"StERCULIA ACCU5IINATA."

The latest reports shew renewed enquiry, and increased prices
for this product.

123.-EUOALYPTUS USELESS AGAINST MALARIA.

" Undee the heading ' The passing of the Eucalyptus,' the Journal
" of the American Medical Association states that the Consuls of the
" United States in Europe report unfavourably on the supposed
^' virtues of Eucalyptus. The Trappist monks of Tre Fontane, three
" miles from Rome, have planted since 1873 no fewer than 50,000 trees
" on a few acres. In 1880 the Government established an agricultural
** colony of penitentiary convicts in quarters supposed to have been
" already improved by the eucalyptus. The convicts were surrounded
" by hygienic conditions far superior to those of the labourers of the
" Campagna, yet nearly all became stricken with malarial fever within
" a year after their arrival. In 1882 all the inhabitants of Tre
" Fontane were attacked. The guards at the colony had all to be
" changed. The efficacy of the eucalyptus for the improvement of the
*' air is no greater than that of the elm, pine, and mulberry. If it
" recommends itself by rapidity of growth, the trees just mentioned
" recommend themselves by being hardier and more easily grown.
" Professor Liversidge, of the University of Sydney, stated long ago
" that in the Southern Hemisphere, Avhere the Eucalypti thrive best,
" there are forests of these trees where malaria is specially noxious.
' The tree itself is no ornament, the continually spontaneous peeling
" off of the bark producing an unsightly effect."

The above was published in the Daily News of February 14th,
1895, and I give it for the benefit of my readers, as opposed to the
general opinion now extant upon the subject. My own opinion upon
the matter was given in No. 24, October, 1894.

:s:

i ;

TEINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

No. 3. JULY. 1895. Vol. II.

CONTENTS.

No. 124.— Bletia Shepherdi.
„ 125.— Sugar Cane Experiments.
,, 126.— Herbarium Specimens.
„ 127.— CircTolar Note No. 17.
,. ., M 18.

tt >» )> !"•

„ 20.
,, '. >) 21.

„ 128.— Lawn Mowers (with figures).
„ 129.— Acacia spadicigera.— rCAam. cfe Schlecht.)
„ 130.— Hippomane Manicella.
„ 131-— Natural History Notes.

No. 6.— Caccotrypes dactyliperda.— i^aSr.
„ 7.-Habit of a "tiger beet'e."
„ 8.— Coccidae.
„ 9.— A New Ant.
„ 10.— Peripatus.
„ 132.— The Asphyxiator.
„ 133.— Disease.

„ 134.—" Sarsaparilla."— 'S^wi'^aa: officinalis, Kth.
„ 135.— Native Bamboo.
„ 136.— Averrhoa Carambola.— i^mn.

137. — The Candle Tree.— Par mentieriacerif era, D.G.
„ 138.— Asclepias Currasavica.— i^tnn. " Red Head."
.. 139.— Lucuma Mammosa.— G'r.

140.— Cyrtopodiun Andersoni.— /?. Br.
. „ 141.— Sisal Hemp.
y^^X .> 142;— Boygainvillea Spectabilis.— JTiWd.
143.— Vitality of Seeds.
144.— Coffee Machinery.

■y:

Edited by the Superintendent Boyal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HART, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPMN.

1895.

124.-BLETIA SHBPHBRDI, Hook.

Of the four species of Bletia recorded by Grisebach, this is
probably the prettiest and at the same time, the one most suitable
for Tropical cultivation. The Orchid is a purely terrestrial one and
thrives in the ordinary soil of the Garden, and responds freely to the
application of stable manure. In the Floral section of the Royal
Botanic Gurdens we have a large bed containing some hundreds of
this plant which is now (April 18th) in full flower.

It is probably a somewhat unique feature to see a bed of Orchids
in bloom in the open air with over a thousand well expanded flowers
at one time. The flowers are however not developed at one season
only, but are produced at intervals, though in smaller quantities,
at several periods of the year, and the plant consequently serves as
well for securing a supplj' of cut flowers as for flower garden
decoration.

125.-SUGAR CANE EXPERIMENTS.

At the instance of a Committee of the Agricultural Society an
experimental plot has been prepared in the Royal Botanic Gardens
where it is intended to carry out experiments with various kinds and
varieties of Sugar Cane.

In November last we received from the Botanic Gardens, British
Guiana, a consignment of tops taken from some of the best of the
seedlings raised at that establishment, in all thirty-nine varieties.

We have besides these, the Caledonian Queen — and ten varieties
of seedlings which Ave received sometime since from Mr. Bovell of
Dodds, Barbados.

It is intended to test the value of these canes in our Trinidad
climate and soil, to ascertain whether the result obtained from the
various kinds in Barbados and British Guiana, can also be confirmed
here — and for this purpose it is proposed to carry on the cultivation
and examination of produce on similar lines, as it is being carried out
in British Guiana, so that any result obtained may be more directly
comparable, than would be possible if operations were carried on, in a
different system at each establishment.

Several of the Demerara canes give most remarkable results, and in
some instances these results have been confirmed by the Louisiana
Experiment Station under Prof. Stubbs.

If it can be shown that similar results can be obtained in Trinidad,
viz. : 1st a sugar yield of 27 per cent, over the usual yield from the
Bourbon cane. 2ndly that the same weight of cane can be grown
per acre, as is produced by the Bourbon, and that the cane itself is
less susceptible to disease, than that variety ; a step in advance of no
little importance will have been secured and a step which must commend
itself to the sugar planters of the Colony, and encourage them to put
such canes into cultivation, in place of their old favourite the Bourbon.
This cane will however be grown side by side with others, so that a
direct comparison may be instituted between the results obtained
from it, and from the other varieties.

126.-HBRBARIUM SPECIMENS.

Whenever the name of any plant is required by correspondents
shall always be glad to secure its proper determination for them
either by our own efforts ; or by sending it to well known specialists.
The resources of the Trinidad Herbarinm are daily becoming more
useful for this purpose and our sets of local plants are year by year
proving of greater service for this purpose.

"Zn sending sj^ecimens of plants for investigation it is necessary to
have good specimens of leaves, floivers, fruits, amd roots, and in the case
of bulbous plants, the bulb also.

" When they are sent from a distance it is best to j^repare the specimens
by drying them under pressure between the folds of absorbent paper, other-
wise the parts shrinh and breah so as to be hardly recognisable.

" When the dried plants are sent they should be protected from breah'
age in the post by being enclosed between pieces of stiff card board. PacJc-
ages weighing less than eight ounces can be sent by post free of postage, if
addressed to the Head of this Department with the ivords ' On Her Majesty's
Service ' written plainly on the outside. Write the name of the sender
also on the outside of the pachage. In the letter accompanying the speci-
mens, state where collected, the date, and any other particulars of the
plant, ivhether reputed poisonous, medicinal or itseful.

^^ In addition to this I would state, for the information of correspon-
dents, that the determination of the plaiits or specimens sent is always
forwarded to them, provided that they heep for their own information a
simUa/r specimen ivith a duplicate mmiber attached to it, corresponding to
that on the specimen forivarded, as it is not always possible to ret2irn sped-

mens from tJieir being someiohat mutilated in process of examination. The
name of the donor of any plant or specimen is always recorded in our boohs,
<md any particulars conveying information, which they may send, is always,
attached to the specimen when filed in the Herbarium.

All information is always afforded to local correspondents at once
by letter with respect to the name, culture or manufacture of
economic plants, and the department is always glad to receive specimens
of any plants— the name of which are unknown to the collector. In
fact we have good reason for complaint that in this respect little
interest is taken by residents in the truly Botanical work of our
establishment.

127.-CIRCULAR NOTES.

Circular Note No. 17,

Determination of the "Mosquito "Worm."

On the third of December, 1S94, I issued a note on the life-history of a
specimen popularly known as the "Mosquito Worm" occurring in a native
Rodent, stated to be Loncheres guianoi, Thos. A further study of this animal
shows that it would probably be more correctly identified with Messrs. Allen and
Chapman's new species, Loncheres cadanea.

The imago of the "Mosquito Worm" was sent home for determination and
has proved of considerable interest.

It belongs to the family (Estrida^, to the genus Cuterehra, and has been
determined, either the Guterebra Atrox of Clarke, or a new species. Our species
proved to be unrepresented in the British Museum collection, so that it has had
to be provisionally worked out by the aid of literature alone.

A larva which was sent home with the first specimen taken by Dr. Lota
from the knee of a young gentlemen was found to belong also to the (Esfridce but
to the genus Dermatohia, and is stated to be in the second of the three stages
through which ffistridie larva pass before pupation.

It is reported probable that several species of Dermaiobia attack man, but
only two have been described up to the present time, from perfect insects, while
of these only one was bred from the larva, and that was taken from a cow.

It is reported also that the larva sent is of the form known in Cayenne
as the " Ver Macaque."

Another dipterous insect sent at the same time, in general appearance
similar to the imago of Cuterehra, inoved to be Aranthomera lahanina Thunherg.
Family Acant homer ida, but belongs to the order Brachyctra, as does the (Estridce.

A curious fact in connection with the identification of Diptera is, that in the
majority of kinds the sexes may readily be distinguished by the fact that the
eyes of tlie male nearly meet upon the forehead, while those in the female are
widely separated.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.

February, 27th, 1895.

Circular Note No. 18.

A few instructions for the use of "Watt's Asphyxiator, or
the machine introduced for the purpose of destroying
the nest of the " Parasol Ants."

1st. Clear all bush, grass, etc., from the neighbourhood of the nest and take
note of the prmcipal entrance.

2nd. Pro^ide sulphur, brimstone, or sulphur paper, and a small supply
of charcoal.

3rd. Place the charcoal in the combustion chamber and set it on fire, in the
meantime turning the wheel of the fan. Now place on the top of the charcoal
the fire-clay saucer, and as soon as this is hot throw in the sidphur, and insert
the nozzle of the machine into the main entrance securing it with a little moist
earth, then commence turning the wheel rapidly first seeing that the driving
cord is sutficiently tight to turn the shaft or spindle of the blower.

4th. Do not cover any hole mitil the smoke has issued from it for a few
seconds ; when each in succession should be closed in qiiite tightly with soft
earth or clay.

5th. Continue the blowing until the further points of the nest have been
reached, then close up the main entrance and leave for a few hours. It is
unnecessary to dig out the nest.

6th. If it is found that some of the ants were not at home, successive appli-
cations must be made until all are destroyed.

7th. The fire-clay pan should always be used to prevent waste of the
sulphur.

8th. In walls or buildings it is better to use cement or mortar to stop the
holes instead of earth or clay.

9th. The machine should be kept well cleaned, oiled, and painted with red

lead to preserve the iron.

J. H. HART, r.L.S.,

27th March, 1895. Supt. Royal Botanic Gardens.

Circular Note No. 19.

Primary Cacao Shade.

In Bidletin No. 19, p. 4, 1893, I wrote as follows in describing the plant*
used for shading the Cacao tree in Nicaragua. The primary shade is formed by
a shrub belonging to the Compositje known as " Carrisso" probably a "Glibadium."

Of this shrub I brouglit back with me from Nicaragua m 1893 in a case
with Cacao plants, three rooted cuttings, one of which was cultivated for the
purpose of producing flowers and seeds ; while the others were reserved for
propagating purposes.

In February of this year the cultivated plant produced its first flowers,
and I received its determination from the Kew authorities during the present
month (April).

It proves to be Eiqmtorium populifolhim H.B.K., a plant indigenous to the
region between South Mexico and Panama. It is used in Nicaragua as a primary
shade plant for cacao and grows freely from cuttings 6 inches to 1 foot long
made from the stem of the plant (with or without leaves) placed in the open
ground. The plant grows some 12 or 15 feet in height and would be a useful
substitute in Trinidad for the "Moko" or " Jumbi " Plantain for shading
purposes, l)ut it has at present no known economic value other than for this

purpose. It may however be found useful for those places where the "Moko"
has been attacked by disease, and its usefulness as a shade plant for cacao
destroyed. A limited number of plants raised from cuttings will be on hand for
distribution at the end of the year, and if mature seed is harvested a further
supply will be available later.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.,
11th April, 1895. Superintendent.

Circular Note No. 20.

The Cane-borer Parasite.

The discovery by Mr. Barber, late of the Leeward Islands Service, of a
parasite fungus which attacks the "moth borer" of the cane fields has excited
considerable interest in Colonies where the attack of this pest is prevalent.
M. Giard a celebrated authority on this section of Natural History has named
the parasite Isaria Barheri, Oiard, and has proposed to cultivate the fungus for
the extermination of the borer. It appears however that the organism is some-
what rare, and Monsieur Saussine, Professor of Chemistry, Lyc6e de St. Pierre,
Martinique, at the instigation of M. Giard, inquires of me whether the organism
has been seen in Trinidad.

So far, however, it has not been observed by the officers of this Department,
and I should therefore feel much obliged to any planter who may discover it if
he would send me specimens.

When attacked by the fungus the larvae die and assume a mummified
appearance, and, in some cases, it is said, appears to the naked eye to be
covered with a matted or woolly covering.

Specimens may be safely sent through the post in small tin boxes.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.,
11th April, 1895. Superintendent.

Circular Note No. 21.

Cordyceps Luntii., n. sp. Giard MSS.

By the mail 1 received from M. Giard the determination of a fungus, found
by Mr. Lunt on the larvae of a beetle.

M. Giard writes that the new organism is in habit and appearance somewhat
like Cordyceps caloceroides, Berk and Curt., and certainly new. The fungus is
a parasite which destroys the larvai of a beetle belonging to the ElattridcB ;
possibly that of our common fire-fly, Pyrophorus noctilucus., Linn.

At my request Prof. Giard proposes to call the new fungus Cordyceps
Luntii., Giard after its discoverer.

The interest attaching to this find is somewhat important as the study of the
destructive parasites of insects is now shewn to be a necessity in all Agri-Horti-
cultural work. The Elateridoi live upon plants and might become great scourges
were it not for the natural enemies which are present in the shape of such
organisms as that, the discovery of which is here recorded.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.,
11th April, 1895. Superintendent.

58
128.-LAWN MOWERS.

Applications are frequently made to us for information where to
obtain the best Lawn Mowers for the all-round work of keeping in
order, Tennis Lawns, Cricket Grounds, Golf Links, &c., &c. We
have found that the machines supplied us by the firm of Messrs.
Eansome's, Sims & Jeffries are very durable and efiective.

A recent improvement in these mowing machines renders them
still more fit for colonial use, for where skilled labour for working and
for effecting repairs is hard to obtain, it is essential that the construc-
tion of the machines should be simple, and easily understood.

Through the kindness of the Firm I am able to give figures of
some of their productions which I trust may be of service to readers
of the Bulletin, and I shall be at any time happy to give further
advice or assistance in the matter to any person who may require it.

We have had the 16 inch Paris and the 14 inch Automaton in
use for several years — and we replace the cutting parts, bushes, &c.,
as required by orders on the makers, always maintaining a full set of
duplicate parts on hand, so that we can replace a breakage at any
moment.

No. 1.- ANGLO-PARIS LAWN MOWER.

A SUITABLE machine for small lawns and may be used very
economically for larger spaces in dry weather.

No. 2.-AUTOMATON hAWN MOWER.

Ak effective, durable and servicable machine for general use.

^^MSSSm^m^/Am.

(No. 3.)

The above cut represents the latest improvement effected in the
manufacture of Mowers. It sets the machine knives with one screw
instead of two, and reduces the risk of breakage by inexperienced
hands.

No. 4.-GARDEN ROLLERS.

For Walks or Lawns, with balance handle. These machines are
made in two parts and are much less liable to breakage than the single
cylinder roller.

129.-ACACIA SPADICIGERA, Cham. & Schlecht.

Known under this name, is a plant which bears curiously
curved spines, produced in pairs. The plant is also known under the
name of Acacia cornigera, Willd. The spines produced in pairs,
resemble very much the different forms seen in the horns of various
breeds of cattle.

Dr. Morris in his book on British Honduras states : — " The
" spines on examination are found to be hollow, and probably have
" been excavated by a colony of small ants which have established
" themselves there. Critically noticed, a small aperture is seen on
'* the side near one end of a horn through which the ants pass in and
" out. The other horn though holloAv, has no aperture on the outside
" and as the inside partition between the two horns has been removed
" the ants have snug quarters which can very easily be defended.
" During the wet season these holes are filled with ants which keep
" guard over every portion of the plant especially against the aggres-
" sions of the leaf-cutting ants."

" As the " Cockspur" being an acacia has numerous glands
" frequented by the ants — they are not only securely housed but also
" provided with a bowntiful supply of food."

It will be seen that the plant is known as the " Cockspur" tree
in Honduras. It is also known as the " Bull Horn" Thorn. In
Central America the plant is a very common one bvxt it is but rarely
seen in the West Indies. We have a single plant only in the Royal
Botanic Gardens and this has not grown to a large size.

A recent visitor to the Island of Dominica brought a box of
thorns to Trinidad from a tree found there and presented them to the
Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens — reporting that in Dominica
the thorns is supposed to be extremely poisonous, and if the skin of
a person be scratched by it, the results are said to be very serious.

However this may be in Dominica. In Central America there
are thousands of acres of this tree, and a traveller cannot traverse
the country without meeting with this formidable thorn.

In Nicaragua in 1893 I passed through pasture lands on which
it was especially abundant, to the exclusion of other vegetation ; and
I was scratched frequently, on passing the trees without suffering any
other injury than that which arose from the mere abrasion of the skin.
The " Cowboys" of the country who ride half-naked through the
bush, do not regard them as at all dangerous, and ride hard through
thickets without the least fear.

A common instance of mutual dependence is often to be seen on
these trees. High up on the tree will be a large black wasp's nest —
the inhabitants of which are most vicious of its kind, and immediately
below it the nest of one of the native birds. Thus there is the tree,
the wasps, the bird and the ant, mutually dependent one upon the
other for protection.

130.-HIPPOMANE MANICBLLA.

" Manchineel" or " Manchioneal."

This tree has a reputation for the possession of poisonous proper-
ties which is not an enviable one. Many visitors to the Gardens who
have read Mr. Froude's book on the West Indies make enquiries for
this tree which he describes as being present- -but I am obliged to
inform them that it does not exist in the Gardens ; in fact it will only
thrive at, or very near to the sea coast, and must be sought for in
these positions.

Barham, in his " Hortus Americanus" gives an account of its
poisonous properties but these accounts are much modified by subse-
quent writers, and the general opinion appears to be that the tree is

not really so noxious as was made to appear. Jacquin a French
Botanist reports that " lie and his companions reposed for three hours
under the trees without injury, and the rain dropping from the leaves
is perfectly innocent.^'

Sloane who wrote in 1725, Brown in 1756, Barham in 1794, and
Lunan in 1814, all make mention of the tree and its reputed pro-
perties.

The latter writes as follows : —

" The stories related of the fruit or apple of this tree are certainly
*' to be classed among vulgar errors. The romantic tales of the early
"voyageurs and travellers into America have been copied by different
" writers ; and the credibility of their relations, thus built upon a
" series of such frail authorities has at length been received as
" authentic and indisputable." After relating several experiments, &c.,
Lunan concludes as follows : —

" It is plain from hence, that the tree and unripe fruit contain
" an acrid juice which operates like other materials of a like nature,
" exciting heat, irritation, and thirst, when swallowed and received
" into the stomach, producing such a pungency on the throat, and
" tender nervous cords exposed to its action, as greatly to disorder the
" whole frame, and bring on very bad symptoms and sometimes death;
" but that the juice when matured and concocted — as we find it in
" the ripe fruit, loses much of its acrimony and though still
" unpleasant in its operation upon the bowels does not produce mortal
" effects."

Goats and Sheep are known to feed plentifully upon the ripe
fallen fruit and sufi'er no injury from it.

" The wood makes very handsome furniture resembling wainscot."

131.-NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. -6.

Caccotrypes dactyliperda, Fabr. is the name of a small beetle
which arrived in the Gardens in the seeds of a date (Phcenix) received
from Calcutta. Professor Blandford states it to be a very well known
inhabitant of dates and many other seeds of the Palmte.

No. 7. -Habit of a Beetle.

In the neighbourhood of Port-of-Spain at certain times of the
year, small holes are generally to be observed in any clear piece of
ground uncovered by pasture. These afford great amusement to

children, who with a grass stem as their weapon, pry down these holes.
On putting in the grass stem and watching it for a few seconds, it will
be seen to move and if it is pulled out sharply on the instant with a
sudden jerk ; the larvge of a small beetle will be also pulled out.
This is known to be the larvae of a species of '' tiger beetle" family
Cicindelidce and genus Tetracha ? but which particular species it is
to be referred to we are as yet somewhat uncertain.

No. 8.— Coccidae.

I recently sent some specimens of Coccid« to Professor T. D. A.
Cockerell who is a recognised authority on this class of insects. The
following is his Eeport : —

" Icerya Bosce B. & H., Hab. At foot of Amherstia — a good
addition to the Trinidad Fauna. It is common in Jamaica under the
bark of Lignum-vit^, and it is usually attended by ants. It was
found on Amherstia also in Jaiuaica ; vide Journal Institute,
Jamaica, Vol. I." The male is unknown.

Chionaspis citri Comstock (a few larval Orthesia also.) I do
net wonder you call this a pest. It was said to have caused dx'eadful
destruction in Bermuda. — (See my article in Jamaica Botanical
Bulletin.) Fortunately it is not yet found in Jamaica nor I think in
the Lesser Antilles. I suppose however it will get there, sooner or
later.

The record referred to states, that a vessel arrived at Bermuda in
distress with a cargo of oranges, and in a few months afterwards the
orange trees were covered with an insect which gave the trees the
appearance of being white-washed. " Every device thought of was
tried, but the Island was soon cleared of nearly every tree and all
this came from the distress cargo." {See Article 110.)

It is therefore seen from the above that we have in our midst a
dangerous enemy to the citrus tribe for it attacks alike the orange,
the lime, the lemon, and the citron, &c. There is one thing to be
said however, and that is — that the insect is known not to be a recent
introduction, and it does not appear with us to spread at all rapidly.
and though trees may be affected, yet they continue to grow fixirly
well, and to bear fruit. It is quite possible hoAvever, that the heavy
rainy weather we experience at some seasons of the year, acts as a
check upon the increase of the insect, and that unless trees are in
poor health or in bad soil it will not destroy them. It is probably
checked also in no small degree by one of the Embidce which appears

to be its natural enemy. Still at the same time it must be confessed
that it does materially affect the trees, and measures should be taken
to destroy it. This may be done by syringing with almost any of the
insecticides commonly used by the Horticulturist.
Among those recommended is the following : —

Kerosine Oil, 2 gallons.

Common Soap or Whale Oil Soap, ■§■ pound.

Water, 1 gallon.

Disolve the soap in water by heating, add the solution boiling
hot to the Kerosene (Pitch Oil) and by means of a force pump or
syringe, churn up until it assiimes a creamy consistency ; bofore
using dilvxte this with cold water.

Emulsion, 1 part.

Water, 9 parts.

j^Q_ 9.— A New Ant.— -4^^ec« chartifex. N. Sp. Forell in litt.

Among other specimens sent to European specialists an Ant
bearing the above name was sent. This is one of the ants that
appears to be mutually dependent on the scale insects for existence as
they are always found in common. In this case the ant lives and
nests on trees of Bassia latifolia, and others, in the Gardens.

No. 10.

Under the name of Siphonorhinus Hartii, Pocock. A myriopod
new to science will shortly be described. This was found by Mr.
Hart within the precincts of the Garden.

No. 11.

A short time since a single specimen of Peripatus was found by
an employee, within the boundaries of the Garden, and was deter-
mined as Feripatus trinidadensis, Sedgeioich.

During March this year Mr. Lunt discovered these animals in
some numbers and subsequently more were collected, in all some
sixty specimens — from which it appears that they are not such a
rarity as has been supposed.

No. 12.

Vaginida occidentalis is the name given by the British Museum
authorities to a (slug) recently found in the Garden. It is to be
inchided under order Heteropoda ; sub-class, pulmonata which
includes " Land-snails, slugs," &c.

65
132— THE ASPHYXIATOR.

The machine previously mentioned No. I, Vol. II, p. 3 — has now

been introduced to the Colony and is doing good work in extermina-

;king the common pest known to our cultivators as the " Parasol Ant"

Jy or {CEcodama cepfalotes) and the sanction of the Government has been

/obtained for its use by the Wardens in several of our country districts.
Instructions for using the machine have been issued from this office
in the form of a Circular Note which will be found at page 5Q.

133.-DISEASE.

When we speak of the diseases of plants it is to be understood,
that disease means, an unnatural, unhealthy, or sickly condition
induced by some cause.

The causes which produce disease in plants are perhaps as various
as those which produce disease in the animal kingdom, but it must
be accepted, as in that kingdom, that all disease arises from some
known or unknown cause.

We frequently hear the attacks of parasites, animal and as well
as vegetable, spoken of as disease, if they induce such a condition of
health from their attack, as to set up enfeeblement of the tissue and
ultimate destruction, but if on the other hand these parasites are
merely common feeders upon already enfeebled tissue, then it is
considered that to call such a condition, disease, and refer it to the
attack of the organism, would be erroneous. In the latter case they
are saprophytes, but in the former, parasites, or feeders on healthy
tissue.

It is known to be an accepted theory with some, that the attack
ot animal organisms or plants is always the forerunner of disease
appearing in some classes, and in like manner others, take an attack
of vegetable parasites, such as the lower orders of fungi, to be disease.

A constant observation of the factors operating to bring about
conclusions in these matters for over thirty years in temperate and
tropical regions, leads me to think that the attack of insects may as
certainly sap the vitality of a plant, as the attack of a cow upon a
bundle of grass will destroy that plant — but it is evident that we
cannot call the attack of the cow on the grass a disease, and reasoning
by analogy ; neither can you call the attack of the insect, disease.

If you bring a plant from a cold and dry climate to one which is
warm and moist, the very surroundings of that plant are unsuitable

to it, and although it may thrive for a time by virtue of the actual
vitality it possesses, it "will in the long run be sure to succumb from
the attacks of insect or vegetable parasites, which are invited by
the weakness engendered by the unsuitable conditions with which
it is surrounded.

Again, if you are forced to plant a tree on ground which is dry,
when you know that it requires moisture, you at once invite the
attack of any enemy which may be in the immediate surroundings.

If you plant on inland " vegas," trees which are native to the sea
shore, you at once use the most certain means to induce a weak or
unhealthy condition, and invite the attack of parasitic enemies.

If however your plants are known to be getting all they require
in the way of plant food, and all they require in the matter of suitable
temperature and moisture ; if they are sitviated in a place where the
surrounding conditions are favourable for their growth and are then
attacked by parasites, in the majority of cases the parasitic enemy is
out-done and overcome by the vitality of the trees and does not gain
ground. If however there are unhealthy plants in the neighbourhood
which allows of a rapid increase of the parasite the truly healthy may
also become aflPected and be ultimately destroyed by force of numbers.

Some however make no distinction between such cases, and seek
no other remedy than the destruction of the insect or vegetable
parasite, and consequently fail to do any good work, for it would
appear to be plain reasoning that it is really little use destroying the
insect or organism, if the condition of the soil, the aspect, or the
climate, are really unsuited to the growth of the plant, or if it
urgently requires certain manurial constituants which are not present.

We hear of the Coffee leaf " disease," the Vine " disease," the
Potato " disease," &c., &c. Now it is fairly certain that these
"diseases" have always been present, and that their spread is entirely
owing to the destruction of the balance of nature by the hand of man
who throws together for his own ends, large areas under a single
crop, and thus provides food for the ready spread of any destructive
oro-anism, and what was once but an organism of the forest, feeding
here and there upon the weak and helpless, becomes at length a
destructive agent, which is only after all — however it affects the
planter — Nature trying to restore the original balance.

K we look at the history of all such outbreaks or spread of
destructive organisms, we shall seldom find that what is commonly
termed " a cure" has been found.

It is of course a well known fact that ignorant persons have brought
forward " cures" for such, and as a rule the more ignorant the person,
the more certain have they been that they had an " infallible cure."
In the long run, however, it is seen that no *' cure" has been made,
and palliative or preventive measures are the only ones practicable,
the real cure having to be looked for, by securing increased vitality
in the plant, which may sometimes be accomplished.

With us in Trinidad the Sugar Cane has been attacked by
parasitic fungi, and the evidence so far certainly goes to show that it
is the neglect of precautionary measures in the disposal of infected
plants which has conduced to the spread of this disease. What can
be expected when it can be shown that planters have in some cases to
trust to men, who will prepare " tops" for plants, which are in reality
alive with fungus, as was seen in one of our best sugar districts on a
recent occasion. These tops were certainly infested with the spores of
Trichosphcaria, and yet they were being used for planting, and would
it not be hard to point to a more certain means for promoting the
spread of such a pest than the use of such infected material ? But it
is knoAvn that many hesitate even yet to accept the scientific evidence
of the danger of such a course, and continue cultivation entirely on
old lines, and year after year, use contaminated plants.

TricJiosph(Bria has now been fairly proved to have been once
simply a Saprophyte that is to say, it found its sustenance on dead
or decaying matter — but with the constant accumulation of rotten
material left upon the fields it has gained such strength as to enable
it to take on the parasitic form, and can now attack living canes —
especially those which are weakened by any local cause, or have lost
their constitutional vigour or vitality through the systematic adoption
of continuous culture without change of crop on the same fields year
after year ; and it is quite clear that the remedy can only be found
in inducing a larger amount of vigour in the plant grown, so as to
enable it truly to throAv off the attack of the parasite, and enable the
cane to put on that original condition known as health.

The best possible means of procuring this desirable end at
present appears to be after the destruction of all diseased material to
secure those seedling varieties for field cultivation which are least
susceptible to the attack of parasitic enemies, or in other words those
possessing the greatest amount of " constitutional vigour."

In the case of parasitic attack "a cure" may often be effected
when it is of a destructive character, (i.e.) where such is not induced
by previous weakness ; but if the attack has been invited by the

latter cause, nothing can avail until the vitality is strengthened, and
the attack will regularly recur, until the causes which lead to such
recurrence have been removed.

It is therefore necessary to ascertain the cause of a plant becoming
"diseased" or enfeebled before any certain remedy can be applied--
for it is patent that it would be quite useless to dress a Banana Avith
Bordeaux mixture, if it was not attacked with fungus, or to treat it
to a dose of insecticide, if there were no insect present ; the trouble
being really caused by unsuitable conditions of the soil or climate.
If plants are really attacked by insect or fungoid pests it should
first be ascertained whether these are of a destructive character,
or whether the attack is induced by previous weakness or feebleness
arising from other causes, and until such a course is taken remedies
can seldom be applied with good effect.

134.-SMILAX OFFlCmAhlS -Ktmth.

" Saese." or " Sarsaparilla."

The product of this plant is generally knoAvn under the name
of Jamaica Sarsaparilla on account of its being formerly shipped to
England from Central America via Jamaica ports. The plant likes a
good rich soil, and should be planted near to trees upon which it can
climb. The root is the official part of the plant. A large quantity
is annually collected from the woods of the interior of Central
America being principally brought down to the coast by the Indians,
by whom it is exchanged chiefly for clothing with the traders or
merchants of the coast ports. The plant thrives well in Trinidad
and could be largely grown if the prices offering were such as to
encourage its cultivation. The plant thrives in the Royal Botanic Gar-
dens, where it may be seen at any time. The rcot gives little
trouble to harvest, and can be prepared for market in two or three
days, in dry weather.

135.-ARTHOSTYLIDIUM PRBSTOEI.-i^/i«»•o.

Native Bamboo.

This plant was first discovered by my immediate predecessor Mr.
Prestoe after whom it was named by the late General Munro. It was
re-discovered in the St. Ann's hills by my late Assistant Mr. Broad-
way, in 1892. Plants flowered this year in the Gardens which enabled
us to secure good Herbarium specimens and I am indebted to the Kew
Authorities for the correct determination of the plant.

136.-AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA.-i^mn.

This tree grows to a height of 30 feet in our Gardens and friiits
annually in profusion. The fruit Avhen fully ripe is a very useful
substitute for green gooseberries and can be made into tarts — the
flavour of which is scarcely to be distinguished from that of the
gooseberry. It has been found that some trees produce fruit Avhich
have much less acid than others, and these are often eaten in a fresh
state with considerable relish. The fruit is known locally as " Coolie
Tamarind." Our trees appear to have become thoroughly acclimatized.

137.-PARMBNTIBRIA CERIFERA, D.O.

" The Candle Tree.

The " Candle Tree" is one of those which always attract the
attention of visitors, when in fruit, owing to the numerous candle-like
yellowish green fruits which it produces. It fruits annually at the
Gardens, each fruit presenting almost the exact form of a wax taper.

Mr. Prestoe remarked in his Report on these Gardens for 1880,
as follows : —

" The highly satisfactory manner in which this tree has thriven
" and produced its highly nutritious fruit — together with the fact
" that all kinds of stock devour them greedily — induce me to give it
" special mention here as a fodder plant specially adapted for tropical
" and sub-tropical countries where the annual or occasionally severe
" drought occasions a scarcity of fodder for certain periods, such
" indeed as occurs, and is a notable drawback to prosperity in some
" parts of India, Tropical Australia, Natal, &c."

« » o o • o

" I regard the tree as being capable of supplying the tropical dry
" season with a source of fodder for stock, just as the temperate
" winter has its supply of fodder in Mangles and Sweedes, &c."

It is said to have been first distributed to Horticulturists by Mr.
Wm. Bull of Chelsea about the year 18G3, he having i-eceived it from
the Isthmus of Panama, and it was shortly afterwards, introduced to
these Gardens where it has become fully acclimatized.

138.-ASCLEPIAS CURASSAVICA.-Lm«.

"Wild Ipecacuanha" "Red Head."

This plant is very common in pastures and waste places in most
West Indian Islands. It is commonly used, when pounded, for dress-
ing wounds or sores in which worms or the larvae of dipterous insects
are present, and for this purpose is quite equal to " Capuchin powder"
or "Calomel" which are substances also commonly used for this
purpose.

For use the Asclepias leaves and flower heads should be pounded
in a mortar and after cleaning the wound the mass should be pressed
into it and bandaged there for a few hours.

139.-LUCUMA MAMMOSA.-^»-.

" Mammee Sapota" " Sapote" or " Sapot.

This tree is quite common in Trinidad, being known locally as
the " Sapote" while in Jamaica it is known as the "Mamme Sapota"
a name which is here given to the fruit of Mammea Americana Linn
a curious transposition of local names for the fruit of two distinct
plants.

The seed of Lucuma is used commonly in Trinidad for flavouring
cakes, but it has been shown by an examination made by Mr. Wm.
Kirby in 1889, through the good offices of the Director of the Royal
Gardens, Kew, that the seeds contained an appreciable amount of
Hydrocyanic acid, and should therefore be used with the greatest
caution.

The trees grow to a large size and aff'ord excellent timber. The
pulp surrounding the seeds is edible but is not of a character to place
it on the list of good table fruits.

140.-CYRTOPODIUM ANDERSONI.-/?. Br.

This Orchid is a native of Trinidad and grows in open spaces fully
exposed to the sun. The fusiform stems are some two to three feet in
height — from which the plaited leaves die away after becoming
mature. The plant flowers in April and May, from the base of the
growing stem, and produces a scape some three feet in height bearing
a panicle of brownish yellow flowers. The centre of the basal lobe of
the lip is quite yellow with a crenulated and brownish margin. It is

best grown in well drained pots filled with vegetable refuse, dried cow-
dung, and broken bricks, and requires plenty of water in the growing
season.

141.-" SISAL HEMP."

Our plants of Agave rigicla var. Sisalana which were procured
from Florida some few years ago, have grown so well, and have shewn
themselves so well adapted to the climate, that there can no longer be
any doubt of the possibility of cultivating them on a large scale in
Trinidad, whenever it may become profitable to do so.

We have considerable numbers planted in various districts and
the first plants will probably flower during the present year, when
the colony will be in possession of centres which can be drawn upon
to any extent for extended cultivation.

Sir Ambrose Shea when in the Bahamas ventured the opinion
that our climate and soil would be unsuited to the plant, but this
has now been most completely disproved, as we have an abundance of
plants out of the 10,000 imported which are a real picture of healthy
and vigorous growth, and there is reason to believe the fibre they
contain is of first class quality.

.^.^V^

142.-BOyGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS.- Willd.

This plant is said to be a native of Brazil. A paragraph in the

Dictionary of Gardening (Nicholson) reads as follows ; —

" B. Spectabilis (showy) /. bracts of a dull brick red, shaded with scarlet,
South America, 1829. It is very diflBcult to obtain bloom on this plant ; and
when flowers are produced they are extremely ephemeral. The species is for all
practical purposes much inferior to either B. speciosa or B. glabra. Syn.
Josej:>ha Augusta.'^

Mr. Nicholson is of course speaking in the above quotation from
the point of view of a cultivator under glass, and from our own
xperience, Ave can confirm his notes to the full.

Here however in the open air Bo^gainvilha spectabilis has the
opportunity to show its true habit and when once the size of the
plant is understood the difficulty of getting it to flower under artificial
cultivation is easily estimated. Our oldest plant is now some 90 feet
high, Avith stem 6 to 8 inches in diameter flowering in large masses on
the tops of one of our highest trees, and producing huge festoons of
blazing red, which are a distinct feature ot the Garden and much
admired by visitors. It continues in flower for some months during
the earlier part of the year.

We find great difficulty in propagating this plant, but after
repeated trials, we have succeeded in securing a few plants. One of
the difficulties met with, is one which can hardly be appreciated until
the cause is known. Cuttings put in under ordinary conditions look
well for a time, begin to grow, and suddenly collapse. This result,
after many experiments was found to be due to the fact that certain
insects fed upon the callus produced at the base of the cutting, and
consequently not being able to produce roots, the cutting withered
away.

Not only is this the case Avith the Bongainvillea ; but it is
especially so with the Rose and other plants. We have succeeded at
last — by placing the cuttings inside a water guard — thus excluding
insects and we now find that cuttings are raised as easily in our
Gardens as elsewhere.

By "water guard" is meant a structure which is completely
surrounded by a small canal of water or moat, like the old castles of
ancient history. In some places such an arrangement is called an
"anti-formica" as it is used as protection for plants against the
parasol ant.

143— THE TRANSPORTATION AND VITALITY OP SEEDS.

After many years experience in the harvesting, growing and
transporting of West Indian seeds and a similar lengthy experience
in growing seeds received here from both Tropical and Temperate
climes ; it has been found that it is impossible to keep seeds, for any
length of time under the climatic conditions which prevail for the
greater part of the year in Trinidad. In our dryest season, February,
March and April, seeds keep fairly well, but during the wet months
they deteriorate rapidly, and soon lose their vitality.

From some correspondents the seeds we receive almost invariably
germinate, with others, the opposite is the case.

I am confident that in the latter instance this arises from keeping
the seeds in stock too long after ripening and not from any fault of
the seeds themselves.

Some seeds, such as those of Cola, Cacao, Castilloa, &c., can
only be sent when newly ripened, and packed to germinate during
transit — others are more hardy and if sent fresh into a temperate and
dry climate will keep longer there (in a temperature of about 60°.
Fah. in a dry drawer) than they would in the place where they were
grown.

•73

What is stated above is not mere words — It has been proved by
experiment that imported seeds rapidly deteriorate week by week
when exposed to our atmosphere, and such seeds as lettuce and others
will lose all their vitality in a few weeks.

With our own seeds the same has been observed. If we sow as
soon as gathered, we get as a rule over 00 per cent, to germinate. If
we keep them a month this is reduced by 50 per cent., and the vitality
of most seeds is wholly lost if kept for three months before soAving.

At the Gardens therefore we make it a rule, never to keep seeds
in stock, but what we require to send away are packed and transmitted
by the earliest opportunity after being harvested. When seeds are
imported we sow them immediately on arrival, or import them in
specially sealed tin parcels which are opened only as required.

The best method of transporting seeds from Europe is in small
tin boxes made like a patent biscuit box, (i.e.) a box made of light
metal, not costing too much in postage, and one readily opened by
the thumb piece — the same as a biscuit box, and the boxes should be
of small size, and contain small quantities of different seeds in each
box, to use for successive sowings.

In packing for sending away — unless sent in a moist state in
damp Coco nut fibre --we invariably use canvas bags, as it is useless
for us to attempt to seal up in a dry atmosphere ; for our climate is
much too moist (except perhaps at exceptional times and places) to
do this with any hope of success.

I would urge upon correspondents sending seeds to us from a
similar climate as our own, to desjiatch them as soon as harvested ;
and not to keep them a single day longer than is necessary, as by so
doing they will ensure us a greater measure of success in the germina-
tion of them.

144.-NBW COFFEE MACHINES.

In response to representations made to them by those conversant
with West Indian requirements Messrs. John Gordon & Co., have pre-
jiared a new set of cheap machines which are of a high class, and will
prepare Coffee in a very efficient manner.

They are especially suited to the requirements of the Trinidad
Planter and can be highly recommended for estates where only small
areas are cultivated in Coffee.

Full instructions as to their working can be obtained at the Royal
Botanic Gardens where similar machines have been in use for the past
few years and the character of the machines can be seen from the
illustrations.

No. A.

THE "JAMAICA" COFFEE PULPER.

Consequent on the demand in the West Indies for a cheap and
efficient method of preparing Coffee, Messrs. John Gordon & Co., of
London have introduced the No. A. machine.

It separates the coffee berry * from the surrounding pulp after
which the beans can be dried rapidly and a fine quality of coffee
produced. Price complete £14,

No. B.

COFFEE PEELER AND POLISHER.

The machine No. B. cleans the Coffee from the parchment skin after
it has been pulped by the " Jamaica" or other machines. It is manu-
factured by Messrs. John Gordon & Co., in various sizes— for machine
or hand power. The price of the hand power machine is £8.

DRY CHERRY HULLER.

The macliine No. C. has been prepared for the use of those planters
who prefer to dry the coffee in the " Cherry" and is a cheap and
eflPective machine for the purpose of cleaning it after it has
been dried in this way. Price £10. Jjarsrev machines "^e
made^|k- • w power. This will be e .ul for

plantations . e afficient coffee is grown for hoi.e use and

must displace old pestle and mortar method of cleaning.^

js:

:z.

TEINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

BULLETIN

CI)

nfanimtiati

No. 4.

OCTOBER, 1895.

Vol. II.

CONTENTS.

No. 145.
„ 146.
» 147.
.. 148.

»>
>>

149.
150.
151.
152.

153.
154.
155.

-Trinidad Diacriums.
-" "Wallaba" — Eperuafalcata, Auhlt.
-Bignonia unguis, L.
-Natural History Notes.
. No. 13.— Destruction by Bees. Trigona sp.

14.— The Hunter Ant.

15.— Siphonotus purpureus, Pocock.

16.— Porphyraspis sp.—" Tortoise Beetle."

17.— Stictoplastis ravidus, Simon.

18.— Phalagium cosmetus pictus, Beitz.

19.— Planariuni sp.— Land Leech.

20.— "King Cockroach," "Electric Bug."

21.- "The Gru-Gru ^Worm."

22.— New Coccidae.
-A New Fungus.
-Cassava or Manioc.
-New Miniature Sunflower.
-Circular Notes.

No. 22.— A Cane Pest.
„ 23.— A Flight of Parasol Ants.
„ 24.— The Cockchafer or May Bug.
,, 25.— The larger species of Parasol Ants;
-Lagerstrcemia Flos-Reginse.
-Local Plant Names.
-Piper OVatum. ( Dunstan and Gamttt. )

Fmi©®5 1PW@3^S;l^©E^.

Edited by the Superintendent Boyal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HART, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-F-PAIN.

1895.

145.-DIACRIUM (EPIDENDRUM) BICORNUTUM, Hook.
DIACRIUM (EPIDENDRUM) INDIVISUM, Bradf. MSS.

HESE two orchids are still common in Trinidad, although
the yearly export by collectors has diminished the supply
to a considerable extent.

D. bicornutum is found almost exclusiveli/ on the seashore, where
it grows on rocks and the branches of trees well exposed to the breeze.
It forms at times magnificent clumps, which are seen to advantage
when in flower, in Avell protected positions.

A clump of this class was well figured in the Gardener^ s Chronicle
for September 22nd, 1884, fig. 45, p. 337. This figure was engraved
from a photograph by F. Morin, Esqr., of Port-of-Spain, from a picture
of a plant in the garden of a suburban villa belonging to Mrs.
Kavanagh.

We have had similar clumps in flower near the office of the
■Gardens from February to May, where they are simply hung up
attached to the blocks of wood as they were cut from seaside trees,
having no compost, basket or other support of any kind. The
attention they receive is to secure them against the attacks of insects,
cockroaches, etc., etc., and to give an occasional watering in dry
weather. They are fully exposed vertically, but are sheltered on all
sides by buildings and trees.

The second species, D. indivisum, Bradf., is one which is confined
almost exclusively to the inland districts. It differs from the pre-
ceding in being of much smaller size, and by having an undivided lip
which is quite white, and not spotted as in D. bicornutum and the
pseudo bulbs and leaves are also much smaller. An expanded flower
of D. bicornutum, Hook — which was taken at hazard from a clump —
measures 2^ inches in breadth, while another of D. indivisum, Bradf.,
measures only 1^ inches in the same diameter. D. indivisum is more
amenable to cultivation than its larger brother and makes an ex-
ceedingly pretty plant when well grown. Both plants are very
impatient of moisture, and when established will stand drought
almost with impunity. Doubts have been expressed as to the specific
value of the name of D. indivisum, Bradf., but to the field Botanist
who is conversant with the plants in their homes, the characters are
clearly marked, and no intermediate forms have as yet been seen.
It is true that the latter plant is (as Grisebach says) nearly allied,

but the difference in form of the lip, its habit, and the colour of the
psendo bulbs, as well as its constant habitat in the interior woods
would appear to bear out a legitimate claim to specific distinction.
In connection with the growth of orchids it has been noticed that
the presence of ants is apparently necessary to their maintaining a
healthy condition, but whether this is in reality due to some action
of the ant itself, or to some indirect cause, has not yet been proved,,
and investigations are needed to show what is the real influence the
ant has upon the health of the plant. It has been suggested that the
presence of stinging ants acts as a protection to the plants, but I am
inclined to think from recent investigations that the benefit the
ants confer on the plant are those of providing it with the mycelium
of a fungus to cover its roots, which organism enables it to take up
food which would be otherwise unattainable. It may be shown that
the ants act as protectors to the plants, as well as providing them
with a means of obtaining nutriment, but it is almost certain that
the fungus which grows in the material they accumulate around
the roots plays a much more important part, by providing the
plant with food material.

146.-BPERUA PALOATA, Aublt.

"Wallaba."
Of this tree there are several specimens in the Gardens. It is a
tree common to the Mainland, but so far as I can ascertain it is not
indigenous to Trinidad. It is chiefly remarkable for its long pendulous
peduncle* and its scimitar-shaped pods. When the latter are ripe the
valves separate with a loud noise, and each portion curls up in two or.
three whorls forming a hollow tube of some six inches in length.
The propulsion exerted by the curling up of the valves casts the
seed to some distance from the tree. The flowers are very sweet
scented and contain a large proportion of nectar, so that they are
largely visited by insects, and, as recorded in my Annual Report for
1889, it is also visited by Glossonycteris Geoffroyi, Gray, a small bat,
with a curiously elongated tongue, especially fitting it for the
extraction of the juices secreted by the flowers of this and similar
plants. The bats flit about the flowers at night in the same way as
the nocturnal Lepidoptera, and the animals were at first mistaken
for these creatures. Specimens were captured with a muslin net
identical in shape with those used by naturalists for the capture of
butterflies and other insects.

Sometimes six feet in length.

The wood of the "Wallaba" is considered very suitable for
making "shingles" or wood tiles for the covering of roofs, and is
largely used for this purpose on the mainland of South America,
especially in British, French and Dutch Guiana, "Wallaba" shingles
being a well known article in the markets for housebuilding material.

There is a fairly good figure of the parts of this tree in Aublet's
Plantes de la Guiane, p. 142, Vol. III., but the Legume is poorly
represented.

The tree as it grows under our care is to be compared with
Amherstia, and the pods of each being almost identical in shape and
hang in the same manner from a long peduncle. The foliage is also
very similar in appearance.

147.-BIGNONIA UNGUIS, L.

"Cat's Claw" Creeper.

This plant is one which covers the branches of trees in wood-
lands and plain, with festoons of green foliage all the year round, and
in the flowering season (March and April) it presents such masses of
glowing colour to the view as to become quite a feature in the land-
scape. It is best seen, however, when covering the branches of trees
standing singly in pastures or other places where it is restricted in
groAvth. In such positions it surrounds the whole of the trunks and
larger branches with its foliage, and flowers are produced from every
side forming one solid field of orange yellow bloom, the beauty of
which has only to be seen to be highly appreciated, but cannot be
accurately described.

The glory of the plant, however, quickly passes away, for the
flowers commence to fall on the second or third day, and in a week
not a single one is to be seen. In due course these are succeeded
by long, pendulous capsules which sometimes reach nearly three
feet in length.

Attempts have been made to bring this climber into cultivation,
and it was planted on the walls of Government House by one of my
predecessors. The plant grows readily, and as a screen for bare walls
answers Avell, but during the past eight years has only produced
flowers once, and these poor in size and few in number, and hardly to
be recognized as the same produced by its sister plant growing on a
tre e but a few yards distant : in fact the plant seems unhappy, and

would, if it could speak, probably echo the words of the gipsy girl's

lament, who when tired of the routine of civilized or cultivated

life sang :

Then take me to my greenwood home,

My heart has long been there,
And nothing but the greenwood now
Can save me from despair.

148, -NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No. 13. — Destruction bt Bees {Trigona sp.) — It has been long a
common regret that although flowers are produced in abundance on
trees of Amherstia nohilis for several months in each year (in 1895
from January to June) it is seldom that good seed is produced.

Mr. Lunt, my assistant, has now pointed out to me the fact that
nearly all the nectaries at the base of the calyx tube have been pierced
by bees for the purpose of obtaining the nectar, and the damage done
is such as to cut oiF a large portion of the nutriment that should go
for the development of the seed. We are aware of many similar
instances which are on record, but the observation is here recorded,
to point out the possibility of secviring seed of rare plants,
by carefully protecting the flowers from such attacks, during the
period of aestivation and development of the fruiting parts. It ia
possible that in its native country the insect which has here done
damage is not present, and that the plant would seed freely in con-
sequence.

No. 14. — The Hunter Ant of Trinidad. — Our gardens are visited
annually, generally during the dry season, by armies of the hunter ant.
These armies are numerous and when on the march very destructive
to animal life. The columns on the march move as a rule in trains
some three or four inches in width, but they spread out in skirmishing
formation when the ground to be traversed is likely to contain suitable
food. These columns will search a ravine, a stable or a house, and
occupy it for hours, destroying every living thing not strong enough
to resist their numbers ; and even human beings have at times to give
way to them. If a dwelling house is entered it is better for the
occupants to leave it for a time than to attempt to drive them out.
Mice, rats, lizards, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, cockroaches, etc., all
kinds of insects and their larvae, fall a prey to these creatures, and in
houses where the genera Cimex and Pulex are plentiful, the ants
make a clean sweep rendering the dwellings absolutely free from the
pests for a considerable time, and hence they are welcomed by people

who inhabit houses or dwellings where this class of insects abound.
In stables, horses if not removed, are driven almost frantic by them,
and cows and other large animals are attacked in the like manner,
but unless sickly are too strong to be overcome. Carrion of all kinds
is rapidly consumed, the find at once being covered by thousands of
insects, and in an incredibly short space of time the Avhole disappears,
and the ants again resume their march. Where plenty of food is to
be found the army takes a rest at intervals, and in doing this they
accumulate in a sheltered position under a stump, a stone, in a cellar
or similar place ; here they will rest for hours, and if Avet weather
intervenes, sometimes for days together. When assembled for rest
their appearance is much like a swarm of bees, their legs being
apparently adapted for the purpose. The cultivator welcomes the
approach of an army of these insects, as there is nothing more
destructive among his plants than the Blatidm or cockroaches, many
thousands of which are sought out and devoured by an army of
hunter ants.

Since our last Bulletin the following have been kindly determined
for us by the British Museum authorities : —

No. 15. — Siphonotus purpureas, Pocock. — Previously described
from St. Vincent. This is a small Myriapod or insect belonging to
the class to which are referred "centipedes" and "millipedes." It
is a very small but interesting insect. It was captured by Mr. Lunt
in the Gardens.

No. 16. — Porphjraspts sp. — " Tortoise Beetle." — Larvse only ;
found upon a Bromeliacous plant. This is a very curious insect indeed,
the larvae looking like a small bunch of lichen and easily mistaken for it.

No. 17. — Stichoplastis ravtdus, Simon. — This is a large spider
which lives on the ground under stones, damp wood, moss, or weeds.
It is somewhat like in form the one known as the Tarantula, but
neither as large or as hairy as that kind.

No. 18. — Phalagium cosmetus pictus, Putz, is another spider of
the long-legged or " harvestman " section.

No. 19. — Planarium sp. is one of the land leeches which are
fairly common in the Garden at times.

No. 20.—" King Cockroach" " Electric Bug," Belostoma grande
Linn., or Nepa grandis, Linn.— This insect though resembling a
cockroach at first sight is seen on examination to differ in no little
degree, and it is placed by systematists under the family Nepidce,
Order Eemiptera, an Order which includes the plant bugs — Cicada, etc.
The insect according to a paragraph in the Port-of -Spain Gazette, a

local newspaper, is known in America as the '' Electric Bug," owing
to the fact that it is attracted by that light and was not formerly seen
in as large numbers as since its introduction. I have seen the insect,
however, in the day time, in the city of Panama, Central America,
crawling on the streets. Numbers of the insect appeared in Trinidad
towards the end of May, 1895. The insect is known also by the name
of " Water Scorpion," and is said to feed on fish, and small insects.
It is especially fitted for living in water, by a suitable conformation
of its body, the underside of Avhich is formed like the keel of a boat,
and the legs, especially the posterior ones, are most effective propellers
or oars. The insect when the wings are closed measures over four
inches in length, and when the wings are expanded their extent is
fully seven and a half inches.

No. 21. — The " Gru-Gru" Worm, Bliyncopkorus palmarum, Linn.
— The name of "Gru-Gru Worm" is given in Trinidad to the larvae
of the large Palm Beetle, Bhyncophorus palmarum, Linn., which is
found in many species of the indigenous Palmse. The full grown
worm is considered a very fine dish for the table, when properly
cooked, and is readily sold in the markets of Port-of-Spain, to members
of both the higher and lower classes of society. The worm takes its
name from the fact of its being found in the " Gru-Gru" Palm, Acro-
comia sclerocarpa, Mart., but it is not alone common to this palm, for
it infests many others, and especially Oreodoxa regia, Kth., the
Cabbage Palm. All that it is necessary to produce quantities of
the " Gru-Gru" worm is, to wound the stem or trunk suflSciently
to reach to the interior cellular mass, when mature beetles will,
with the greatest certainty, be attracted thereto for the purpose of
laying their eggs, and the worms will then be produced in large
numbers. Although the beetle is present with us in considerable
numbers and is capable of entering and destroying large palm trees,
it is curious to note how very few trees are actually destroyed by it,
either Avhen growing naturally or cultivated, and it appears that in
the majority of cases, it is the infliction of a superficial wound
which allows of the entrance of the beetle. This shows how careful
the cultivator should be with his coconut and other palms, not to
allow any hacking or cutting of the stems of his trees, where the
insect is known to be plentiful. Although it is known to be
quite common in Trinidad, and the worms or larvae produced in
wounded trees, yet it is but rarely that the insects are seen. But
let a palm be cut down or wounded and the wound will, in a few
hoiirs, be frequently visited by the mature beetles of both sexes.

These facts I believe tend to point out that the insect must have
other sources of food supply besides the various palms which it
attacks, and that palms will not suffer severely in places where
such a food supply is fairly constant. Practically it cannot be said
that our Palms in the Royal Botanic Gardens suffer from the attack
of the BhyncopJiorus, yet at the same time we know positively that
it is certain destruction to any palm to wound its stem in such^a
manner as will allow the beetle access thereto ; and a palm cut down
and left to decay upon the ground, provides nutriment for large
numbers of the larvse in the cellular matter of its interior, where
they will feed, pass through the pupa stage, and finally leave as
perfect insects. To prevent the access of the beetle to wounds when
accidentally made, there is nothing better than a coating of coal tar
mixed with clay to the consistency of paste, applied before an oppor-
tunity is afforded for a visit from the beetle.

No. 22. — An Addition to the Trinidad List of Coccid.e or Scale
Insects. — No. 30 of our Trinidad list has been named Datylopius
sacchari, Ckll., n. sp. This was found in large numbers feeding upon
sugar cane plants in our Gardens. It was also found by Mr. Urich
and sent to Professor Cockerell a few days previous to my consignment
reaching him. The insect itself is what is commonly known as a
"mealy bug" — a class of insects somewhat common in the tropics,
and where found in large numbers, a great hindrance to good
cultivation. No. 31 of our list is another " scale insect" found on
roots of Dioscorea or " Yam," on which it was very plentiful.
Professor Cockerell has noted its habitat as a somewhat remarkable
one, as Avill be seen in his description which is here published.
Neither of the insects at present give serious trouble to cultivators.

A NEW Scale Insect infesting Yam Roots. By T. D. A. Cockerell, Ento-
mologist of the New Mexico (U.S.A.) Agricultural Experiment Station.

Aspidiotus Hartii, new species. — Female scales irregular, subcircular to
oval, about 1| mm. diameter, moderately convex, dull brownish-grey, with a
slight purplish tint ; first skin partly covered or entirely exposed, shining pale
straw colour, nearly central. Removed from the plant the scales leave a con-
spicuous white mark, without any black ring. Male scales coloured like those
of the female, small, elongate, with the exuviae near one end.

Female brown, becoming pale lemon yellow when boiled in caustic soda.
Five groups of ventral glands, caudolaterals of 6 to 7, cephalolaterals of 9, median
of about 4. Anal orifice posterior to level of caudolateral groups, but some
distance from hind end. No long tubular glands at bases of lobes. Two pairs of
lobes only ; median large with parallel sides and gently rounded subtruncate
ends, slightly diverging, not contiguous, obscurely notched at end towards outer
side. Second lobes similar in shape, but much smaller. Two rather stout
branched plates between median lobes and two between first and second lobes ;
margin cephalad of second lobe with first three stout strongly branched plates
close together, then three equally long but not so stout and only slightly branched
plates further apart. Then two very slender small plates, then a long interval,
then the margin coarsely serrate, with about six serrations.

Hah., Trinidad, in great numbers on yam roots ; sent by Mr. J. H. Hart.
Allied to A, sacchari, Ckll., In. Inst., Jamaica, Vol. I., p. 255. The habitat of
these scales, on yam roots, is remarkable ; a similar instance is offered by a new
Lecanium [L. batatce, Ckll., n. sp.) found by Mr. Barber in Antigua, on tubers of
sweet potato.

Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.,
June 10, 1395.

149.-A NEW FUNGUS.*

A neiv species of Entopliyte, Cordyceps Lunti, n. sp. (Fungus), a
parasite on tlie larvce of an Elateridcc. By A. Giard. (See
Circular Note 21.)

Mr. J. H. Hart, Superintendent of Agriculture in Trinidad, has
recently sent me a superb Entophyte found by his assistant, Mr.
W. Lunt, in the Botanic Garden of the Island.

It is a Cordyceps, parasitic upon the larvae of an Elaterideae of
large size (45 mill, long), belonging, I think, to the group of the
Agrypnini.

The whole of the body of the larva is covered by a downy felting
formed by the conidial state of the Fungus.

The ascigerous receptacles spring from the ventral surface, the
one near the middle of the body, the other near the posterior quarter
of the larva.

The first is nearly 5 cent, long, the second about 3 cent. 5.
Their form is that of a club regularly thickened and conical at the end.

The peduncular portion is 2 cent, long and 1 mill. 5 wide, the
thickest part has a width of 2 mill. 5. The clubs of both receptacles
approach each other and have coalesced for a length of 4 or 5 mill.
The perithecia are irregularly distributed, more abundant on one side
than on the other and leaving at the top a small sterile space which
elsewhere is not so distinctly separated from the rest of the club.

The whole of the Fungus, the portion underground and the head
( capitules ) is of a beautiful orange red ; the perithecia only forming
fine brownish punctuations on the receptacular clubs.

Cordyceps Lunti comes near, by its colour and general aspect,
Cordyceps caloceroides, Berk & Curt, found in Cuba on an undetermined
substratum, and very imperfectly described.

* Translation from the Bulletin (Zes- Sdances et Bulletin Biblioqrajihique de la
Socidte EntomoloQique de France.

But in the unique example of the latter, the receptacle was much
longer (11 cent., comprising the peduncle, which measured about
6 cent.)

Further, this receptacle was bifurcated. The clubs having a
more or less cylindrical form, without enlargement in the middle.

Cooke compares them to a darning needle. There are known
already, on the larvae of the Elaterideae, two Cordyceps — C. stylopJiora,
Berk & Br,, from South Carolina, and an unnamed species found by
Mr. Mac-Owan at the Cape of Good Hope ; but these two species are
of small size and are near to C. Barnesii, Thw., parasites on the larva3
of Melon thideae of Ceylon.

150. -CASSAVA OR MANIOC.

Mahihot Aipi.

In a paper read before the Agricultural Society of Trinidad in
May, 1895, Mr. T. J. St. Hill answers the question "Does Sweet
Cassava ever come bitter and poisonous ?" with the words '' emphati-
cally it does," and proceeds to mention several varieties by name. He
says those with " white and black stems are very apt to degenerate
into the bitter," and states that the change seems to depend upon the
soil, as well as the length of time the roots arealloived to "'stand over,"
and that the roots will not become sweet again after once becoming
bitter. (Italics ours).

Mr. St. Hill states that native growers distinguish six varieties,
knoAvn respectively as —

1. Manioc Fromageux. 4. Mauioc Frfere Boy.

2. ,, Cochon. 5. ,, Camanioc

3. ,, Fr^re Pierre. 6. ,, Augure.

'J'he last he states to be the most poisonous, and from his personal

observations he makes three distinct kinds of bitter Cassava.

The question of poison in Cassava or Manioc w^as referred to in

Bulletin No. 1, Vol. II., January, 1895, Article 101. It was there

stated as follows :- -

It becomes fairly clear that, either we have not the true non-poisonous
variety in Trinidad or that Francis did not find it ; or 2nd, that there is over
conlideuce in attributing non -poisonous properties to the sweet Cassava.

Mr. St. Hill's paper goes to confirm the supposition above given ;
and until it is proved by analysis of sets of specimens from different
districts, that there exists a kind of sweet Cassava which does not
contain any poisonous principle whatever, it would be safer to take
Mr. St. Hill's statement as correct.

If a kind exists which really contains no poison, it is quite time
such a fact should be more fully confirmed, as it would probably be
much more largely cultivated ; but if on the other hand we are
cultivating a spurious sweet Cassava which at any time may prove to
be of a poisonous character, changing, as Mr. St. Hill says it does,
from sweet to bitter, from innocuous to poisonous, it is also quite
true that this dangerous fact should be fully known, and the cultivator
warned of the changeable character of his produce.

It is well known that in many West Indian Islands there exists
kinds of sweet Cassava which are taken to be perfectly harmless, and
said to be free from poison. Is this really the case, and can it be
proved that it never degenerates or changes into one of a poisonous
character in the manner Mr. St. Hill asserts our sweet variety changes
from sAveet to bitter ?

151.-NEW MINIATURE SUNFLOWER.

Helianthus sp.
Under the above name we have had plants which have supplied
us during April and May with a perfect blaze of yellow blossoms in
our flower garden beds. The seed was procured from Messrs. Veitch
& Sons, the long established and well known firm of the King's Road
Chelsea, London. The plant is much to be preferred in every respect
to the ordinary sunflower, Helianthus annuus, and is one especially
suited for a tropical flower garden during the dry season of the year.

152.-CIRCULAR NOTES.

These are issued from time to time as found necessary, and are republished
here to maintain a permanent record of the subjects treated upon. The
date of issue is given to each.

Circular Note No. 22.

A Cane Pest.

In carrying on the cultivation of an experimental plot of canes at
the Royal Botanic Gardens, cuttings or " tops" of several new varieties
were planted. These were attacked very shortly afterwards and large
burrows eaten into them, by the "white" or "wood ant," belonging
to the Termitidce, Following the attack ujion the cuttings, the insects
fell upon the base of well-grown canes, eight to ten feet long, and cut
into them at the surface of the ground in such a manner as to cause

the cane to fall. An examination showed that the part destroyed was
not more than one foot in length, from the ground upwards, and that
the tunnels bored were in possession of a parasitic fungus, Trichos-
phoeria sacchari, the surrounding tissue being blackened by the chain-
like macrospores of that organism, and the ants appeared to have
confined their depredations principally to this section. From the
blackened part, the fungus could be clearly traced by the discolouration,
which passing from black into deep red, then became gradually lighter
until it finally disappeared in healthy tissue, at some two feet from
the ground line.

The attack on the plot has not been general, and seldom more
than one or two canes in a stool have suffered ; but it is considered
desirable to put the occurrence on record for future reference.

Whether the attack is to be attributed to the nearness of wood-
land country — the natural breeding ground of the insect — or to a
possible scarcity of suitable food, or whether the attack has simply been
made on canes attacked by TricJiosphceria has yet to be determined ;
but it may be stated that there is evidence which points to the
latter conclusion, but further observations are yet needed to confirm
this view.

There is also evidence that wood in buildings, or that in trees,
which has in any way lost its vitality, is first attacked by the
mycelium of a fungus which renders it a tempting food for the
" wood ant," a circumstance which would tend to explain the
destruction of timber which takes place in a damp atmosphere ; for
it is clearly certain that microscopic fungi are more quickly developed
in such places, than in a dry atmosphere.

J. FT. Hart.

May 14th, 1895.

Circular Note No. 23.

A Flight of "Parasol Ants."
On 25th May I had occasion to attend the Port-of-Spain Railway
Station, and proceeding thitherwards in the early morning I found
the road all along the route, from the Gardens to the Station, covered
by myriads of the winged form of the Parasol Ant known as Atta
Octospinosa, Beich. ; which is so common in the neighbourhood of the
Town of Port-of-Spain to the exclusion of its larger brother, Atta
cephalotes, or the woodland " Parasol Ant" the "Sauba" of Nicaragua.
Opportunity is taken of this occurrence to point out the lesson it

90
teaches, which is, that the nest of the " Parasol Ant" should always

BE DESTROYED PREVIOUS TO THE TIME OF THE ANNUAL FLIGHT, which OCCUrS

generally in May or June.

During this annual flight it is certain that marital relations
betAveen the sexes are established, and the various Queens which
survive are certain to become the founders of new nests in the most
suitable situations in which they happen to find themselves.

If however the parent nests are destroyed regularly during the

early months of the year, before the winged or perfect forms are

produced, the attempt to reduce their numbers in the Colony as a

whole has a better chance of succeeding.

J. H. Hart.

6th June, 1895.

Circular Note No. 24.

«« ,

'Cockchafer" "May-Bug" or "Beetle," Melolontha sp.

On a visit to the Montserrat district on June 9th I found an
insect in large numbers destroying the foliage of several kinds of trees.

Among these was noted Sponclias dulcis or Fomme Cythere, Cicca
disticha or the Jivibilin, Theohroma Cacao or Cacao, and others.

The trees attacked were totally stripped of their leaves, and it was
evident that serious harm had been suffered.

The insect is evidently a very near relation of the English beetle,
Melolantha vulgaris, for it has the same habits, but it requires time
to ascertain whether it passes its various stages in the same period of
time, and its exact scientific determination. It is however much
smaller in size. If, like the English species, it lives but a few days
in its mature stage, there is little danger to be apprehended, unless
owing to some abnormal increase of its numbers caused by the absence
of natural enemies.

At the present time, though present in some thousands and
capable of destroying the foliage of trees in a few hours, the presence
of the beetle is not so general as to cause the cacao planter serious
apprehension.

Nevertheless a careful watch should be kept to ascertain whether
the numbers increase from year to year.

As the beetles can be collected at little cost by simply shaking
them from the trees during the day time, it will be seen to be
advisable in any case to destroy as many as possible, so as to prevent
their increase in such a degree as would make their presence an annual
scourge.

The habits of the English species are well given in " The Treasury
of Natural History" which can be seen at the Public Library.

J. H. Hart.
12th June, 1895.

Circular Note No. 25.

The Larger Species of "Parasol Ant," Atta ((Ecodoma) Cephcdotes.

In my annual report for the year 1890 I mentioned that specimens
of a large winged ant had been sent to me as " Queen" Parasol Ants.
Nothing being conclusively known as to their origin, the specimens
were provisionally determined as Atta fervens, Say. After a specimen
had been found on the Savannah on the 25th instant, I caused a
search to be made in two large nests of Atta cepTialotes Avhen
numbers of the large winged forms were found to be present, which
clearly identifies them as mature forms of that species.

The insects with wings expanded, measure 2^ inches, and when
the wings are closed the length of the insect is about 1^ inches. This
species is not to be confused with that mentioned in No. 23 as that
is a much smaller species, and is named Atta Octospinosa, BeicJi. The
species we now refer to might well be called the ant of the woods, as
it founds its colonies principally in forest lands, and may readily be
distinguished from its smaller brother by the domes of leaves which
it accumulates at the entrance of its nest, which gives rise to its
scientific name. It having become apparent that a flight of mature
insects is now taking place, planters should note how important it
is that these winged forms should be destroyed, as it is certain
that such destruction regularly carried out would materially aflfect
the number of nests which will appear.

The forms seen in the nests were as follows : -No. 1, Queen ;
No. 2, Males ; No. 3, Soldiers ; No. 4, Large "Workers ; No. 5, Smaller
Workers ; and No 6, the Nurses or the smallest form. The first and
second forms only are winged.

Lubbock in " Ants Bees and Wasps" appears to give only Nos. 3
and 5, although he quotes Bates's statement that there are five forms.

J. H. Hart.

2Gth June, 1895.

153.-LAGBRSTRCEMIA FLOS-RBGIN^.

Our largest tree of this magnificent species is growing on the
lawn immediately opposite the front entrance to the residence of His

Excellency the Governor, -which is located almost in the centre of the
Eoyal Botanic Gardens.

From measurements recently taken, it has been ascertained that
this tree is 63 feet in height, the spread of its branches is nearly 70
feet, and the circumference of the stem at 3 feet above the ground is
12 feet. The tree is evidently very old, but is still in vigorous health,
and flowers regularly every year during June and July, the bloom
lasting for about six weeks. Many trials have been made in Trinidad
to raise seedlings from this and other trees of the same species, but so
far without success. Yet, seed sent from the East Indies and also
from the neighbouring island of Grenada produces plants freely. This
is a curious fact, but one which is deserving of full enquiry, as it
belongs to that class of problems which, once solved, lead the way to
further knowledge. It may arise from causes referred to under
No. 148.

154.— LOCAL PLANT NAMES.

A LOCAL newspaper writer quoting from Butler's "Hudibras"
refers to plant names in the following terms : —

A Babylonish dialect

Which learned pedants much effect.

It was a parti-coloured dress.

Of patched and piebald languages ;

'Twas English cut on Greek and Latin,

Like fustian heretofore on satin.

The writer goes on to say : — " It is no doubt necessary to use a
" language of this kind for the purposes of classification, but we think
" that the interest in plants would be considerably increased if
'•' wherever possible the familiar names were printed alongside of their
" resonant and rather alarming botanical titles."

To such writers we say, as we have said many times before, that
the request is a very common, and to the uninitiated, apparently a
very reasonable one, but it is nevertheless one which it is impossible
to comply with in the majority of instances. It is proper, however,
that the reasons should be given why, what are called /a wii'Z/ar names,
should not be adopted in answer to the writer above mentioned.

If Linnaius the great Swedish botanist over a hundred years
ago adopted bi-nominal terms for plants because he found others
were insufficient and inaccurate, and because such a class of names
could not he found in sufficient numbers for the plants then known ;
how much more must such nomenclature be needed at the present day,
when the number of plants has increased more than a hundredfold
above Linnoeus' register ? The answer cannot be doubtful. But I

fancy I hear some of our friends saying, " but you might use the
common and familiar names when known." Just so. So we Avould if
there was the least propriety or practical use in our so doing, but as
there is not, we adhere to the system which is laid down as the more
accurate and useful, and let others do as they please.

No one, not even the " dry-as-dast" systematic botanist, is above
the sentiment and feeling for the old familiar names of childhood, nor
do they put aside as unpleasant, the reminiscences they recall to the
mind, but in practice, such sentiments and memories, have to be sub-
ordinate to considerations which induce the use of terms that more
accurately define the object which it is intended to indicate, and the
use of popular or familiar names is left to the poet, the lover or the
amateur plant cultivator, and others skilled in what is called the
" Language of Flowers" and these should really not insist on the
practical man devoting his time to the study of names which he well
knows lead to nothing but error and confusion.

Even in the subject of the Forget-me-not, there is frequently
dispute as to the plant in the legend which received the name Forget'
me-not ; and when it is stated that there are several species of Myosotis
to Avhich it may be applied, each distinct from the other, and that the
name may be, and sometimes is, also applied to other genera than
Myosotis, the legendary name is seen at once to rest on an insecure
foundation.

It is the same with all common or local names. They are applied
in different places to totally different things, and out of certain limits
quite incapable of general use.

The "May-flower" of England is the blossom of the "White-
thorn" of the hedges. The "May-flower" of America is a low growing
plant creeping upon the ground and hidden xinder the snow, both
perfectly distinct one from the other, and therefore more accurate
names than " May-flower " have to be used to accurately denote them.

The word "Gommier" is used in Trinidad to denote Bur sera
gummifera, a tree producing gum. In Grenada the same word is
applied to a tree known as Dacryodes hexandra, and similar examples
could be multiplied indefinitely.

If, however, persons unskilled in botanical nomenclature choose
to use sentimental, local, familiar, or common names, by all means
let them do so, and enjoy the use of them to the full 1 But they
should really stop there, and not press the use of such names on
those who have better and more accurate ones at their disposal, not-
withstanding the fact that they are made up of English cut on Greek

and Latin. Admitting that botanical names are composed of a
Babylonish dialect, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were noted for
their richness and the number of plants they contained, and why a
Babylonish dialect should be objected to for the naming Garden plants
is hard to conceive, if by its use plants can be accurately identified.

The binominal system of nomenclature is a universal one, and a
plant named under it, is capable of being understood in civilized
countries anywhere under the canopy of heaven, no matter the nature
of the language spoken by its people.

To those whose path of life compels acquaintance with accurate
plant nomenclature the demand for the use of popular or " familiar"
names is a cry — not new — but one which has to be met with an
unflinching front, for it is certain that definite and accurate names or
terms are in the main far better for daily use, than those which
simply convey a sentiment, or awaken a memory, without informing
the understanding of any definite character of the plant spoken of, or
without giving any clue to its history.

What's in a name ? That which we call Rose

By any other name would smell as sweet.

Lovers of familiar names can certainly use them at their pleasure,
and no one would object, but it is not easy to see why Botanists
should be called upon to use names in which they do not believe ; and
which are indefinite and misleading, while they have at their com-
mand, names which are accurate, and universally applied.

154.-THE CONSTITUENTS OF "PIPER OVATUM," Vahl.

The full text of the paper written on the results of the examina-
tion made by Profs. Dunstan and Garnett on the above plant is here
given, as being of special interest to the Colony in which the plant
grows from which the new drug has been made. In article No. 106,
No. 2, Vol. 2, p. 35, the history of the plant is given at some length.

By WYNDHAii R. Dunstan, M.A., F.R.S., and Henry Gaknett.

This plant (Pij)er ovattim Vahl, or Otionia Vahlii) grows in the West
Indies, and is briefly described in Grisebach's "Flora of the West Indies," (p. 172.)

It has been examined in this laboratory, at the suggestion of Mr. W. T.
Thistlton Dyer, F.R.S., the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, who received
it from Mr. John H. Hart, F.L.S., the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic
Garden, at Trinidad, to whom we are indebted for a further supply of the
material. The plant somewhat resembles Jaborandi in appearance, and has
been employed in Trinidad as a remedy for snake bite, and as a cure for hydro-
phobia in animals. When chewed, it gives rise to a persistent tingling of the
tongue and lips, which is followed by a sensation of numbness, accompanied by
profuse salivation, in these respects recalling pellitory. Some irritation at the

back of the throat is also observed. All part of the plant — leaves, stem, and
root — possess this property, but the leaves and root appear to act more power-
fully than the stem; the leaves have an aromatic taste due to an essential oil
which is absent from the root.

The following is a brief botanical description of Piper ovalum, taken partly
from Grisebach and partly from our own observations.

Shrub, 2 — 4 feet high ; root woody, spreading. Stems erect, slender, some-
what woody, branching in zig-zags, nodes tumid ; leaves alternate, 3 — 6 inches
long, 2 — 3 inches broad, ovate, pointed, l>roadly cuneate at base, papery opaque,
glabrous ; petiole channelled, naked, about |— | inch long. Flowers usually
racemose, pedicles jointed with the flower. Bracts cucullate, usually at the
base of a pedicel ; stamens 4( — 3) inserted round the ovary ; stigmas 4, sessile.
Pericarp baccate, tetragonal. Berries pedicellate, somewhat longer than their
pedicel, rounded at base, mucronate with a bluntish point. Habitat, Trinidad.

A number of the living plants have been brought to England, in Wardian
cases, and are at present growing at Kew Gardens, but so far they have shown no
signs of flowering.

Volatile Constituents.

As the aromatic taste of the leaves suggested the probability of the presence
of a volatile oil, the leaves were distilled with steam in the usual manner and
the distillate extracted with ether. By this means a small quantity of an almost
colourless, volatile, aromatic oil was obtained which was non-alkalo'idal and did
not produce any tingling of the tongue. When cooled below 0° and stirred, the
oil showed no tendency to solidify. Its density was 15°/15°=0*9904. It boiled
at about 245°, nearly the whole passing over between 240'' and 250°. It appears
to be optically inactive, since a 6 per cent, solution in alcohol produced no
rotation of the polarised ray. When dry hydrogen chloride was led into a dry
ethereal solution of the oil, there was no separation of crystals, even after the
liquid had been cooled to — 13°. When a drop of the oil was dissolved in
chloroform and strong sulphuric acid added, an intense crimson coloration was
produced, passing into a I'eddish-violet. Aqueous alkalis did not act on the oil,
and it formed no compound with sodium hydrogen sulphite. We have not had
sufficient of the substance for analysis, but from the properties recorded above
the volatUe oil of Piper ovatum would appear to be a sesquiterpene. The leaves
contain this oil to the largest extent, little or none being present in the root
or stem.

Non-volatile Constituents.

The liquid remaining with the leaves after distilling off the oil w ith steam,
though highly coloured, had none of the activity of the leaves themselves, and
gave rise to little or no tingling when tasted ; it was, therefore, clear that the
active constituent was not appreciably soluble in water. This aqueous .solution
contained no alkaloid, but a sugar having cupric reducing power was present,
and also a considerable quantity of potasnium nitrate. The leaves having been
drained from the water were digested for some hours with boiling alcohol (50 per
cent.), the process being repeated until they had lost nearly all their tingling
property. The green alcoholic solution, which was highly active, was evaporated
to dryness, the residue extracted with absolute alcohol, and the alcoholic solution
fractionally precipitated by the addition of small quantities of water aided by
the evaporation of some of the alcohol. The first precipitate contained nearly
the wliole of the chlorophyll, but scarcely any of the active constituent. The
second precipitate also contained chlorophyll, but was active although not nearly
so strongly as the filtrate ; this second precipitate was, therefore, dissolved
in alcohol and reprecipitated by water, the filtrate being added to the original
filtrate, and the whole evaporated until the alcohol had been dissipated. The
aqueous solution was then extracted by shaking with ether which removed tiie
active constituent together with colouring matter. The residue left on evapo-
rating the ether was dissolved in alcohol, and the solution fractionally precipitated
with water, this process being repeated until the whole of the green colouring
matter had been removed. Ether then extracted from the liquid, after the
evaporation of the alcohol, a light brown resin which was highly active in
inducing tingling of the tongue and showed no signs of crystallisation even after
prolonged standing.

The similarity in the physiological action of Pi2)er ovatnm to that of the
medicinal pellitory has already been noticed, and in the latter case the action is
usually attributed to a resin, about the properties of which, however, little is
known.* The resin obtained from Piper ovatum was fully examined in the hope
of separating some crystalline active substance from it. It was soon found that
the resin was not a single substance, in spite of the long process of purification to
which it had already been submitted. It was further purified by dissolving it in
ether, and fractionally precipit^ating the ethereal solution with light petroleum, in
which the active constituent is nearly insoluble ; by this means, it was obtauaed
lighter in colour but still resinous. The resin was again dissolved in ether, and
the solution shaken with weak aqueous ammonia, which removed a further
quantity of inactive material. After the ethereal solution had been dried with
calcium chloride, a resin, which was quite inactive, separated from the liquid.

The ethereal solution, when spontaneously evaporated, left a highly active
substance which, however, was still resinous, and refused to crystallise. The
resin was next dissolved in alcohol, and the solution fractionally precipitated by
the addition of water ; the first fraction was resinous and nearly inactive, the
later fractions were lighter in colour than the first and highly active. On
repeating the process on the later fraction, a bulky but very light mass of
feathery crystals separated, which were nearly colourless and more active than
any substance previously obtained. This material was, with difficulty, recry-
stallised several times from dilute alcohol, and lastly from hot, light petroleum.
A further quantity was obtained from the purified resin by shaking the ethereal
solution with ammonia, dissolving the residue in alcohol, and precipitating
the solution with light petroleum, the precipitate being again dissolved in
alcohol and reprecipitated with petroleum until it was capable of crystallising.

As will be inferred from the details which have been given, the separation of
this crystalline active substance from the colouring matter, fat, wax, and resin
which so obstinately adhere to it proved to be a very tedious operation, especially
troublesome when the object was to obtain a sufficient quantity for analysis.
Much time was spent in trying various methods of extracting the substance
from the plant, and in purifying the product ; the most successful plan was
found to be the following, which, however, is still long and laborious.

The dried and finely-powdered material (leaves, root, and stem, all of
which contain the active constituent) is repeatedly extracted with hot, light
petroleum (boiling below 80°) until the active substance is almost entirely
removed ; the removal of the last traces is very troublesome. The active
constituent is not readily soluble in light petroleum, but it is found to be advan-
tageous to use this liquid because it removes a smaller quantity of other substances
than is the case with better solvents of the active constituent, such as alcohol,
ether, chloroform, or acetone, which dissolve so much colouring matter, resin,
and fat that the subsequent purification of the active substance is very much
lengthened.

The greater part of the light petroleum is distilled from the solution, and
the residue is well shaken with alcohol (60 per cent. ). By repeating this opera-
tion several times, nearly the whole of the active constituent passes into the
alcohol, whilst most of the colouring matter, fat, essential oil, &c., remains
in the layer of petroleum. On concentrating the dilute alcoholic solution,
a considerable quantity of semi-crystalline active substance separates along
with green colouring matter ; this is partially purified by repeated crystallisation
from dilute alcohol. By this means much of the resin, which so obstinately
clings to it, is removed, and more is separated by shaking an ethereal solution
with dilute aqueous ammonia. The dried ethereal solution may then be preci-
pitated by the addition of small quantities of light petroleum, which throws
out the resin in the first fraction, whilst the later fractions are crystalline and
consist of the nearly pure active constituent. Finally, the s\ibstance is recrys-
tallised by adding dry ether to its solution in absolute alcohol, and allowing
the solution to evaporate spontaneously. The crystals which separate are dried
on a tile in the air or in a desiccator ; at 100° a little decomposition occurs,
and the crystals become slightly yellow.

The preparation of sufficient material for analysis occupied a very long
time, since the best process for isolating it is rather wasteful, as some of the
active constituent is thrown down along with the resin during the fractional

* See the following papor.

precipitation, and requires a succession of similar operations in order to recover
it. Althougli we have used about ]2 kilos, of the plant, we were not able to
jirepare more than about 2 grams of the pure active constituent. In all pro-
bability the plant does not contain as much as 0"1 per cent, of this substance,
but exerts so powerful a physiological action that from the effect produced
by chewing the leaves or root one is led to expect a far larger proportion.

Properties and Composition of the Active Constituent, Piperovatine.

When pure, the active constituent forms colourless, light needless which
often crystallise in rosettes. In appearance, these somewhat resemble the
alkaloid caffeine, and melt at 12.3° (ccrr.), decomposing slightly. The substance
is nearly insoluble in water, very sparingly soluble in light petroleum, and not
much more so in dry ether. It dissolves readily in alcohol, chloroform, and
acetone. The solution of the highly purified substance in strong alcohol has
the curious property of apparently gelatinising when water is added to it in
just sufficient quantity to cause precipitation ; the dissolved substance being
thrown out in a bulky mass of microscopic crystals resembling a jelly. On this
account it is difficult to obtain it in well-defined crystals, but this may be
managed by adding dry ether to the solution in absolute alcohol, and allowing
the liquid to evaporate spontaneously. The substance appears to be optically
inactive ; an alcoholic solution containing. 1 '5 per cent, did not rotate the
polarised ray. The compound contains carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.
Several combustions have been made with different specimens of the material,
with the following results.

I. 0-1054 gave 0.2813 CO, and 0-0858 H^O. C = 72-78 ; H = 9-04.

XL 0-2023 ,, 0-5335 ,, ,,0-1484 ,, C = 71-92 ; H = 8.15.

III. 0-1847 „ 0-4982 „ ,,0.1391 ,, C = 73-56 ; H = 8-37.

IV. 0-1775 „ 0-4810 ,, ,,0-1356 ,, C = 73-90 ; H = 8-49.

Of these four combustions, III and IV were made with the purest specimens,
and give as a mean composition C = 73-73, H — 8*43 per cent., the percentage
of nitrogen (determined by tlie absolute method) was 5-96. These data agree
well with those calculated from the formula CjgH2.^N02, which requires C =
74-13 ; H = 8-10 ; N = 5-40 per cent. The active constituent exhibits, therefore,
the composition of a vegetable alkaloid, and shows some resemblance to piperine
(C^ryHigNOg), the alkaloid of pepper, a plant belonging to the same natural
order.

Piperine has very feebly basic properties, and forms salts which are very
unstable. The substance from Piper ovatum, to which we propose to assign the
name pij)erovafine, is devoid of basic properties, being nearly insoluble in dilute
acids, and therefore, from this point of view, does not come within tlie usual
definition of an alkaloid. Nevertheless, further investigation will probably show
that its constitution is precisely similar to that of such alkaloids as piperine,
atropine, and aconitine, that is to say, it would seem from our observations to be
composed of a basic pyridine nucleus (e.g., piperidine), associated with an acid
radicle, the acidity of the radicle exactly neutralising the basic power of the
other residue, so that the resulting derivative is neither basic nor acidic.

Piperovatine dissolves in glacial acetic acid, but may be precipitated
unchanged by the addition of water. It is insoluble in dilute hydrochloric acid
and in dilute sulphuric acid ; on boiling it with these acids, hydrolysis appears
to take place, and the solution now gives the reactions of an alkaloid, but we
have not obtained sufficient of the product for identification. It appears,
however, to be a pyridine derivative, and to present some analogies to pii^eridine ;
there would seem to be also an acid product of hydrolysis, but this we have never
obtained except in traces.

Piperovatine is also devoid of acid properties. It does not dissolve in weak
alkalis. Strong alkalis such as potasli, especially when warm, appear to hydrolyse
it, quickly forming the acid and the jiyridine base referred to above.

Its decomposition products require a fuller examination than we have been
able to subject them to with the small quantity of material at our disposal.

Physiological Action of Piperovatine.

The physiological action of piperovatine has been investigated for us by
Professor Cash, F.R.S., of Aberdeen. He finds it to act as a temporary depressant
of both motor and sensory nerve fibres, and also of sensory nerve lerniinations.

producing some local anresthesia. It acts as a heart poison, and also as a
powerful'stimulant to the spinal cord (in frogs), causing a tonic spasm somewhat
resembling that produced by strychnine.

A 2-5 per cent, solution (in almond oil) produced no anresthetic effect when
rubbed on the skin, and it has been found generally to possess but little penetra-
tive power, at all events in the form of this solution. When, however, the same
solution is applied to the tongue, moderate local anresthesia is produced, accom-
panied by a feeling of numbness and coldness, and much salivation.

In attempting to utilise the local anaesthetic effect of piperovatine, the want
of penetrating power, the temporary character of its action, and, above all, its
property of causing salivation, have interfered with its successful employment in
the minor operations of dentistry. The solution of piperovatine in almond oil
has, however, given promising results in affording temporary relief in painful
superficial lesions.

It would therefore seem to be worth while to follow up in therapeutic trials
the analogies, suggested by these preliminary experiments, of the physiological
action of piperovatine to that of strychnine, cocaine, pilocarpine, and pipeline.
It is also clear that the action of piperovatine is very similar to that of the
medicinal pellitory, the Anacydus Pyrethrum of the Fharmacopceia, and it
might be useful to determine how far this similarity can be traced, and also
whether Piper ovatum or its alkaloid piperovatine could be used medicinally in
the place of pellitory.

Research Laboratory,

Pharmaceutical Society, London,

Imperial Institute Road,

London, S.W.,

25111 July, 1895.

Sir,

I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 10th July,

and of a sample of Sisal fibre.

I have sent some of the fibre to our Expert for Fibres, and shall

have much pleasure in communicating to you his opinion,, when

obtained, together with the results of its chemical examination in the

Research Laboratory of the Imperial Institute.

I am,

Yours faithfully,

F. A. ABEL,
J. 11. Hart, Esq., F.L.S., Secretary <t Director.

Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens,
Trinidad.

Imperial Institute Road,

London, S.W.,

th August, 1895.

Sir,

The sample of fibre prepared from the leaves of Ayave rigida var. sisalana,
to which your letter of the 10th July refers, has been submitted to thorough
chemical examination in the Research Department, according to the method
adopted for determining the value of fibres, and I send you herewith the

numerical results arrived at (mean of two examinations) in comparison with the
results furnished by a sample of Bahamas Sisal. These numbers indicate that
the sample of fibre sent by yoxt. is distinctly superior to the Bahamas sample.

The Trinidad fibre has also been submitted to the Expert Referee for fibres
attached to the Research Department, Mr. C. E. Col Iyer, who reports it to be in
no way inferior to the Bahamas Sisal. He states that the sample was fairly well
cleaned, but may be slightly improved upon in this respect.

The present value of Bahamas Sisal in the London Market is about £14 per
ton against £12 to £12 10/- for Sisal of Yucatan growth. Mr. Collyer states that
in his belief the price of the fibre will not go any lower than it is at present.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

F. A. ABEL,
J. H. Hart, Esq., F.L.S., Secretary d: Director.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad.

Results of the chemical examination of a sample of Sisal Fibre
(Agave rigida, var. sisalana) grown in Trinidad. With the figures
for the same fibre grown in the Bahamas, for comparision.

Moisture (per cent. ) . . .
Hydrolysis (a) Loss ..
Hydrolysis (b) Loss . . .
Mercerising, Loss
Gain by Nitration (total)
Acid purification. Loss
Cellulose (per cent.) ...
Ash (per cent. )

Trinidad
Sisal.

... 11.6

Bahamas
Sisal
(for comparison.)
12.8

... 11.7

12.0

... 13.5

16.1

... 8.9

13.4

... 132.9

129.7

... 1.0

8.1

... 77-2

75.9

... LO

4.4

7th August, 1895.

F. A. ABEL,

Secretary db Director.

TEINIDAD. ^

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

BTJXiljETIN

ttfarnmtiati.

No. 5. JANUARY, 1896. Vol. 11.

CONTENTS.

156.— Cricket Grounds and Tennis Lawns.

157.— Adnie or Ardrne.—Cyperus articulatus.

158.— Garden Seats.

159. — A Fodder Grass. — Pennisetum orientah.

160.—" Tabasheer."

161.— Natural History Notes :

No. 23. — Termes tenuis, Hagen.
,, 24. — Cutiterehra fimehris, Austen.
162. — Latania Borbonica. — Livistona chinensis.
163. — Lignum Vitae. — Giiaiacum officinale, L.
164. — Ginger. — Zingiber officinale, L.
165. — Fibre from Gru-gru. — Acrocomia sclerocarpa.
166. -Circular Notes :

No. 26.— Grafting the Mango — Lectures on

Coffee Cultivation.
„ 27.— Silica in Grasses,
,, 28.— Sugar Cane Seedlings.

167.— Analysis of Garden Soil.

168.— Castor Oil Manufacture (Extract).

169.— Botanical Notes :

No. 1. — Polypodium trinidadensis, Jen., n. sp.

,, 2. — Cynometra trinitCTisis, Oliver, n. sp.

,, 3, — Asphnium nidus, var. B., Mett.

,, 4. — Trichopilia hymenantha, Bchb. f.
170. — The Loquat. — EHobotrya Japonica, Lindl.
171.— Giant Cactus.— Cerews peruvianus.
172. — Shallots. — Allium ascallonium, L.
173.— The Ground ^^xt.—Arachis hypogea, L.

Edited by the Superintendent Royal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HAET, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN.

1896.

103
156.-CRICKET AND TENNIS LAWNS IN TRINIDAD.

Europeans who come to the tropics generally bring their ideas on
such things as the management of the tennis lawn with them. Unfor-
tunately the solid rolled turf so easily obtained in a temperate climate
is not to be found here ; and the grasses of which the sward is com-
posed are essentially distinct from the species which produce an
English tennis lawn. That is to say, the difference between the
grasses is as much marked as is the distinction between a goat and a
cow. With the grasses of the tropics and the grasses of the tem-
perate zones, likenesses can be pointed out, but when these are accu-
rately noted, the enquirer finds that in some cases likeness or affinity
disappears, and that many dissimilarities are to be found. With
tropical grasses it is almost impossible to obtain what is known
in England as leathery turf, for the simple reason that they are
with perhaps one or two exceptions incapable of producing it.
Hence, when a lawn has to be prepared in Trinidad, we have
either to take the grass of the pasture and use it, or to plant
grasses which will answer our purpose. Throughout the West Indies
there are, however, many species of gramina; or grasses which are
dwarf in habit, and when prop'^rly managed will produce good lawns.
First and foremost among these is Cynodon dacti/lou, the " Bahama"
or " Bermuda grass," " Indian Couch grass," " Doub" or " Doorva."
This grass can be propagated by planting small tufts at short dis-
tances, and will cover a lawn in a short space of time. Another-
method of planting is to chop up the rhizomes or succulent under-
ground stems into small lengths, mix them to the consistency
of mortar with fine soil, and then spread it over the surface of
prepared ground with a trowel, and in a few days grass will spring
up with great regularity over the plot.''^ In some soils, however, this
grass is overgrown by other species. In some parts of Jamaica this
grass is overgrown by Sjyoroholus Indicus, R. Br., the tufted "wire
grass" of that Colony. In Trinidad, "wire grass" gives little
trouble, is readily cut with the scythe, and does not spread to any
great extent. In some districts in Jamaica the " wire grass" grows
very rapidly and becomes quite a nuisance, and moreover the stem
contains such a large amount of Silica as to make it utterly impos-
sible to use the scythe for cutting it. In Trinidad on the contrary,
the scythe is in constant use, and the grass is a useful one for making

* Kew Bulletin, p. 378.

104

hay and bedding for stable use. " Bahama grass" is sometimes dis-
placed by Paspalum compressum Nees. This is the grass which,
in the neighbourhood of the capital of Trinidad (Port-of-Spain),
forms the major portion of the Turf of pastures and gardens. Paspa-
lum pusillum, Vent., P. distichim, L. and P. conjugatum Berg, are
grasses Avhich also find a place, and together, they are strong enough
in our soils to oust the " Bahama grass." In spots however, where
there is a good supply of nitrogenous material, the Bahama grass can
hold its own against all comers, and in such places it stands pre-
eminent as the most suitable lawn grass, not alone for the even turf
that it gives, but also for the ease with which it can be planted and
kept in order when fairly established. Paspalum compressum Nees is
a grass which makes a very low and even sward, and when well
grown is preferred by some to Bahama grass. In Trinidad, especially
in the neighbourhood of Port-of-Spain, all lawns suffer terribly from
the ravages of the mole cricket — Scapteriscus didactylus — and I have
been frequently asked to suggest a means by which this insect can be
destroyed. This, however, is a question which has exercised the
ingenuity of many, but so far as I can learn, with little or no success.
Soap water and other liquids will cause the insects to emerge from
their haunts in the lawns if poured into their burrows, and they
can then be readily captured, but it would evidently be absurd to
attempt to treat a savannah like the " Queen's Park," having an extent
of 200 acres with soap water, and while such an area remains infested
it is useless to expect that they can be prevented from attacking our
carefully tended tennis lawns and cricket grounds. Many of our lawns
are well kept, in all that- relates to preparation for use, but it is in
maintenance that less is done than might be done, and in a measure
this appears to be unavoidable. In the tropics. Tennis, in many places
is played all the year round, and therefore the grounds are in con-
tinuous use ; and to be used, have to be mown. Now it seems hardly
credible that any plant can stand having its head cut off once or
twice a week throughout the year ; and yet this is what is expected
ot the grass plant on Lawn Tennis Courts. Weakened by the
continual cutting, trampled by the feet of athletic men and buxum
lasses, squeezed and bruised by the heavy roller, it can hardly be
expected to flourish or to thrive and form as it is required to do,
the one inch of green carpet, which is the player's desideratum. It is
not always the keeping of the lawn, but the continuous use of it,
which is the cause of the untidy and patchy appearance which many
of them present, even when not attacked by the " mole cricket."

105

Lawns require rest, and should also, where the ground is not rich in
plant food, be supplied with manure in the form of a top dressing.
Liberal applications of liquid manure are also good, but as the posi-
tion of most lawns forbid the use of such material, the top dressing is
the best way of supplying nutriment to the grass roots. Unless the
grass plants on a lawn are in good health and vigorous in constitution
it cannot be expected that they can withstand the constant cutting,
trampling and rolling they are subject to, where regular play is the
rule. Therefore players who Avish to maintain their lawns in first
rate order, should arrange for a " close season" of at least three
months each year, during which the grass should be allowed to grow
and strengthen itself for the fight it has to undergo during the
remaining months of the year. It is quite true at the same time that
by only playing at intervals a grass court can be maintained in fair
order ; but to secure this it is absolutely essential that it should not
be cut too frequently. The top dressing for a tennis court should be
prepared as follows : — Mix equal parts of finely sifted Avood ashes,
leaf mould, and good " top-spit" from pasture land Avell together,
adding a good dressing of finely pulverized sulphate of ammonia to
the heap (say at the rate of four cwt. to the acre) Avhich should be
turned at intervals of about 12 hours for three days previous to use.
In applying the mixture place it in small and regular heaps at a time
when the grass has been cut short. These heaps should be then
raked down and the ground well watered. After the application the
grass should be allowed to grow, in fact, the application should be
made during the resting season. Smaller applications may however be
made during the season, whenever a week or ten days' rest can be
secured. The ground should be covered to a depth of one, two, or
even three inches with the top dressing, and the grass should be
alloAved to grow through. When this is seen to be the case, the plot
shoiild be well rolled to make it firm, but afterAvards, until the ground
is again required for play, the use of the roller should be dispensed
with. The application of a weak solution of sulphate of ammonia at
intervals during the season is also recommended, as it not only
strengthens the grass, but is also disliked by the mole cricket, as it
has been found that mole crickets are present in smaller numbers
after its application. If laAvns are top-dressed in this Avay once a
year and a resting season given, they can be maintained in a much
better manner than under other conditions. It is Avell known tliat in
some few places lawns exist, on Avhich continuous cutting and
trampling appear to have little effect, but if they are carefully

106

examined, it will be found that the nutritive properties of the soil in
such places are such as we do not possess in the neighbourhood of
Port-of-Spain. A recent analysis of a typical example of the soils of
the Eoyal Botanic Gardens show that it is extremely poor, containing
no less than 88 per cent, of silica, with 6 per cent, of the oxides of
iron and alummia, a little over li per cent, of organic matter, a small
proportion of lime, and mere traces of magnesia, potash and phos-
phoric acid. It can easily be understood how hard the conditions
must be, under which the cultivator labours, who has to deal with
a soil of this character. It can just as easily be seen that, many
things cannot for a certainty be well grown unless they are supplied
with the requisite nutriment by artificial means, and among these the
grass of the tennis lawn ; for it follows that, if the grass is suffi-
ciently supplied with nutriment it must be stronger and better able
to withstand the cutting and trampling, than if left to exist upon the
small amount of nutriment it can gather from the atmosphere and
from an almost barren soil.

On heavy clay ground, which possibly contains an abundance of
nutriment, the grass may be practically starved by an undue amount
of rolling, which would so solidify the soil as to render it almost
impossible for the roots to permeate it, and to courts existing in such
places, a top-dressing as before recommended, would be of great
benefit, as it would afford nutriment on the surface which the roots
are unable to obtain by piercing downwards owing to the hardened
character of the soil, due to too much compression.

It is of course to be understood that all weeds should be
removed Avhen seen, as these not alone hinder the growth of the grass,
but if of annual growth, will most certainly die out at certain seasons
and leave bare patches. The cultivator should therefore select the
perennial grasses he finds best and maintain those to the exclusion of
all others.

It appears clear therefore that we can no more expect annual,
or I may say Aveekly crops of grass (for all that is cut by machine or
scythe is a crop, and is so much removed) than we can expect succes-
sive crops of other products without manure ; and as we cannot dig
and cover our manure without destroying the grass plants, we must
perforce apply it in liquid form, or in the form of a top-dressing. If
this is regularly performed, and a due period of rest given there
should be no trouble — unless under exceptional circumstances — in
maintaining the growth of a fine sward on tennis courts and cricket
fields in Trinidad,

107

157.— " ARDRUE" OR " AB'R'U'E."—Cypei-ii.s artkulatus, L.

In the annual Report of the Department for 1892, I mentioned
that supplies of the root of this Cyperus had been forwarded to an
eminent firm of manufacturing druggists in the United States. From
this material has been manufactured a "' Fluid Extract" which is said
to be useful in ''atonic dyspepsia" — " Yelljw Fever," and has a
special reputation for checking excessive vomiting in various dis-
orders. " ]t possesses a fine aromatic flavour, and produces a general
feeling of warmth and comfort to the stomach." It is especially
recommended as an anti-emetic. Samples of the drug may be easily
obtained from the druggists, or may be seen at the office of the Royal
Botanic Gardens at any time.

The plant has been recorded as a native of the "West Indies by
nearly all the older writers on West Indian Botany, and by some of
these it is also stated to be a specific in cases of yellow fever. It was
sent in a collection of medicinal products to the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition from the Jamaica Botanical Department in 1886. It is
rather a common plant in Trinidad and was found in 1819 by Dr.
Cruger ; in 1866 by Dr. Finlay at Oropuche, and specimens by both
collectors are well preserved in the Departmental Herbarium. It has
also been found in the St. Juan and Caroni swamps, from the former
of which, our material was procured. The roots or rhizome is the
part used, and of this only the tuberous portion, which if picked out
with care and well dried in the sun will keep good for a great length
of time.

It does not appear however that its merits have as yet been fully
tested by the medical profession, and further trial will have to be
made before it can take rank as a standard remedy of the Pharma-
copoeia, but at any rate it is certainly harmless, and well deserving
extended trial.

In small communities "' Remedies" having a local reputation are
often used, and great faith in their virtue is found, not alone among
the ignorant, but among the well educated. Still, year after year
passes, and these ** remedies" are not brought into use in the medical
service. Of late years, however, some of this class of medicines
have been examined by competent men in experimental laboratories,
and in a few cases the results have proved decidedly encouraging. On
the other hand, however, not only have many of the so-called
" remedies" been found to be utterly worthless, but in certain cases
they have been proved to be of a highly dangerous character, and not
suitable for ordinary administration.

108

Great care, therefore, should always be exercised, first to ascer-
tain whether the remedy given is a harmless one. This can generally
be ascertained by submitting specimens of the plants used, for
Botanical examination ; as the general characters of the various
orders in relation to their medical properties are fairly well known,
and it can generally be decided when a " remedy" should be looked
upon with suspicion, or pronounced harmless material. In recent
years, however, before a new drug or a neAv " remedy" gains admis-
sion to the Pharmacopoeia, it has to pass through many tests and
many trials by competent authority ; and until it has passed these
successfully, the medical profession as a rule will not attempt to use
it. In this they are qiiite justified, for it is certain that it is safer to
use an old well-established and well-known remedy, than to make use
of one, the properties of which are little known, and whose examina-
tion has not been fully carried out.

Some one however must make a start, and in the case of medicines
which it is known " can do no harm, if they do no good," there is
little risk in actual use of them ; but in the case of remedies of a
poisonous or suspicious character, it is easily seen what a large
amount of care must be exercised in making trials, and such trials it
is evident should not be carried out except by those whose knowledge
of medicine and medical practice is of the highest standard ; in fact,
it can hardly be done except by physicians who devote their lives to
scientific and experimental rather than to " family practice," and few
others can be induced to attempt it, as the responsibilities it incurs
are of such a nature as not to be lightly undertaken.

It will be seen, therefore, how difficult it is for a new drug or ■
remedy to attain standard rank, and we cannot wonder at the length
of time taken to place it in the lists of the various Pharmacoj)oeia.
In speaking of " Ardrue" it can be shewn that it has been known for
many many years as a reputed cure for yellow fever and vomiting in
excess from various causes, and yet it is only recently that Ave have
seen it made into a preparation suitable for easy administration.
Whether extended trial will prove it to be valuable or otherwise, time
alone can prove, but speaking from personal use of it, it can be
declared that it is pleasant to use, and is certainly efficacious in
removing the unpleasant symptoms in atonic dj^spepsia, but whether
it will ever attain flag rank by being placed on the Pharmacopoeia as
a standard preparation, is a question which has yet to be decided.

109

168.-GARDEN SEATS.

For the comfort of visitors to the Gardens there has been
imported a large consignment of garden seats (40) the ironwork for
which was supplied by an English firm. The seats are of several
patterns and were placed in position in the Gardens in the months of
May and June, 1895.

159.— A FODDER GRASS.— Pennisetum orientate, Rich.
( Pennisetum trijlorum Nees).

This grass was introduced from the Himalayas to the Jamaica
Gardens about the year 1884, and in compiling the Annual Report of
the Jamaica Department for 1886, while in charge as Acting Director,
I mentioned it as " likely to prove an introduction of no little value
to proprietors of mountain estates." During 1886 seed was distri-
buted to various gardens, and from this distribution the late Mr.
John Gray who was in charge of the St. Lucia Gardens at the time,
succeeded in raising numerous plants. Ascertaining from Mr. Gray
that the plant was thriving in St. Lucia, I asked for seeds, and these
proving fully fertile, afforded us a fine set of plants. These have now
been tested for several years in our experimental grounds, and have
shewn, that not only is the grass suited for hill cultivation, but that
it thrives well on the plains, and produces large quantities of fodder.
It can be readily propagated by division of the stools, as Avell as by
seed, and stands cutting frequently. It is not thought likely that it
will become useful as a pasture grass, but as a cultivated fodder it
will possibly prove equal to if not superior, to '' Guinea grass" —
Panicum maximum — especially in soils where the latter is not found
to thrive.

There is no difficulty in propagating it by seed, if the latter is
carefully sown as soon as ripe, but if the seed is taken before being
mature or after it has ripened for some weeks, there will of course be
difficulty in getting it to grow.

160.-" TABASHBER."

Mineral deposits in wood were mentioned in No. 6 of our first
series of the Bulletin. The specimen found at tliat time was taken
from fissures in the Avood of Illeronyma alchorneoides or the
'' Tapana" tree of the Trinidad woods. It was analysed by Professor

110

McCarthy and found to contain 85*81 per cent of calcium carbonate.
Kecently we have discovered specimens in bamboo joints which
were being cut for use as flower pots, of the material known as
" Tabasheer," of which specimens were shown by the Director of
Royal Gardens, Kew, in 1888, before the Linnean Society. The
material is interesting as being a mineral deposit taken up by a plant,
re-formed and deposited in its interior.

161. -NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No. 23.— The "Termite" mentioned in Circular Note No, 22 as
attacking sugar cane during growth and doing considerable damage,
has recently been determined as Termes tenuis : Hagen. It is said to
be the same species which destroyed the wooden buildings in St.
Helena to such a degree that the Capital had practically to be rebuilt.
From this it may be judged what a powerful destructive creature
exists in our midst, and a good watch should be kept on its
proceedings.

No. 24.— Cutiterebra funebris, Ausieit (new species). Under
this name the insect referred to in Circular Notes 14 and 17, has
recently been determined by Mr. E. E. Austen of the British Museum.
The specimen from which the description is taken was the one bred in
the Royal Botanic Gardens, and afterwards sent on for determinatioai
to the British Museum authorities, and is the only one as yet recorded.
The insect is a large two-winged fly, whose larvoe is locally known
together with that of a species of Dermatobia as the " Mosquito
Worm," from the idea that it is produced by the agency of a large
knat or mosquito. Similar skin-borers are known to attack man,
dogs and several rodents and marsupials. It appears possible however
that the fly which attacks one animal may not be that which attacks
another, although the larva or " worm under the skin" may present
a similar appearance. This is shewn by Dermatobia attacking man
while Cutiterebra attacks the lower animals, the form of the insect
when under the skin being practically indistinguishable. It is con-
sidered possible that the insect which attacks the dog may on fur-
ther examination prove to be a different genus to either of those
mentioned, and it therefore requires further study to prove whether
Dermatobia attacks the lower animals as well as man, and Cuti-
terebra, man as well as the lower animals.

Ill

162. — LATANIA BORBONICA, Lamrh. — Livistona chinemis, Mart.

This is a plant well known to cultivators of tropical plants
throughout the world, and is said to have been introduced into Eng-
land from South China in 1318. It is known principally in the
markets for decorative plants as Latania borbonica, and from its
hardy character, its elegance, and the ease with which it can be
brought to perfection as a decorative plant, it probably ranks as the
first of all palms for this purpose. It is especially useful as a decora-
tive plant for the dinner table or saloon, when grown in small pots in
plenty of light.

The palm when mature produces seed freely by the bushel, and
the best table plants are seedlings of two to three years old. The
plant requires but very little shade even when grown in pots, and
when planted in the open, none whatever. In the open ground the
tree begins to form stem at about six years of age, at Avhich time a
head composed of forty or more well developed leaves is qviite
common, and mature specimens reach to the height of 50 or 60 feet,
as can be seen at any time by visitors to the Koyal Botanic Gardens,
where several large and Avell developed specimens are growing,
planted many years ago by the officer who then had charge of
the Botanical Department.

Livistona chinensis is a very suitable plant for forming avenues,
and during the younger periods of its growth is very handsome.
Even when it reaches maturity, its straight columnar stems termi-
nated by a fine panoply of leaves, makes it very conspicuous and
interesting.

The plant is one which thrives admirably in Trinidad, and lai'ge
numbers are grown commercially for export to the United States, by
persons skilled in its cultivation who have been located in the Colony
specially for this purpose.

The leaves of the plant are useful for making ladies' fans, and it
could possibly be grown in large numbers to great advantage for this
purpose, and the manufactiire of the fans would open out employment
for numerous persons of a class for Avliom there is at present no
suitable employment.

163.— LIGNUM YYT^.—Guaiacum Officinale, L.

In Trinidad this tree blossoms in May, and is a highly orna-
mental as well as a useful one. It thrives best in well drained
districts, and stands drought better than many trees. Saint Domingo

112

wood is quoted in the London Market at £2 to £12 per ton, while for
other "West Indian Islands the produce ranges from £3 to £9,

Lignum Vitse is a slow growing tree and takes some years to
attain to any large size, but as it practically costs nothing for cultiva-
tion during the period of growth, small sums can be very economi-
cally expended in planting up estates' pastures, with trees which will
ultimately afford such a valuable pi'oduct.

Not only is the plant valued for its wood, but the gum obtained
from the stem is used in medicine under the name of Besina guaiaci,
which is reputed as a diaphoretic and alterative, and is prescribed in
cases of goiit and rheumatism. It Avas also held in great repute in
former times for the treatment of many other diseases, but in the
modern practice of medicine, it is not so frequently prescribed.
The bark is used in Trinidad for preparing an eifervescing drink
locally known as " mawbee," and vendors of this production may be
commonly seen at the street corners disposing of the drink to passing
workmen.

The wood is principally used for turnery purposes, and is made
into " sheaves" or wheels in ships' " blocks," caulking mallets,
skittle balls, Bowls for the game of " Bowls," and for many like pur-
poses. Sometimes it is used for machine bearings and for similar
purposes, where its quality of hardness and durability renders it
preferable to metals of any kind.

The gum may be readily extracted from the wood by making an
incision in the middle and the building a fire at both ends of a log.

The tree thrives well in Trinidad, especially in the drier districts,
it grows readily from seed, and is really a very valuable and orna-
mental plant.

164.— GrING'ER.— Zingiber officinale, L.

Ginger has hitherto not been generally cultivated in Trinidad,
but it has been clearly shown by experimental cultures at the Convict
Depot, Chaguanas, and by several trials at the Royal Botanic Gardens
that there is nothing whatever to hinder the production of a fine
quality of ginger, fit for the European or American Markets.

Mr. Fawcett, the Director of the Botanical Department in
Jamaica, has reported (5th April, 1894) that the export from that
Island has gradually increased from 9,927 cwt. in 1887 to 14,932 cwt.
in 1894, and that a considerable area of new land is cleared each year
for this crop.

113

Our experiments tend to show that the soil in Trinidad is
eminently suited for the growth of this plant, and also that the
succulent character of the rhizome, so much valued for manufacturing
the preserved " Chinese Ginger," can be produced at will by the
application of suitable manure in sufficient quantities.

It is a cultivation that gives quick returns, and the preparation
of the product is very simple and easily learnt ; the chief difficulty
being to get the rhizomes dry without becoming mildewed. A most
suitable place for such a purpose would be the drying floor of a
" cacao house" especially those which have appliances for drying
in wet weather.

The highest price of Jamaica ginger as given in the Pxxblic
Ledger Market Reports for 1895 is £5 per cwt. ; while for the cor-
responding month of the preceding year the price was £o 10/- per
cwt., and the minimum price for the lowest qualities for the same
periods was £2 14/- for 1895, and £3 1/- for 1894.

It is a cultivation suitable for small settlers with families, as the
labour of children can be very economically employed in the prepara-
tion of the produce. In Trinidad there exists large areas of virgin
lands which are well adapted for the production of ginger of first-rate
quality, but besides these areas, there is plenty of land available near
to villages or townships on which good crops of ginger could be
profitably raised.

Ginger is said to produce crops of 2,000 lbs. to the acre, but if
all land could be cultivated as garden plots, much heavier crops than
this might reasonably be expected.

165.-FIBRE FROM THE " GRU-GRU," OR "GROO-GROO"

PALM. — Acrocomia schrocarpa.

At the Indian and Colonial Exhibition there was exhibited a
fibre said to be prepared from the leaves of the above palm, and on
which the experts reported very favourably as follows : — " this fibre

" IS DISTINGUISHED FROM ALL OTHERS OF ITS CLASS BY ITS REMARKABLE FINE-
" NESS AND GREAT STRENGTH, ON WHICH ACCOUNT IT COULD BE USED FOR A

" VARIETY OF PURPOSES." The fibre was sent from the Island of St.
Vincent.

Wishing to know more of the matter, I wrote Mr. Powell who is
in charge of the Botanic Gardens in that Island, and he reports as
follows as to the way in which it is prepared : — " The pasture boys
turn back a portion (about 3 or 4 inches) of the point of the leaf or

114

leaflet, and b)'' means of a sharp pull or jerk a portion of the fibre is
extracted. The leaves mixst be neither too young nor too old. Some
of the boys have attained to great proficiency in the art of extracting
the fibre, but the process is naturally very slow and very tedious. It
is used principally for fishing lines and whip-lashes."

The above palm differs from that known by the common name of
" Gri-gri" — which botanically is Martinezia CaryotcpfoUa — but from
this palm also, a fibre is produced which is said to be even stronger
than that produced by the " Gru-gru."

Both these palms produce seeds which contain a large proportion
of a sweet palatable oil, which in St. Vincent is extracted and used
for cooking purposes. Children are very fond of cracking the nuts
and removing the kernels which are in both palms sweet and whole-
some to eat, though rather hard for all but the teeth of youth.

The wood obtained from the outside of the stem is very hard,
heavy and durable. It is made into walking sticks, and is sometimes
used for mouldings, its dark colour forming a fine set off to a panel of
pine. The wood possesses the characteristic of never bending, warp-
ing or curling longitudinally, and it would probably be extremely
useful, properly made up, for first-class billiard cues. The only
objection being its Aveight, a difficulty which would probably be over-
come by the manufacturer.

166.-CIRCULAR NOTES.

No. 26. — This number was issued so as to enable planters to avail
themselves of the opportunity of witnessing our annual course of
grafting, and to give them an opportunity of seeing the crops pro-
duced by good culture on the Garden coffee trees. A goodly number
of gentlemen interested in agricultural pursuits availed themselves of
the opportunity and have expressed to us their appreciation of the
privilege which was afforded them.

Botanical Depautment, Teikidad. — Circular Note, No. 26.

Grafting the Mango. — Culture and Pruning of the Coffee Tree.

Persons interested in learning the process of grafting the Mango
can see the operation being carried on at the Royal Botanic Gardens
on Tuesday, "Wednesday and Thursday of each week during the
month of August, 1895, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

115

A short lecture will be delivered each day by the Superintendent
on the principles and practice of grafting.

Between the same hours and on the same days instruction Avill
be given on the culture and pruning of the CoflPee tree (Coffea
Arahica).

The days set apart for instruction will be the 6th, 7th, 8th ; 13th,
14th, loth; 20th, 21st, 22nd; 27th, 28th, 29th August, 1 p.m.
to 3 p.m.

Notice should be given of the intention to attend the lectures
before the 6th of August.

The crop of Coffee noAv on the trees under culture and the
absence of it on untreated trees affords good evidence of what may be
done by proper treatment and culture.

J. H. H.

29th July, 1895.

Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 27,

'•' Silica'" in Grasses.

In the Liguanea plains of Jamaica one of the most common
pasture grasses is that commonly known as " wire grass," and botani-
cally as Sporoholus Indicus. This grass is also indigenous and common
in Trinidad.

In Jamaica this grass is most difficult to cut, it being next to
impossible to maintain an " edge" upon any tool or instrument made
use of for that purpose.

In Trinidad on the other hand the same grass is cut with ease,
either with the scythe or other instrument.

The true reason for these facts not being clearly recognised,
mature samples of both grasses were procured wdth the view of
having the amount of Silica in each accurately determined.

An analysis performed at the Government Laboratory by Pro-
fessor Carmody gives as follows : —

Percentage Silica.

Sample "A" Jamaica— 4-50.— Sample "B" Trinidad— 2*69.

This result was anticipated, and the large amount contained by

the Jamaica sample would appear to fully indicate the reason for the

difficulty which is experienced in cutting the grass in our sister

island.

116

Why the same species of grass should develope more silica in one
climate and soil than in another would appear to be a question
worthy of further investigation.

The Sugar Cane is a grass, and if the crops of various countries
were analysed in a similar manner as these samples, it is pro-
bable that comparative results of great interest to planters would
manifest themselves, as it would appear to be evident that a hard-
skinned cane, or that containing the most silica would certainly be
able to withstand the attack of insect and vegetable parasites, far

better than one having a soft and easily pierced skin.

J. H. H.
2nd September, 1895.

Circular Note No. 28.

Seedling Sugar Canes.

In my annual report I mentioned page 9, that the experiments of
Messrs. Jenman and Harrison of British Guiana, on the growth and
yield of seedling canes had been fully supported by trials carried out
at the sugar experiment in Louisiana, U.S.A., under Prof. Stubbs.

Further news has now been received that seedling No. 95 has
again surpassed all others. Prof. Harrison showing that it has given
the richest juice for the fourth year in succession. He futher states
that third ratoons gave a yield of some 26 to 27 tons to the acre.

The results obtained in our experimental plot also confirm the
fact that the seedling No. 95 is superior in yield to any of the
established varieties now grown, and further experiments are now
being undertaken which it is hoped will confirm these first tests.

We have in the Gardens four of the best seedlings, and these are
being propagated with the greatest possible taste, so as to give them
more extended trial on estates, as it may be clearly seen that a cane
which will give on experimental fields a yield of some 18 to 20 per
cent, over all others is one which deserves very high estimation.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.
6th December.

EOTANICAL DePAKTMEKT, TrINIDAD CIRCULAR NOTE No. 29.

Yield of Seedling Sugar Canes, dc.

Considerable interest has been taken in the contents of Circular
Note No. 28 relating to the yield of new varieties of seedling canes,

117

and many enquiries have been received from planters in regard
to their origin, &c.

Canes Nos. 95, 74, 78 and 102 were raised in the Botanic Gardens,
British Guiana, and were received by us in November, 1894, direct
from Demerara, a single stool of each of the above with many others
of high value being sent to our Gardens by Mr. Jenman in that
month.

The propagation of the best of these canes is being proceeded
with as fast as possible so as to be able to give at a stated time equal
supplies of cuttings to all applicants.

The report on these canes for 1893, 1894 and 1895, is not yet
published, but from information received I am in a position to state
that the returns of 1892 (here given) are fully supported by those of
the three following years. In the words of a correspondent, if this
experimental yield can be maintained there is little reason to fear
extinction by beet, and no need to trouble about countervailing
duties.

Xo.

Tons.

Sp. Gr.

Sucrose.

Glucose.

Purity.

95 ,

... 33

... 1094

... 2-228

... -048 .

.. 911

74 .

.. 34

... 1090

... 2-184

... -063

.. 93-2

78 ,

... 47

... 1078

... 1-722

... -080 .

.. 85-2

102 .

.. 33

... 1094

,.. 2-202

... -068 .

.. 90-1

12th December, 1895.

J. H. HART, F.L.S.

167.-ANALYSIS OP GARDEN SOILi-f^nd Article.)

Under the above heading in article No. 117 p. 43, I gave a short
account of the inferior character of the soil of the Royal Botanic
Gardens. Since writing that account I have received from Professor
Carmody, F. I.C, F. C. S., Government Analyst, the details of an
analysis of two samples taken with the especial view of shewing the
main characteristics of the soil with whloh we have to deal.

The estimated value of the soil as given in article 117, is fully
confirmed by the analysis furnished. It shews in fact that the
soil is even poorer than we could possibly have anticipated. There
can no longer therefore be any doubt as to the method of culture
to be pursued, as it is evident that fertilizing material in the form
of manure of almost any kind may certainly be applied with the
greatest advantage, for the fact is patent that in such a soil, plants,

118

excepting perhaps those which are deep feeders, without liberal
supplies of manure, will suffer from starvation. As the same class of
soil extends southward through the Queen's Park in the direction of
the town of Port-of-Spain, the analysis of our soil will afford a
hint which should not be lost sight of by those having land under
cultivation. The following is the analysis : —

Samples of Soils received 9th February, from the Superintendent of

the Botanic Gardens.

Subsoil.

Surface.

Water, (hygroscopic

... 0-720

... 1-100

Loss on ignition, (* organic and volatile matter)

... 1-640

... 1-700

Silica ...

... 89-768

... 87-600

Oxides of Iron and Alumina ...

... 6-370

... 7-4-20

Lime ...

... 0-533 ,

... 1-187

Magnesia

... 0-018

.:. 0-093

Potash ... ...

... 0-200

... 005

Soda

... 0-236

... 0-021

Phosphoric Acid ( Pj O5 )

... 0-007

... 0-013

Sulphuric Acid ( SO3 )

... 0-002

... 0-018

Chlorine

... 0-005 .

.. 0-002

Carbonic Acid ( COj )

... 0-358 ,

.. 0-423

Loss

... 0-143 ,

,.. 0-358

100-000 .

..100-000

* Containing : —

Carbon ... .. ... 0-136 ... 1-036

Nitrogen ... ... ... 0-098 ... 0-057

Both soils show a deficiency in organic matter, potash, magnesia and
phosphates.

P. CARMODY,
Government Laboratory, Government Analyst.

29th July, 1895.

It is evident that with soil of the description obtaining at the
Eoyal Botanic Gardens, a large proportion of the material constituents
for plant growth must be furnished by the air, by the annual
Eainfall or by artificial means. It is therefore important for the
cultivator to know the amount and composition of the annual Rain-
fall and also of the chemical constituents of the atmosphere before
it can be accurately shewn what is really the best manure to
apply and the best methods of applying it. An example of an
effort in this direction is afforded in the report issued conjointly
by the Government Botanist and Government Analyst of Demerara
on experimental cane cultivation. The Rainfall for 1891 is shewn

119

to have contained 124*29 lbs. chlorine and 4-08 lbs. nitrogen per
acre, and that for 1892, 109*7 lbs. chlorine and 2*27 nitrogen per acre.
Such examinations are extremely interesting, and allowing for known
sources of error, must be of the greatest use to the cultivator of the
soil in country where climate plays such an important part in sup-
plying material for plant growth as it does in Trinidad.

168.-THB MANUFACTURE OF CASTOR OIL,

\_Extract from Pharmaceutical Journal, May, 1895.^

" The system hitherto in use at the centres of this industry
involves, first of all. the separation of the husks from the kernels,
which are then heated and moulded into cakes and placed in horsehair
bags or cloths and submitted to pressure, which is almost invariably
obtained by manual power in India. In Marseilles and other centres
of Europe where castor oil is manufactured, hydraulic pressure is
usually applied. In the case of East Indian oil, the total oil taken
from the seed is usually extracted at one operation ; but where
hydraulic pressure is employed it is found more economical to press
twice, and by this means extract a larger percentage of oil from the
seed. The Calcutta marc from castor crushing contains about 20 per
cent, of oil, whei'eas by the other systems it is considerably less than
half that amount. This mode of manufacture has many objectionable
features, being complicated and unnecessarily expensive, and most
injurious as regards the quality of both the oil and the cake so
produced.

The system adopted in the present case has been introduced by
the British Castor Oil Company's Engineer, who has invented and
patented most of the apparatus employed. Guzzerat seed is exclu-
sively employed for the preparation, both of the medicinal and the
lubricating oils, so as to ensure a uniform product, as it is the only
variety which can readily be obtained free from admixture.

The first floor of the building is used as a granary, and here the
seed is carefully sifted, so as to get rid of any extraneous matter. It
it is then shot into a movable hopper, which is drawn along the top of
the large horizontal hydraulic press situated on the ground floor.
When the press boxes are open the seed is discharged through the
aperture at the bottom of the hopper, and fills the boxes. A pressure
of 480 tons is then applied, and the oil is expressed, falling upon a
movable plate and into drains provided for its reception along each

120

side of tlie press. From these sources it flows into a linen strainer,
wliicli separates the crushed seeds which have escaped from the press,
and then into an adjacent tank. Here, when it reaches a certain level,
the stopcock of a vacuum pipe in connection is opened, and the oil is
immediately drawn through a system of pipes into a cylinder on the first
floor in another part of the building, whence it passes down into the
first filter, which takes out all mechanical impurities. Thence it is drawn
into another cylinder adjacent to the first, one being empty whilst
the other is full, and vice versa. At this stage it may be noticed that
the oil is perfectly clear and bright. However, in order to get rid of
microscopical impurities it passes from the second cylinder into a
second filter, whence it is drawn into the bottling machine, where, as
a final precaution, it is again filtered before being run into the bottle.
This apparatus, which has been patented, is admirably adapted for the
purpose, and, as a vacuum is formed in the bottle when the outlet
taps are opened, cracked bottles are at once detected. The tempera-
ture both of the filling and bottling rooms is kept uniform day
and night.

It may here be remarked that the system of filtration is through-
out entirely mechanical, no chemicals being employed in any part of
the process. In the case of the medicinal oil four separate cloths of a
special kind of twill are arranged in each filter. The plant has been
erected about four months only, and medicinal oil is expressed during
the first half of the week, the press being afterwards used for the
extraction of lubricating oil from the residue ; but from the press
forward the two varieties of oil pass through distinct and separate
systems of pipes and refining plant so as to avoid any possible contact
between them. Shortly, hoAvever, the two varieties of oil will be
made continuously, a separate press being used for each. It may
here be noted that the oil expressed by this process is absolutely
" cold drawn," the temperature of the press-room averaging 47° F.
This is of interest, in view of the fact that very little, if any, of the
so-called " cold drawn" castor oil at present in the market is properly
so termed. The oil, in all its stages of manufacture, has a simple
bland taste, resembling olive or almond oil, in marked contrast to the
nauseous taste usually associated with it. The press takes a charge
of 2 cwt. of seed at each operation, the time occupied in expressing
the medicinal oil being about seventeen minutes. An important
feature of this system of vacuum filtration is that from the time the
oil leaves the collecting tank until bottled it is never exposed to the
air, and the natural moisture of the oil is dissipated mechanically.

121

After the seed has undergone the first pressure, whereby half
of the available 44 per cent, of oil has been collected for medi-
cinal purposes, the residual cake is again submitted to the same
treatment. This takes out an additional 16 per cent, of oil finally
leaving about 6 per cent, in the marc. The second product
goes through a similar process to the first, except that it is only
filtered once, and that three instead of four cloths are employed
for the purpose. The finished product, which is sold exclusively for
lubricating purposes, as a matter of fact closely resembles the medi-
cinal oil, but has a slightly nauseous taste. The marc left after the
second extraction is at present entirely used for horticultural pur-
poses under the name of " Foodite." Analysis shows it to contain
7'28 per cent, of nitrogen, equivalent to 8'84 per cent, of ammonia.

The present director Avas engaged in the manufacture of castor oil
in India for some twelve years, and the process now employed by him
embodies all the best points of his experience in the diiFerent oil-
producing centres. In Calcutta alone there are more than 300 mills
engaged in crushing castor oil seed, but the system there employed,
as already explained, involves the husking of the seed prior to sub-
mitting it to pressure. However, a mill is being erected there
in which the present process has been adopted. The advantages
claimed for crushing the whole seed are that the process is much
more expeditious, less costly, and that there is no danger of internal
pressure, such as is liable to occur Avhen the kernels only are sub-
mitted to pressure.

Obviously this system of extraction is applicable to many other
seeds besides castor. In fact it has been tried with extremely satis-
factory results with linseed. In this instance, after about 27 per
cent, of oil had been extracted by cold pressure, the seed was but
little altered in appearance, and would doubtless be very useful in
that state for cattle food, the expense of making it into cake being
unnecessary. Besides this, several purposes for which it could with
advantage be used pharmaceutically, suggest themselves. The most
important economic use of the seed, however, is as a source of oil."

169. -BOTANICAL NOTES.

No. 1. — Polypodiuvi trinidadense, n. sp., Jenman.

Under this name there has recently been described a fern which
was collected by the writer at Maracas Falls some five years since.

122

A plant brought in at that time has been under cultivation at the
Gardens, but only produced fertile fronds for the first time during
1895. The following is the description by Mr. Jenman : —

PoLYrODiUM {PTiegopteris) Trinidadense, Jen., n. sp.

Stipites, 6-9 inches long, void of vesture, slightly channelled,
brownish green ; racliis similar ; fronds pinnate, chartaceous, pale
green, naked 1-2 feet long, 1 foot or over wide, not reduced at the
base, and very slightly at the apex terminating in a simple, linear-
ligulate unlobed pinnae, conform to the lateral ones ; pinnoe spreading
horizontally, almost sessile linear-ligulate 5-6 lines Avide, 9 inches
long, finely serrato-accuminate, the base truncate, not widened,
slightly contracted in the lower ones, the margins uniformly through-
out sharply dentate (or bi-tridentate) ; veins copious, simple, close
grouped, running to the margin, terminating in the serrations ; sori
copious, medial on the veins, forming two or three rows, no involucre
observable. — Trinidad, Hart, 1895,

At first sight this might be mistaken for Polypodiun flavo-
punctatum, Kaulf., a plant very common in Trinidad, but which on
comparison is seen to be very distinct. The pinnge are narrower in
this, they are uniformly free at the base, slightly narrowed there,
with a terminal one to the frond, simple, only serrated just like the
lateral ones, and the translucent spots are quite absent ; whereas, P.
flavo-piinctatum has pinnae tAvice or thrice as broad, with copious
translucent spots, the upper pinnje roundly lobed along the margins,
freely translucently spotted, the upper two-thirds broadly aduate,
and decurrent on the rachis, passing gradually into the lobed apex of
the frond, there being no distinct terminal pinnae. Plumier's fig. Fil.
T. 38 is a very good figure of P. flavo punctatum, and shows clearly
how distinct these two species are.

Demerara,

30th July, 1895.

No. 2. — Cynometra trinitensis, Oliver

In the front portion of the Koyal Botanic Gardens facing south,
stands a large tree which has long been a favourite with visitors, on
account of the dense shade it aff"ords at all seasons of the year. It
stands some sixty feet in height Avith a spread of branch about the
same in diameter as the height. This tree produces a pod or bean

123

with a hardened exterior, circiilar in form, and containing a single
seed in each. The pods are about two inches in diameter, resembling
a golf ball, and are the ready-made playthings of the children who
daily congregate beneath the shade of the tree. The form of flower
and of pod is somewhat peculiar, so much so, that it is hard for the
ordinary observer to believe that it really belongs to the order
Leguminos^, or the order to which our common peas and beans and
many of our pod bearing forest trees, such as the " Saman" Pitheco-
lobium Saman and others, belong. The tree in question is probably
somewhat over forty years of age, and was formerly known as
Cynometra cauliflora, L.

On specimens being sent to the Royal Gardens, Kew, however,
Professor Oliver decides it to be a new species, which will be described
and figured by him in Hooker's Icones Plantarum as Ci/nometra
trinitensis, Oliver. It is a tree which grows freely, producing hand-
some dark green foliage, and is well worthy of a place in any tropical
garden where the same conditions obtain as those which are present
with us in Trinidad.

No, 3. — Asplenium Nidus, L., var. A. Muscefolium, Mett.

On my arrival in Trinidad in 1887, I found in the Gardens a
large plant of the above-named fern growing in a tub under partial
shade. So well was it thriving that it was resolved to leave it in the
position in which it was found, when a rearrangement of the nurseries
was in progress. The result has been a maintenance of the same
state of vigorous health, and an increase in size which makes it one
of the features of the Garden. The following are the dimensions : —
Diameter, 9 feet 9 inches ; height above tub, 6 feet ; average length
of leaf, 6 feet ; width of same at widest part, 12 inches. The plant
produces a large quantity of spores annually, but we have not as yet
succeeded in raising young plants.

No. 4. — Trichopilin hymenantha, Jtclih. f.

This is a small orchid indigenous to Trinidad, which has been
brought in by local collectors from time to time since 1887, but now
named for the first time from specimens sent home to the Royal
Gardens, Kew.

124

170.—" THE hOQJJ AT. "—Eriobotry a Japonica, Lindl.

This tree is a native of China and Japan. It grows in the Royal
Botanic Gardens to a height of thirty or thirty-five feet, and in
favourable seasons gives a fair supply of fruit. The latter, though
sought after by the youth of the place, cannot be said to rank as a
first-class dessert fruit in Tiinidad, whatever they naay be in their
native country. When in good condition, however, they have a
pleasant flavour, and possibly in drier districts, fruit may be produced
of superior quality. Plants are readily raised in quantity from the
seeds produced. The tree belongs to the order Rosacece to which the
pear, the apple, the cherry, the strawberry, and other European
fruits belonor.

'O*

171.— GIANT CACTUS.— Ceretis peruvianus.

Growing near to the office of the Gardens is a large plant of this
Cactus which annually produces a large number of pure white flowers,
sometimes as many as a thousand at a time. Blooming however as
they do during the hours of night and closing early in the morning,
it is seldom that visitors have an opportunity of witnessing the
display of bloom. The season during which flowering takes place i§
during the months of May or June according to the rainfall. Seen
in the early morning when in full flower, the plant presents a beauti-
ful appearance, but for the rest of the year its huge stems, some 30
feet in height are, though quaint and interesting, anything but
beautiful objects.

172. — SHALLOT. — Allium Ascalonium, L.

" Although botanically very closely allied to the ciiltivated onion,
" the shallot in its manner of growth differs from it completely from
" a horticultural point of view." — {Vilmorin-Andrieux.)

The true shallot is a native of Palestine. In the West Indies this
useful esculent is cultivated in many places but not generally. It can
be profitably cultivated at low altitudes if grown in well manured
beds at distances of six inches apart and planted so as to ripen in the
dry season. It is frequently used as a component part of West
Indian pickles.

173.— THE GROUND UUT—AracMs hypogea, L.

" Ground Nut," Monkey Nut," " Earth Nut," " Pindar," " Pea
Nut," " Pistache de terre" and " Earth Almond." Professor Church
in food grains of India gives the following Eastern names for the

125

plant. Hind. — Mung-phullie, Bue-mung, Vilayeti-mung. Punjauh.
— Chawal iniigra. Ben<j. — China-badauo, Alke-k\ilay. TcJ. — Nela-
sanagalu. Tamil. — Nelay-cadalay. Sanskrit. — Boclianaka.

This long string of names, whicli could be easily extended, tends
to show that the cultivation of this plant is an industry widely
distributed throughout the world, in countries having suitable soil
and climate for its growth. A suitable climate Avithout a suitable
soil would be useless, as the plant almost entirely depends upon the
physical character of the soil to enable it to produce its fruit to per-
fection. It is quite useless to plant the " Ground Nut" in clay or
hard soils, as it would be physically impossible for the plant to bury
its legume beneath the surface, so as to allow of its full and proper
development. The ground nut is an annual herb with procumbent
branches. It belongs to the order Leguminoscc, and bears small yellow
pea-like flowers borne on long stalks, which, after flowering, curl
downwards, and force the immature pod into the soil sometimes
as deep as three inches or more below the surface where it fully
developes and ripens.

Good ground nuts have been grown in Trinidad, and have
frequently been shewn at our exhibitions of produce, but neverthe-
less, the market is principally supplied with produce which is of
American growth. Most of the attempts to grow the plant have I
believe been made in unsuitable soil, and where any success has been
obtained, the soil in which they have been grown has been artificially
prepared.

In some districts in Trinidad there will pi-obably be found soils
which are eminently suited for this cultivation. These are best
described as soft sandy loams which, either dry or wet, maintain
their porous and easily penetrated character. Such soils usually
contain a sufficient amount of organic matter and other constituents
of plant food as will enable a plant like the " ground nut" to be
economically grown.

In the district of Oropuche and Siparia, soils are to be found in
which a walking stick can readily be pressed down one or tAvo feet
deep, and it is such soils that should be used for the culture of the
" Ground Nut" or " Pistache." The climate is all that could be
desired for the cultivation, the market is a good one, as shewn by
the annual importations, and it is only necessary to plant in suitable
soil to obtain a paying crop.

The plant is stated by Prof. Church to be " probably of Ameri-
can origin ;" and this view is also taken by DeCaudoUe who ascribes

126

it to the Brazilian Continent. It having been shown that in that

region, six other species of AracMs were long since discovered ; and he

further believes it to have been introduced into Africa by slave ships

at a very early period, and where it is now largely cultivated.

Professor Church gives the composition of the pea-nut as

follows : —

7-5

>yajuci ... •••

Albuminoids

... 1 CF

... 24-5

Starch

... 11-7

Oil

... 50-0

Fibre

... 4-5

Ash

... 1-8

100-0

He also says, " as half the weight of pea-nuts is oil, they require
a considerable amount of starchy food in order to become a wholesome
and economical article of diet. Pea-nuts, aftfer the greater part of
the oil has been extracted by pressure, yield a cake well adapted for
feeding cattle."

The oil when " cold-drawn" is almost colourless, of agreeable faint
odour, and bland olive-like flavour. " It is employed for cooking and
burning, and as a general substitute for olive oil ; indeed, large
quantities are passed off as olive oil in European markets." — {Spons
Encylp.)

In Trinidad the common name for the ground nut is " Pistache^^
or " Pistache de terre" but it should not be confused as is sometimes
done, with the veritable " Pistachio nut" of Europe, which is the
seed of a tree known as Pistachia vera, a native of "Western Asia.
The seeds of this tree are generally eaten in eastern countries either
" simply dried as a dessert fruit somewhat resembling almonds, or
made into articles of confectionery." The harvesting and curing
of the crop of the " ground nut" is simple ; all that is required, is
to remove them from the ground and wash and dry them thoroughly,
bvit they should be sized before being sent to market, as the large
ones are used for dessert and confectionery purposes and the
smaller ones for making oil for household use to which they are
well adapted.

In India large areas are grown. Dr. Watt in the " Agricultural
Ledger," published in Calcutta, says that as much as 112,000 acres
were under cultivation in 1879. In 1878 the imports into France
were valued at 30,239,602 francs — the largest portion of which was

127

imported from the West Coast of Africa. The import of this seed
seed so largely into the South of France is significantly corroborative
-of the supposition that it is largely used for making substitutes for
olive oil.

In a return published by Dr. Watt, l,o36,905 cwts. of nuts of
the value of 9,597,275 rupees, and oil to the amount of 20,973 gal-
lons, valued at 28,745 rupees, were exported from British India.

•tft-

TEINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

BULLETIN

HtkcellEiieaits ItifariMtian.

No. 6. APRIL, 1896. Vol. 11.

CONTENTS.

1 74. —Water-Cress,

1 75. —Artichokes.

176.— Roses {Extract).

177.— Sisal Hemp.

178.— Notes on Maniaring- (Extract);

179,— Introduction of Lodoicea Sechellarum.

180— Robbery and Murder.

181 —Circular Notes:

No. 30.— Sugar Cane Seeds.

182.— "Water Measures and Rainfall (Extract).
183.— Jamaica Drift Fruit.
184.— Gordon's Coffee Machines.
1 85. — Chrysanthemums .
186.— Natural History Notes :

No. 25.— Corbeau in Error.

,, 26.— New Coccids.

„ 27.— Snake Bites (Extract).
187.-" Tabasheer."

Fill©®? ^w@:rE'if©^.

Edited by the Superintendent Royal Botcmic Gardens,
J. H. HART, F.L.S,

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN,

1896.

131

174.— WATER-CRESS.— iV^as<M>-<«m officinale, B. Br.

LTHOUGH we seldom hear the familar Coster's cry of " Fresh
Water-creases" in the streets of West Indian Towns there
are however but few markets in tliese Towns in which
Water-cress cannot be purchased. The Cress grown, though perhaps
not quite so succulent and vigorous, as would be found in Europe or
America is of very fair quality, and makes a very agreeable salad
for the table. The plant is naturalized in many of the rivers and
streams of the different Islands and its quality depends much
upon the character of the streams. A sluggish stream, of pure water
flowing over a sandy bottom is the place par excellence for Water-cress,
^nd in some situations which present these features in Trinidad, Water-
cress is found in abundance. This salad may however with a little
care be fairly Avell grown in the more confined area of a villa garden pro-
vided a suitable place is constructed, and the necessary shade provided.
A shallow concrete tank should be provided about ten to twelve inches in
depth the lower portion should be filled with broken stones gradually
decreasing in size upwards, and the whole drainage should be about six
inches in thickness. On the surface of this should be placed two inches of
rough sand, and again on the immediate surface two inches of clean loam.
When the filling of the tank is complete, turn on a supply of water,
filling it to the brim, and after letting it soak for a few days, run off
the water and subsequently maintain a constant rimning supply. The
plants may now be put in as cuttings at about four or five inches
apart when they will soon fill all the available space. Unless the
tank is fairly well shaded however Oscillaria and other fresh water
Algse take possession of the water and hinder growth. Such a
shade may be given by constructing a light frame work covered with
palm leaves, but it is generally more economical to provide a growing
shade in the form of a vine or creeper of some kind. After a time
when the vigour of the Cress diminishes, the loam, sand, and drainage
should be removed, the drainage washed and returned, but fresh loam
and sand should be provided. Great care should be taken that only
clean water is used, and that no contamination of any kind should enter
the tank in which the Cress is grown, as, being eaten in an
uncooked state, even the slightest contamination of any kind is highly
dangerous to health. In preparation for the table also Cress should
always be dipped for a few seconds in strong salt and water and after-
wards washed in fresh, as by this means many objectionable organisms
can be removed.

132
175.-" ARTICHOKES."

The above name is one commonly applied in England to twa
distinct plants, one called the " Globe Artichoke" or Cynara cardun-
culus L., and the other the "Jerusalem Artichoke" or Helianthus
tuberosus ; L. The Globe Artichoke is shewn by De Candolle, p. 42
of "Origin of cultivated plants" to be a native of Mediterranean
countries, but has during the present century become so firmly
naturalized in Brazil and Chili as to have become a hindrance to
travellers. The Jerusalem Artichoke on the other hand is shewn to
be a native of North America and is capable of bearing any amount
of cold. Eeasoning on the basis of climate it would certainly appear
likely that the plant which comes from the warm region of the Medi-
terranean would be more amenable to cultivation in the West Indies
than one coming from North America. As a matter of fact however the
" Jerusalem Artichoke" is a comparatively easy plant to grow, while
the "Globe Artichoke" is very difficult, and can only be grown at
considerable elevations and seldom appears in our local markets.
Temperature has probably in this, as in many other cases, less to do
with the result, than humidity ; for it is found that the " Globe
Artichoke" suflfers most in damp weather, while the "Jerusalem
Artichoke" can stand moisture with impunity, and can also
stand a season of drought without being seriously affected. The com-
mon names applied to the "Jerusalem Artichoke" in various countries
are given by Messrs. Vilmorin-Andrieux in their famous work on the
"Vegetable Garden" as follows: — French, Topinambour ; Oerman,
Erdapfel ; Flemish, Aarpeer ; Danish, Jordskokken ; Italian, Girasole
del Canada, Tartufoli ; Spanish, Namara ; Portuguese, Topinambor ;
English, Jerusalem Artichoke. De Candolle further states ; " The
French name Topinambour comes apparently from some real or sup-
posed Indian name. The common English name is a corruption of the
Italian girasole, sunflower, combined with an allusion to the artichoke
flavour of the root."

M.M. Vilmorin-Andreiux gives the following : " stem erect,
very stout, sometimes over 6^ feet high" and it is known that in good
ground in Europe that they often reach one or two feet more than
the height given. Here however in Trinidad the variety generally
cultivated seldom reach more than three and is often but two feet in
height. The tubers are small and much worted or divided, and there
is consequently great loss in preparing them for the table. In Europe
the tubers are colored somewhat {voilet-red, Vilmorin) with a reddish

133

■or dull flesh tinge, but here on the contrary they become nearly Avhite,
and when ripe are very small in size. So much do they differ from
the English varieties that I at one time was of opinion that it might
be a different species to that cultivated in the old world and
to test this I procured sets for the season of 1895, the tubers
of which when planted, presented a vastly different appearance
to our own. Grown side by side with our common variety the
result has been interesting, for the imported tubers produced
stems one-third higher than these, with tubers double the
size, much more tender, and of a better flavour and more-
over, like our own, the tuber proved to be without a particle of
colour. The flowers and leaves are also on an average about ^ larger
than the Trinidad kind but do not otherwise vary sufficiently to make
even a varietal distinction. Subsequent cultivation will of course
shew whether the imported kind will, in a season or two, put on the
type of growth common to our local variety, or whether it will
continue to maintain the slight difference in size which is now the
only apparent distinction other than that of superior quality in the im-
ported variety. This much however is certain (viz.) that from imported
sets, we can in one planting obtain larger and better flavoured tubers
than from the kind which is usually grown in Trinidad. The
"Jerusalem Artichoke" has its French name of " Topinambour"
monopolized in Trinidad by another entirely different plant, viz. :
Calathea Allouya, Lindl., which belongs to the order Scitaminecp,
while both the Globe and Jerusalem Artichokes belong to the Com-
jpositoe, which is another curious illustration of the unreliability of
popular plant names, which are so much insisted on locally in Trini-
dad. The Jerusalem Artichoke is much used in Trinidad as one of
the ingredients for making a very palatable kind of white soup,
known as Palestine soup.

The plant as I have before mentioned is quite an easy plant to
cultivate ; all that it requires, is to be grown in a friable soil, fairly
fertile, and the sets placed some 15 or 18 inches apart. The tubers
should be taken after the plants have flowered, but before they give
signs of withering, as the roots are apt to become stringy if left too
long before digging. It is one of the most useful tropical vegetables
we have, as it may be had at various seasons, simply by varying the
time of planting the tubers.

134
176.-ROSES.

In No. 2 vol. 2 p. 45 I called attention in a short article to Rose-
Culture, but the following on the same subject by my friend and
former colleague in Jamaica Mr. Nock, now of Ceylon ; is so clear
and to the point and so much in accord with my own experience that
I give it in full as of the highest value to cultivators of the Rose in
the West Indies, the conditions of climate in Ceylon being similar if
not identical with those existing in Trinidad.

ROSES

THEIR CULTIVATION IN CEYLON :

By W. Nock, Superintendent of Hahgala Gardens, Nuicara Eliya.

Site. — Although roses will grow in almost any situation they can never be
grown to perfection, or indeed to give satisfaction, unless the site is carefully
chosen. The rose delights in an open sunny situation and one that has an Eastern
or Southern aspect is the best, provided it is sheltered from strong winds. Under
the shade of tall trees and lofty buildings they never thrive and these conditions
should be avoided as much as possible. Even in small gardens it is best to keep
all rose plants together ; they can then, without injury to anything else, receive
the treatment most advantageous to them at any time of the year. As for in-
stance should diseases attack them the remedies can be applied more easily and
with greater effect than if they were scattered all over the garden. And again
with manure if they are planted among other plants they scarcely ever receive
the full benefit, as the roots of the surrounding plants will be sure to run in and
rob them before they have time to take up anything like the quantity they need
for the development of strong healthy shoots and foliage. The robbery that is
going on under the soil among plants is very much greater than most people
suppose. I know from actual experience that a hole, 18 inches in diameter and
one foot deep, which was got out at a distance of 12 feet from the trunk of a tree,
and filled in again with a mixture of manure and good soil, was in six weeks just
one mass of hungry roots and the rose plant that was planted in it, not being able
to hold its own among them, was quite sickly and dying. This of course is an
extreme case, as the roots happened to come from an Acacia tree, but the roots
of all trees do some damage and it is well, especially in the case of roses, to be on
the look out for them and keep them at a respectable distance.

The drip from large trees will also keep roses from thriving and injure the
flowers.

Soil. — The soil that roses most delight in is a rather strong rich loam, the
deeper the better, and it should be quite free from stagnant moisture. This
refers to roses generally, but roses on their own roots will thrive in much lighter
soil. They will not flourish or last long in heavy clays or in soil that is of a light
sandy or gravelly nature. Of course these soils can be manured and prepared so
as to suit the plants, as will be explained a little further on, but where the ground
is so bad as not to admit of improvement in this way, it must be removed altogether
and replaced with that of a proper description. Good drainage under all condi-
tions of soil is of the utmost importance, for roses will never flourish long in a
soil that is naturally wet.

Manure. — For general purposes a mixture of the following will form as good
a manure as can be desired. Pigs' dung, cow-dung, burnt earth or wood ashes
and old night-soil in about equal parts and to this slaould be added a good sprink-
ling of crushed bones and quick lime, and all thoroughly mixed together. It is
important that the dung, of whatev'er description, should be well decayed and
the night-soil should be very old. For light soils strong loam should be used
with cow-dung and night-soil. For heavy soils burnt earth, sand and leaf-mould
should be used freely in addition to the compost mentioned above. It would be
well too in very heavy soils of a cold nature to use good stable manure in the
place of cow-dung.

135

Preparation of the Ground. — Thorough drainage is the first thing to be
considered, and this should be effected by opening drains 4 feet deep and 10 to
15 feet apart and laying down draining tiles along the bottom, allowing a good
fall so that the water drained off may run away freely. If tiles are not to be had,
a fairly good drain can be made by placing nine inches to a foot of rubble stones
in tlie bottom, and on these should be placed small twigs to prevent the drainage
from getting choked. In filling up the drain the roughest material should be
thrown in first.

The whole of the land should now be stirred to a depth of two feet, or two
and a half feet if the nature of the soil will allow. This should be carried out
in the following manner : —

If the piece of land to be trenched is large, it should be divided into two

parts thus

and a trench 2^ feet wide and 2 feet or 2\ feet

deep cut as the case will allow. Dig out the whole length across the patch
marked a, and the soil from it is to be carried and placed along the end marked
h. Then mark off a space 2 feet wide next to the open trench and throw in this
the first 2 or 3 inches of weeds and litter, on top of which turn the next foot of
8oil and so on until the second trench is as deep as the first, mixing in the
manure as the work proceeds, and continue trench after trench until the whole of
a is finished down to c. Then take out another trench 2i feet wide along the end
of d to fill up the trench along c. Continue the trenching as before up to h where
the soil from a will be found ready to fill in the last trench. For narrow strips of
land the trench may be got out along the whole end and wheeled to the opposite
end to fill up the last trench. The first trench should always be six inches wider
than the others to allow for the slope necessarj' to prevent the soil from falling
back into the trenches.

Where the sub-soil is poor and bad it will not be advisable to turn the lower
part of the trench uppermost, but it should be loosened up to a good depth and
enriched with manure. It is a good plan whether the sub-soil be bad or not to
loosen the bottom of the trench with a digging fork, as it not only improves the
soil, but allows the roots to descend deeper and they are then less likely to suffer
in dry seasons.

Should the soil be gravelly or very sandy, it will be necessary to remove it
to a depth of 20 inches — where the plants are to be grown — and replace it with
proper soil which should consist of strong loam enriched with manure. If this
is not done the plants are almost sure to suffer from Red Spider during dry
weather.

Laying otit oj the Ground. — The simplest forms of beds I consider are the
best adopted for roses and they always show up best when the beds or borders
are cut out in turf or have turf verges round them. However, the shape of the
beds and whether the paths should be turf or gravel may be left to the taste of
the individual interested, but whatever shape they are they should not exceed 6
feet in diameter, in order that the plants may be attended to without treading
on the ground.

Planting. — Roses in Ceylon can be planted at almost any time in showery
weather, but it is best to do so during the period of rest or before they start into
fresh growth. Strong well rooted plants should be selected and the work must
be performed with care. A sufljciently large hole must be taken out to allow
room for the roots to be spread out naturally within 4 or 5 inches of the surface.
They should never be packed together. The collar of the plant, if on its o\vn
roots, may be about 2 inches under the surface, if otherwise it should be just
level with the ground. A few hand-fulls of leaf-mould thrown in among the
roots will be of great benefit in helping the plants to root quickly in the new
soil. The other soil should be filled in evenly and firmly, then water to settle
the soil about the roots.

For dwarf specimen plants 3 feet apart is a good distance, but if the plants
are required to be pegged down to cover the whole surface of a bed they may be
planted as close as 2 feet, or even 18 inches. Should dry hot weather follow the

136

planting they must be shaded and watered until they have made fresh roots, care
must, however, be taken not to over-water as it will cause the soil to become
sour and the plants will not grow freely.

Pruning.— 1% may be taken as a general rule that the weaker the growth
the closer the pruning required. The first thing to be done is to cut clean out
all weak, pithy, and ungainly shoots, selecting ripe, strong well-formed wood to
remain to form the bush, these shoots should be cut back, the weakest to 2 or 3
eyes and the strongest to 6 or 12 according to their strength and position. These
remarks apply to hybrid perpetuals, bourbons and most of the teas. The creep-
ing roses such as Mar.^chal Neil, Lamarque and Celina Forestier require but little
pruning beyond thinning out old and weak wood and shortenmg back the long
shoots about one-third of their length. They thrive best and produce more
blooms when allowed to ramble about at will, Marechal Neil especially flourishes
under these conditions.

Attention during the Growing Season.— In windy weather the plants must be
securely and neatly staked. A good rule with regard to the size of the stake is
that it should not much exceed the diameter of the shoot it supports, and this
should be so put in as to be as little seen as possible. The beds must be kept
free from weeds and the soil stirred occasionally and watered in dry weather.
Liquid manure may be applied freely after the flower buds have begun to form,
but it should always be given when the plants are dry. It is better to use it too
weak than too strong and it should always be free from sediment as this cakes on the
soil and looks unsightly and also prevents the air from getting into tlie soil. By
applying it when the plants are dry they take it up at once and there is no waste;
but if it is poured on when the plants are already wet— as is very often the case,
it more frequently does harm than good.

For hot dry soils liquid manure from cow-dung is perhaps the best and that
from horse-dung for cold damp soils. When cow-dung is used boiling water
should be poured on it first and then add sufficient cold water to make it weak.
It should be about the colour of pale-ale. If guano is used 1 oz. to a gallon of
water is quite strong enough, stir the liquid well up over night and apply it the
next day when settled. Where worms are troublesome soot water is very useful
and beneficial.

In very dry weather the beds should be mulched with two or three inches
deep of half rotted manure. This will keep them cool and save a lot of water-
ing. A little soil spread over it will prevent the manure from being unsightly.
As the blooms fall away the flower stalks should be cut back to the first bud and
the leaves may be kept bright and clean by an occasional syringing. When the
young shoots are too crowded the weaker ones should be cut out and if particu-
larly fine blooms are desired the flower buds must also be thinned out.

Attention driring the resting period will consist of the pruning and manuring.
A liberal dressing of manure may now be given, which should be well forked in
among the roots as well as the mulching given during the growing period. Any
plants that have grown too much to wood can now be root pruned, which is
easily performed by exposing the roots and shortening back one or two of the
strongest. This practice is best done gradually so as not to give too sudden
a check to the plant. I may here mention that plants that have thrown up
long, straggling, naked shoots without flowering may often be brought to blossom
by pegging down the shoot to within a few inches of the ground. This causes
the dormant buds to start into growth, which, when 6 or 8 inches long generally
produce flowers.

Injurious Insects and Diseases. —Roses are specially subjected to injury from
Aphides and Mildew. The first must be watched for and can easily be destroyed
when it first makes its appearance by syringing the infected shoots with tobacco
water in the evening and with pure water next morning.

Mildew is much more difficult to deal with and when once it makes its
appearance it is not easily destroyed. Sulphur is the best known remedy, but it
is best to prevent its attacks by occasionally dusting the soil and plants with
flowers of Sulphur, and to endeavour to keep the plants in as healthy a state as
possible. Caterpillars, beetles, grubs, the saw-fly, and the larvae of several
moths are very troublesome and destructive at times. These must be destroyed
by careful hand-picking which is the only effectual remedy I know of. Red
Spider is sometimes very injurious, but this generally occurs when the plants are

137

too dry and water should, therefore, be freely syringed among the foliage. Soot-
water perfectly clean and tepid, daily syringed over the plants, taking care to
wet every leaf and shoot, is a good remedy.

Propagating by Budding.— This is not often required in Ceylon, as most
roses do best on their own roots, but where standards are desired or where a
particular sort is difficult to strike from cutting and also in the case of weak
growing varieties— which may be budded on strong growing kinds -this mode ot
propagation might be adopted. The operation reriuires to be performed as
neatly and quickly as possible, a very sharp knife is indispensible and the other
requisites are a water-pan half full of water, to put the scions in, and coarse
worsted, Cuba bast, or any such tying materials.

Any of the strong free growing roses that have taken well to the locality
may be used for stocks in preference to either the dog-rose or Manetti. _ ihe
former does not like the country and only exists for a time, and the Manetti is too
apt to give trouble in throwing up suckers. It is a common thing too tor it to
grow up unnoticed and take the place of the rose budded on it and the owner
wonders why it will not flower, or if it does flower he is disgusted to imd it only
.a small single pink flower and not at all the blossom he hoped for.

The shoot to be operated on should be in a healthy growing state, of the
current year's growth as also should the shoot from which the buds are to be
taken. Early in the morning, before 8 o'clock or after four in the afternoon in
showery weather, is the best time for budding. The shoots containing the buds
having been taken and placed in the water-pot, proceed to tae stock and rub ott
the prickles from the shoot, which is to receive the bud, as close doyn *« ^he
stem as convenient. Then make a bold cut of about an inch long right through
the bark down to the wood, but not deeper, at the upper end make a cross cut,
so that the incision will be in the form of the letter T. Now take the bevelled
end of the budding knife, and run it up and down the incision to raise the bark
on either side. It is now ready for the bud which is best taken from the middle
of a shoot. Cut off the leaf, leaving half an inch or so of the leaf stalk, then cut
out the bud in the form of a shield, commencing half an inch behind it and cutting
upwards almost level, but slightly deeper just under the bud and coming out bait
an inch above it. If tliis cut is made well there will be but very little wood m
the piece taken off. This should be removed (unless it is very succulent when it
may remain) by taking hold of it with tlie thumb-nail and the point of the knite
and giving it a sharp twist. Care must, however be taken not to pull out tne
bud with it. This part of the work requires a little experience a,nd may be
practised on any common shoot beforehand. Next insert the bud in tlie i
incision, pushing it under with the handle of the knife. Tlie top part of the
bark containing the bud should be cut square so as to abut against the bark ol
the stock.

It should now be carefully and closely, but not tightly, tied with_ worsted
or bast commencing at the bottom. If the weather is likely to be hot, it will be
necessary to give shade, but it will not be required if the work is performed
during showery weather. A good budder will complete the operation well and
neatly in two minutes. The longer the time over it, the less the chance of
success. If all goes on well, the ties may be loosened in tliree weeks or a month,
and after the lapse of another 3 or 4 weeks may be removed altogether.

Cuttings may be put in at almost any time, but the best time is during long
spells of dull weather. Shoots that can be taken off with a heel (that is a small
slice or swelling of the old wood taken off with it) are undoubtedly the best and
safest. They should be cut to about nine inches long and the lower end cut
clean with a sharp knife. If there is not enough shoots with a heel to be had,
cuttings can be made from the other shoots, cut up into same lengths rejecting
the top parts, for they rarely grow into good plants. The lower ends of the
pieces selected should be cut clean across immediately underneath a joint, and if
possible the two top leaves should be left entire on both sorts of cuttings.

They will root best in soil composed of about one-third leaf-mould, and the
other two-thirds good sandy loam. It is necessary to insert them very firmly in
the soil with about 3 eyes above ground. They may be 'J inciies apart in the
row, and the rows 9 inches apart. Shade well as soon as tliey are planted, and
sprinkle them with clean water morning and evening for a fortniglit or three
weeks, then a little of the shade may be taken off. Tlie soil must be kept moist,
but not wet, and light and air should be gradually given as the cuttings are able

138

to bear it. The work of preparing and putting in the cuttings should, like
budding be done as quickly as possible.

Selection of Varieties.— E.yhx\dL Perpetuals, which perhaps are the most
charming, will not, unfortunately, flower satisfactorily in the low country, and I
would not advise anyone to plant them much under 2,500 feet elevation. The
Teas, Bourbons, and Noisettes are the kinds most likely to succeed at low
elevation. I will, therefore, give separate lists to be selected from, for elevations
below and above 2,500 feet. The varieties named can be obtained from any one
of the leading English rose nurseries, and if they are sent out during their
resting period, they will travel very well in an ordinary dry packing case.

For elevation beloiv 2,500 feet : —

Teas :

Adam ; rich, rosy salmon

Alba Rosea ; white, centre rose

Amazone ; deep yellow

Anna Oliver ; flesh coloured rose

Belle Lyonnaise ; deep canary-yellow, changing to white

Catherine Mermet ; flesh colour

Cheshunt Hybrid ; purplish-maroon

Devoniensis ; creamy-M'hite

Gloire de Bordeaux ; pink, centres crimson

Oloire de Dijon ; yellow, buff, orange and shaded salmon

Goubault ; bright rose

Henry Bennet ; yellow, outer petals pink

Homer ; blush rose and salmon

Isabella Sprunt ; sulphur-yellow

Jean Ducher ; salmon yellow

Madame Bravy ; cream

Madame Camille ; salmon pink

Madame Ducher ; clear lemon

Madame Falcot ; ricli saffron-yellow

Madame Margottin ; beautiful dark citron-yellow

Madame Villermoz ; white, centre fawn and salmon

Marechal JNiel ; beautiful deep yellow

Madame Levet ; yellow, outer petals tinged with violet

Marie Von Houtte ; white, tinted with yellow

Niphetos ; white, centres pale yellow

Rubens ; white, shaded with rose

Safrano ; coppery red

iSouvenir de t'aul Neron ; salmon yellow, edged with rose

Noisettes :

Celine Forestier ; pale yellow, deeper centres

Cloth of Gold ; creamy white, centres yellow

Lamarque ; white, centres deep straw colour

Lamarque Jaune ; golden yellow

Madame Caroline Kuster ; pale yellow with deeper centres

Solfaterre ; creamy white, centres bright suphur

Reve d'Or ; deep yellow, sometimes coppery yellow

Triomphe de Rennes ; canary, cream edges]

Bovrhon perpetual :

Baronne de Maynard ; beautiful pure white
Julius Caisar ; dark cerise-rose
Lord Palmerston ; cherry-red
Revd. H. Dombrain ; carmine

Bourhon .

Apoline ; light pink

Caroline Riquet ; pure white, centres blush

Empress Eugd^nie ; rosy-blush, purple edges

Mrs. Bosanquet ; while, centres delicate flesh

Souvenir de Malmaison ; flesh colour

Victor Emmanuel ; purple and purplish maroon shade

139

China :

Camellia Blanc ; white

Clara Sylvian ; pure white

Meillez ; pale lemon, changing to white

Virginale ; flesh colour

Viridiflora ; green (this is only a curiosity).

All the forgoing will grow above 2,500 feet elevation and to these may ba
added any of the following hybrid perpetuals : —

Hyhrid perpetual :

Abel Grand ; rosy-blush

Alfred Colomb ; bright fiery red

Anna Alexieif ; rose-tinted with pink

Annie Laxton ; deep rose, flushed with cherry -crimson

Baron Adolphe de Rothschild ; fiery red

Baron Rothschild ; brilliant crimson

Beauty of Waltham ; rosy crimson

Black Prince ; dark crimson, shaded with black

Boule de Neige ; pure white

Camille Bernardiu ; bright red

Captain Christy ; delicate flesh-colour

Centifolia rosea ; bright pink

Charles Lefebvre ; bright crimson with purplish centre

Colonel de Rougemont ; pale rose shaded with carmine

Coquette de Alpes ; white, centre shaded with carmine

Docteur Andry ; dark bright red

Due de Rohan ; red, shaded with vermillion

Duke of Edinburgh : brilliant scarlet crimson

Dupuy Jamain ; brilliant cerise

Edward Morren ; bright cherry

Eugene Appert ; scarlet and crimson shaded

Firebrand ; fiery red

Fisher Holmes ; magnificent reddish scarlet

Fran9ois Mich^lon ; deep rose, reverse of petal silvery

G^ant des Batailles ; crimson, shaded purple

General Jacqueminot ; brilliant red

Gloire de Ducher ; purple illuminated with crimson and scarlet

Glory of Waltham ; very large and double and sweet

Jean Cherpin ; velvety purple, shaded

John Hopper ; lilac-rose, centres rosy crimson

Jules Margottin ; bright cherry colour

La France ; beautiful pale peach

Lady Suffield ; purplish crimson

Lord Macaulay ; rich scarlet-crimson

Lord Raglan ; scarlet-crimson

Louis Van Houtte ; reddish scarlet and amaranth

Madame Alice Dureau ; clear rose colour

Madame Eugene Verdier ; deep pink

Madame la Baronne de Rothschild ; clear pale rose

Madame Masson ; reddish crimson, changing to violet

Madame Victor Verdier : rich bright cherry colour

Mar^chal Vaillant ; purplish red

Maria Baumann ; bright carmine

Marquise de Castellane ; beautiful bright rose

Monsieur Boncenne ; violet crimson

Paul N^ron ; dark lilac-rose

Peach Blossom ; delicate peach blossom

Pierre Netting ; blackish red, shaded with violet

Prince Camille de Rohan ; crimson-maroon

Prince of Wales ; pink

Queen Victoria ; white, shaded with pink

Reynolds Hole ; maroon, shaded with crimson

St. George ; crimson, shaded with blackish purple

S^nateur V^aisse ; brilliant red

Souvenir de Dr. Jamain ; bluish violet

Triompe do Paris ; dark velvety crimson

140

Thomas Mills ; bright crimson
Victor Verdier ; rosy carmine, purplish edges
Xavier Olibo ; velvety black, shaded with amaranth
*Virgil ; clear lavender-pink

Climbing Hoses :

Celine Forestier ; pale yellow, deeper centre

Cloth of Gold ; creamy white, centres yellow

Climbing Devoniensis ; creamy white

Desprez k Fleur Jaune ; red, buff, flesh and sulphur

Gloire de Dijon ; yellow, buff, and shaded salmon

Gloire de Bordeaux ; pink, centre crimson

Lamarqe Jaune ; golden yellow

Mar^chal Niel ; beautiful deep yellow

Ophirie ; reddish copper, the outer petals rosy

Safrano ; coppery red

Solfaterre ; creamy white

Triomphe de Rennes ; canary, cream edges

White Banksian ; white

Moss Roses :

Alice Leroi ; lilac blush shaded with rose
Baronne de Wassenaer ; bright red
Celina ; deep rosy crimson
White Bath ; paper white.

W. NOCK.

177. -A NEW USE FOR SISAL HEMP.

Inquiries have reached us through the medium of the British
Trade Journal for " Sisal Cloth" for the manufacture of Cider Press
Cloths. In the old days these cloths used to be manufactured from
horse hair. It is probable that similar cloths for oil mill and other
presses, may also come into use.

From the encouraging way in which the Sisal Hemp plant has
grown since its introduction into Trinidad, and the superiority of its
Fibre, it is clear that our planters will do Avell to steadily persevere
in securing the extension of their plantations in view of an increased
demand, and not let the demand come and have no supply to give.
The depressed state of the market for this product at present Avill
favourably tend in the long run to generate an upward tendency, and
new uses are often found for an article while it is cheap, which after-
wards lead on to a steady trade in a rising market.

The warning note sounded by us in 1891 when Sir Ambrose
Shea's extravagant anticipations and boom was in full force in the
Bahamas, is now amply realized, and it is seen that large amounts of
money were invested in an industry, which was eminently a very
uncertain one, or one, the merits of which had not been fully proved.

The questions asked in the Bulletin for February 1891, stand as
plainly intelligible to day, as they did then, as incapable of being

* The colours are taken from Mr. W. Paul's book on " The Rose Garden.'

141

answered in favour of the Sisal growers prospects ; a fact which is much
to be regretted. Sir Ambrose Shea expressed the opinion that Trinidad
would not be able to enter the competition, but it has since been fully
proved, not only that Sisal can be grown in Trinidad, but that the
fibre produced is superior to the produce of the Bahamas, showing
that his opinion rested upon no foundation and that he was certainly
uninformed of the conditions which existed in this Island. If ever
the circumstances arise which will make Sisal Hemp a paying industry
in the Bahamas, it may also be relied upon as certain, that it will pay
to as large an extent when grown in suitable lands in the Island of
Trinidad, which has moreover many advantages not possessed by the
Bahama Islands.

Note. — Since the above was written Dr. Morris of Kew has visited the
Bahamas and is of opinion that Sisal has a fair future before it there.

178.-NOTES ON MANURING.

The following notes were originally printed in "Garden and
Field" a South Australian Publication, under control of the Depart-
ment for Agriculture of that Colony. They were reprinted by the
Editor of the Agricultural Journal of the Cape of Good Hope of
August, 1895 :—

VfOKT^lES OIKT IlVIfA. »r XT IS I M^ O . •

By Professor Laurie, M.A., B.Sc.
(Cape AgriculUiral Journal.)

Sources of Plant Food.

The elements or substances which plants use in building themselves are
derived from the air, the rain, and the soil. From the air and the rain 93 per
cent, fully of their total substance is obtained, and the remaining 6 or 7 per cent.
is taken up through the agency of the roots from the soil.

Action of the Leaves.

Carbon. — From the air, for example, carbon, which enters into the composi-
tion of all plants to the extent of 40 to 48 per cent, of their weight, is obtained
through the agency chiefly of the leaves from the carbon dioxide, which ia
present in very small proportion in the atmosphere. The leaves absorb the car-
bon dioxide, and in the cells constituting their tissues under the action of sun-
light it is decomposed into its two constituent elements, carbon and oxygen.
The carbon is retained and used in the elaboration of the various substances of
their tissues, and the oxygen is exhaled.

Action of the Roots.

Nitrogen and Mineral Matter. — While this assimilation is going on the roots
supply their complement by absorbing through delicate root hairs and otherwise
nitrogen as nitrates, mineral matter, and water in a more or less complex solu-
tion. The following substances are taken up this way in solution in more or less
complex combination : — Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, lime, magnesia, iron,
sulphuric acid, soda, chlorine, silica, manganese, with one or more rarer sub-
stances m some particular plants.

*Oarden & Field.

142

Necessary and available Mineral Matter.

The first seven of these substances so extracted from the soil are essential for
healthy plant life, and the others are not indispensable. 8ome of the seven
essential substances are in the soil in abundance, but nitrogen, phosphoric acid,
and potash, and in some soils lime, are present only in exceedingly small propor-
tion ; and accordingly the farmer or gardener who practises frequent cropping
has to supply these substances to the soil directly and indirectly to avoid a
deficiency of any one of them. A fairly fertile soil may have in it in the first
nine inches in depth only about 15 lbs. of nitrogen, 15 Its. of potash, and 10 lbs.
of phosphoric acid per 10,000 lbs. of soil ; and of these amounts only a very small
proportion may be immediately available as plant food. In an acre of soil to
that depth the nitrogen and potash if they could be isolated would weigh about
two tons each, and the phosphoric acid about one and a half tons.

When a Soil is Exhausted.

But a soil shows signs of exhaustion long, long before these siibstances are
drawn on in an appreciable proportion to their weight, for only the soluble frac-
tion is available. Ultimate exhaustion of a soil is therefore altogether impossible.
When a soil has been temporarily exhausted — and all exhaustion, I will say
again, is only temporary — the farmer may if he can afford to wait let his land lie
in pasture until the natural agencies always at work have rendered more of the
imexhausted reserve available, or he may hasten the action of such agencies by
fallowing or repeatedly working the land without cropping. If he cannot wait,
or finds it unprofitable to do so, he has to

Resort to Manuring,

either directly by supplying and distributing over the land manures, natural or
artificial, or indirectly by growing leguminous and other crops, to be ploughed
in, or by purchasing artificial foodstiiffs, with the view of carrying more stock,
increasing accordingly the size of his manure heap, or enriching the land right
away by their droppings.

A Law which Altereth Not.

In the practice of manuring we have to bear in mind that it is one or more
of these substances nitrogen, potash, or phosphoric acid, and occasionally lime,
which may become deficient, and that a deficiency of any one of them cannot be
made up by an excess of another. When anyone of these substances is not
available, the land becomes barren, and farmers have, therefore, to endeavour to
maintain the natural balance. Further, the crop is stunted or unhealthy accor-
ding as one or more of these indispensable substances becomes scarce, or avail-
able in too small proportion.

Farmyard Manure.

Now a general manure such as farmyard manure supplies more or less,
according to its quality, of each of these comparatively scarce but all-important
substances.

A ton of it contains : —

8 to 16 lbs. of nitrogen,
8 to 17 lbs. of potash, and
4 to 9 R)s. of phosphoric acid,

and, considered with its other recommendations, if it can be readily obtained in
quantity, and at moderate cost, there is little need of further dressing with,
artificial manures, except perhaps a little of the phosphates, in which, as the
figures above show, it is relatively weak.

Artificial Manures.

However, it ia with artificial manures that we now propose to deal.

Phosjyhoric Acid. — Scarcity of phosphoric acid can be relieved by using bone
dust, bone meal, bone charcoal, mineral superphosphate, dissolved bones, basic
slag, or phosphatic guanos, &c.

Nitrogen. — Deficiency of nitrogen can be made up by artificial dressings to
the land of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, blood manure, nitrogenous
guanos, &c.

Potash. — Weakness in potash can be avoided by the use of wood ashes,
muriate of potash, kainit, &c.

143

In our South Australian conditions, and with our present prevailing practice
it will generally be found that deficiency of phosphates is the greatest weakness
in our soils, and that phosphatic manures should first have the attention of
farmera.

A Judicious Mixture.

I would not have it understood that I am suggesting the use of phosphates
only and always and invariably. On the contrary, judicious mixtures have
much to recommend them, and a man cannot expect to get the best results unless
he adopts such as occasion demands. There is, however, much to lead me to
give phosphatic manures a fair trial first, as from experiments conducted here
and elsewhere it has been shown that phosphates alone have often given better
results on wheat lands than more expensive mixtures of phosphatic and nitro-
genous manures. As bone dust contains from 3 to 4 per cent, of nitrogen it has
been found that it can be used by itself for a longer succession of years than
superphosphate, but at the same time let it once be recognised that the mixtures
of artificial manures is the desirable practice, and that the application of one form
— phosphatic, nitrogenous, or potassic — by itself is the exception to be practised
only under suitable conditions, and much relatively unprofitable manuring will
be avoided.

Value of Bare Fallowing.

Again, our practice of bare fallowing for wheat, which is almost universally
practised in the colony, is a means of slightly increasing the relative proportion
of nitrogen, because —

1. It promotes nitrification, i.e., it brings about conditions favourable for
the activity of the myriads of micro-organisms in the soil, and consequently
nitrification is correspondingly rapid.

2. Bare fallowing further is a means of retaining moisture in the land, and
consequently a means increasing the absorption of the nitrogen from the air in
the form of ammonia or otherwise.

3. Our dry siimmers and the absence of under-drainage enable us to avoid
the loss of nitrogen which occurs in many countries, as nitrates are very soluble
and readily go off in water.

Potash, again, is almost invariably much more abundant in most soils than
phosphoric acid, and our practice of continuous wheat-growing is also less
exhausting of potash than of phosphoric acid, for much of the potash is left on
the farm in the straw, while much of the phosphoric acid goes off in the grain.
For these reasons the use of phosphates alone give more frequently than might
be anticipated very satisfactory results.

Bones.

Bones liaA^e been in use as a means of adding phosphoric acid for more than a
century. They were first used as half -inch or quarter-inch bones for the purpose
of top-dressing pasture, but now they are crushed very much finer, so as to be-
come more readily dissolved and available as plant-food, and applied as bonedust,
or bonemeal. They can be had for manurial purposes steamed or unsteamed.
Steaming is a means of reducing the percentage of organic matter, which forms
about one-third of the composition of bone, and, consequently, of reducing the
percentage of nitrogen. At the same time, it is better to have the bones steamed
in the process of manufacture of bone dust, because it has been found that the
fatty matter present, if not extracted, makes it most difficult to get the dust fine,
and also because the fatty matter prevents the agencies of Nature bringing about
the decomposition of the bone, and making it available for plant food so readily
as in the case of bone dust from steamed l>ones. Steamed bones further give a
bone dust richer in the percentage of phosphate of lime in so far as the organic is
mostly away.

Good hone dtint should contain about 48 per cent, of phosphate of lime and
from 3 to 4 per cent, of nitrogen. However finely it be ground, it will always
become slowly available relatively for plants. It is tlierefore spoken of as a last-
ing manure, but that quality, as times are now, is a disadvantage, as the farmer
has to wait too long for the recovery of his money.

Superphosphafe I believe to be the more profitable manure all round, except,
on soils deficient in lime and on peaty or very light soils under a heavy rainfall.

By superphosphate is meant mineral superphosphate, of course, for boue

144

superphosphate is relatively expensive, and although it gives better results, the
gain is not in proportion to the higher price at which it can be obtained.

If phosphatic manures were used as widely in the colony as they ought to be,
and profitably could be used, very little bone superphosphate would in all proba-
bility be manufactured as the demand for bone dust for lands for which it was
the most suitable would more than meet the supply. Very little mineral super-
phosphate has yet been used in the colony, and consequently it is much more
expensive than it would become were it used more extensively, and imported in
large shipments.

Bones are often applied to crops which occupy the land for a number of
years, and are generally agreed better for such than superphosphate. For
example, lucerne benefits much from heavy dressings of bone dust, say 6 cwt.
applied during the winter months, when the lucerne is being cultivated. Pasture
lands benefits much also from a good dressing, though it is very doubtful whether
pasture, even the best, could be profitably dressed with bone dust in this colony,
where live stock fetch prices so exceedingly low, and dairy produce is relatively
cheap.

Vines and hops also are generally dressed with bones in preference to super-
phosphate.

How TO USE Bone Dust.

Wheat-crops.— V^'Yiere bone dust is used for a wheat-crop, seeing it becomes
so slowly available, the practice of applying it in the spring, when the fallow is
having its first scarifying is a good one. Let the bone dust be distributed in
front of the scarifier. It is then well worked into the land during the successive
workings through the summer and autumn, and in addition to having indirectly
benefited the land by its decomposition will be more ready to tell on the crop
sown over it. For this purpose a dressing of 2| cwt. to 3 cwt. will be sufficient
per acre. Another good practice is to dress the land that is to carry a fallow
crop such as sorghum, to be fed down, with a similar dressing of bone dust. The
summer crop will benefit somewhat, though not so much as the succeeding wheat-
crop ; and as the crop will have been fed down, little of the manurial value of
the bone dust will be lost, while much will be available for the winter crop.

For hay it will be found good practice to apply, say, 60 to 90 lbs. of nitrate
of soda or sulphate of ammonia when the wheat is sown, in addition to the bone
dust applied in spring as above.

On heavy, stifif wheat lands it should be mentioned bone dust takes so
exceedingly long to decompose and become soluble that superphosphate is ever
found better. Again, in our drier districts if manure be used at all the phosphate
should be applied as superphosphate, but the general opinion that in the drier
districts, where the average rainfall is under 14 inches or thereabout, it is more
profitable to crop the land at longer intervals than to use manure and crop fre-
quently is no doubt well justified. In the hills districts and in districts with a
better rainfall the case is different, and bone dust or superphosphate, with or
without nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia, should certainly have a thorough
trial.

On farms where hay is largely grown there is no question but that very
extensive artificial manuring will prove profitable, but to get immediate returns
it will generally be found that superphosphate is better than bone dust as the
phosphatic element in the manure mixture.

179. -THE INTRODUCTION OP AN INTERESTING PALM.

LoDoicEA Sechellarum, Lodd.

''Sea coconut," "Double coconut," " Coco-de-mer."
It bad long been desired to introduce this interesting plant into
the Trinidad Gardens, biit initil the present year it had not been
found practicable to do so. On my visit to the Demerara Gardens in
1894, I found that Mr. Jenman had successfully introduced growing
nuts ; and that these had germinated in due course, and had produced

145

their first leaves. Acting on the information obtained, an order was
sent to Mauritius during the present year with the result that in
October twelve fresh nuts were safely delivered at the Gardens, in
growing condition.

Prior to the discovery of the Sechelles Islands in 1743, the home
of the palm which bears these nuts was unknown, but the nuts them-
selves had been frequently found floating upon the Eastern seas ;
hence the name Goco-de-mer. The tree is said to attain to one hun-
dred feet in height, and to take thirty years to produce its first fruit.
The leaves are described as being upwards of twenty feet in length
and twelve feet in width. It is to be hope therefore that from the
seed now introduced, several plants of this most interesting palm may
be successfully raised.

The nuts are over a foot in length and as much in width, and
weigh some eight to ten pounds. It is stated in some descriptions
that from one to three of these nuts are contained in a single fruit
which will itself weigh as much as 40 lbs. avoirdupois.

A specimen of the nut shell has recently been presented to the
Victoria Institute. In the east, these nuts are converted into various
domestic utensils, and drawing room ornaments, the leaves of the palm
are made into hats, baskets, cigar cases, &c., and the wood serves
many useful purposes.

Those nuts which had already germinated have been planted out
in suitable positions in the Royal Botanic Gardens and one is now
showing its leaf above ground.

21st March, 1896.

180.-ROBBERY AND MURDER.

In the vegetable kingdom, as in the animal kingdom, there is a
regular system of robbery going on, and morality as understood for
the animal kingdom is a thing unknown. The strongest and the
"fittest" survives at the expense of its weaker brother, and it needs
the hand of man to institute a strict harmony of relations between
cultivated plants. This cannot however be done except when guided
by long experience and study of their requirements. "We know well
that the " Bois Immortel" or " Madre de Cacao" takes nothing away
from the Cacao tree even if their roots intertwine ; it is believed to
afford nutriment or moisture to the cacao, and certainly affords it
protection against the rays of the sun. The assimilation of Free
Nitrogen by plants has long exercised the minds of Chemists and
Botanists, and it has now been shown that Leguminous plants are,

146

not only capable of obtaining it for their own use, but are the agents
for storing in the soil nitrogen which is valuable as plant food for
other trees. The "Bois Immortel" is a Leguminous plant and it pro-
bably provides the Cacao growing beneath its shade with a store of
nitrogen necessary for vigorous growth, which it could not obtain
from any other source, so that if the theory of the immortel supplying
moisture to the roots of the tree be proved to be without foundation
— as without the slightest doubt it easily can — there is left the fact
that the " Bois Immortel" is still the " Madre de Cacao" from ita
preparing and storing for its use an abundant supply of nitrogen.

While there are plants, however, which prepare food for others,
there are also those which steal from others.

Who has not Avitnessed the lamentable failure which usually
occurs where attempts at flower or vegetable gardening, are made
beneath the shade and within the reach of the roots of large trees. A
row of croton {Codiaeums) in tubs were once placed along side a walk
under the partial shade of an avenue of trees. One, who thought he
knew, said, they would do much better if planted out. Large holes
were dug, a plentiful supply of manure furnished, and the plants were
placed in the ground. The first few months all went well, but it was
soon apparent that the operator had calculated without his host, for it
could be seen that the plants began to suffer, and on examination it
was found that the nice new soil and manure placed in the croton
holes had been taken possession of by the roots of the large trees and
had actually become a matted mass — to the exclusion of the tender
and more delicate roots of the croton, thus practically starving or
murdering the latter.

Again the cultivator must not rest content with keeping from
beneath the shade of large trees, for the roots of such trees are always
on the look out for, and seemingly have the power to find, any store of
nutriment which may be placed within reasonable distances. It is
surprising sometimes to find to what a distance such roots will go in
search of suitable food, and the cultivator who sees the small plants
in his little garden dwindling away, had better examine the soil deep
down at the edges of his beds to see if robber roots have not entered
and taken possession, and, if so, to sever them well back. Robberies
of this kind are sure to take place if the large trees are growing in a
poor and hungry soil. Cutting beds, though requiring shade, should
never be made on the ground beneath large trees, as it is absolutely
certain that the giant plant, having possession, will starve the poor
and struggling cutting.

147

Some plants, on the other hand, seem to have a special affinity
for one another, and will grow side by side in the happiest manner,
and take an equal share of nutriment from any manure that may be
applied. This is owing to the fact that the mnjor requirements of
such plant from the soil are dissimilar, and it is only such classes of
plants that may be placed together. We shall find many instances of this,
if we enter virgin forest and note the class of trees growing together.
In the Pine Forests of North America, but few seedlings trees of the
same kind are to be found and these are sure to be poor and weak.
The reason is, that the ground is already taken up by their parents
and the nutriment in great part abstracted from the soil, besides
which the young plants are deprived by their seniors of the necessary
amount of light and shade they require. Plants in such situations,
are also attacked by numerous diseases, especially those caused by
fungi, which, after first living upon the decaying matter falling from
the large trees, become parasitic, and kill or murder the smaller plants.
If, however, the seeds from the Pine .Forests are carried into sections
on Avhich oak, beech, birch or any other hard wood grows, they will
succeed rapidly and well, and vice versa, and moreover if the forest of pine
is cut, the under wood or natural growth which follows is rarely of the
same character as that which previously stood there, but of an exactly
opposite character. The oak and birch succeeding the pine and spruce,
and the pine and spruce succeeding the oak and birch, thus giving one
of the clearest possible lessons on the absolute necessity for alterna-
tion of crojjs.

Robbery and murder are also committed by plants in ways other
than by the system of starvation. The " Matapalo" (local name for
almost any kind of large climbing plant of the genera Ficus, Clusia,
&c,) wraps itself round its victim, and fFeotually throttles and strangles
it, by the exclusion of air, and by the centripetal pressure which it
exerts.

The plants of the Order, Loranthacea, are also familiar pirates
or robbers in West Indian fields.

These are most destructive parasites and fasten upon and abstract
the juices of plants in a most destructive way, in fact they are the
most desti'uctive that we have to contend with in the West Indies.
They specially affect Orange trees and Casuarinas, &c., and besides,
attack very many of the indigenous forest trees. These are the real
and true parasitic growths that do real harm to cultivated trees in the
open, and they should at once be removed as soon as seen in all culti-

148

vated grounds. A line of distinction should however be drawn
between this class of plants and the harmless epiphytes which are so
numerous on our garden and pasture tress. In fact the one is the bold
and active robber, and the other a harmless citizen, living upon the
food supplied by air and water.

Eobbery is also elFected by the very numerous parasitic Fungi.
These were little. known only a few years ago and can only be pro-
perly observed under high powers of the microscope, and without
such aid it can hardly be understood what seriously destructive agents
they can become even to the largest trees of the Forest. If we take
a section of wood from a tree thus attacked, we find first, that por-
tions are discolored, and if one uses a still higher power, we shall find
the interior tissue and cells of the wood permeated by threads of" my-
celium which, passing through the walls, disintegrate and disolve all
the matter with which they come in contact.

The result of this interior attack is shown macroscopically by the
death of a tree, or of those portions of it which are primarily affected.
In some cases, however, it is possible for the vital force of the plant
to overcome the attack of the fungus, and to stay its ravages, but it
is easily seen that trees without sufficient nutriment (that is to say),
planted in poor soil and without a sufficient supply of nutritive mat-
ter in the form of manure, or weakened by any special cause Avill most
readily succumb to the attack of such insidious diseases. In fact,
through want of vitality or constitutional weakness, they are easily
robbed and murdered, and the only external sign of the attack may
perhaps be, the development at a late period on the cuticle or bark, of
the ultimate form of the fungus, or that which developes the repro-
ductive bodies or spores, which again become ready in this position to
seize upon and destroy any tree to Avhich they may gain access, and
which is in condition to form for them a suitable home in which to
run their lives course and enable them again to commit in their own
way Eobbery and Murder.

181.-CIRCULAR NOTES.

Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 30.

Sugar Cane Seeds.

As I have few opportunities of collecting personally, I should be thank-
ful to any planter who would kindly send me Sugar Cane Seed for the
purpose of cultivation.

149

The seed should be gathered on a dry day from those "Arrows" on
which the seed is fully ripe, which condition may be known by its begin-
ning to fall from the plume.

This should be carefully noticed as the fertile seed, being heavier than
the unfertilized awns will fall first.

It is therefore useless to gather seed from those arrows which have
already shed the greater portion of their down.

The seed should be put m a dry bag and at once forwarded.

I appeal to planters to assist me in this effort as the value of seedling
canes has now been fully proved, and we desire to raise others from home-
grown seed.

The bags should be labelled with the name of the cane from which it

was gathered.

J. H. HART.
16th December, 1895.

182.-WATER MEASURES AND RAINFALL.

(Cape Agricultural Journal.)
In connection with various operations in practical farming, con-
servation of water, rainfall and irrigation, the following measures and
quantities may be found useful.

Water Measure.

1 Imperial gallon of pure water weighs 10 lbs.
1 American or colonial gallon Aveighs 8|- lbs.
1 Imperial gallon contains 277*274 cubic inches.
1 American or colonial gallon 231 cubic inches.

5 Imperial gallons equal 6 Cape gallons,

1 cubic foot contains nearly 6^ Imperial gallons (6"23;.

1 cubic foot of water weighs 62|- lbs. (G2"212).

1 cubic yard contains 168f gallons.

1 Imperial pint of water weighs 1:^ lbs.

1 Imperial pint contains 20 fluid ounces.

6 wine bottles are reckoned to contain one gallon of water or 26|

ounces each.

Rainfall and Irrigation.

1 inch of rain is 144 cubic inches to a square foot.
1 ,, 1,29G ,, or 4^ gallons to square yard.

1 ,, 22,G22 gallons to acre, 4,840 square yards.

1 „ 113 tons of 2,000 lbs. to the acre.

1 „ 14^ million gallons to square mile.

150

By an inch of rain is understood as much rain as would form a
sheet of water one inch deep over the surface of the ground, if none
of it soaked into the soil or ran off.

An inch of rain falling on a roof will be after the rate of a little
more than half a gallon to the square foot.

As the slope of the roof makes no difference, a house roof will,
when an inch of rain falls, collect a half gallon of water for every
square foot of area the house stands upon.

So if a house is 40 feet long and 30 feet wide, the catchment area
will be 1,200 square feet, and an inch of rain will supply to a cistern
600 gallons, allowing some 15 gallons for waste and evaporation.

If there is 20 inches of rain-fall during the year, then with
proper spouting and cistern room, the above mentioned roof or area
would furnish during the year 12,000 gallons of water.

An inch of rain over an acre of 4,840 square yards being 22,622
gallons to the acre, it is a matter of some interest to get at the
approximate quantity required for irrigating.

As I find that usually, even in a dry season, after 2 inches of rain
have fallen, the land can be ploughed, I have suggested that 50,000
(fifty thousand) gallons be accepted as an estimate, the quantity
required for irrigating an acre of land once.

Of course more or less water will be required according to the
nature or staple of the soil, its dryness and powers of absorption.
But still it is well to have a definite or approximate standard of
measurement as to the quantity of water required, to be delivered by
a pipe or furrow, or, it may be pumped for irrigation.

In Spain the regulation quantity of water for one irrigation is
2| inches. This would be 52,210 gallons per acre.

It has been found in practice that one good watering is much
better than two or three light ones. For unless the water soaks some
way into the ground, it does not enable the crop to feed on the plant
food in the soil. If only a little below the surface is kept moist, the
roots of the plants will be encouraged to grow near the surface and
suffer from the heat and drought, instead of penetrating deep into
the soil and sub-soil.

Measuring the delivery of water as to quantity supplied in a
given time, has been a question of some consideration, enquiry, and
experiment.

151

The fact or difficulty to be dealt with is that the quantity of
water delivered over a weir or through a pipe or any other kind of
aperture constantly varies with depth or pressure of the head of vater
whence it is derived.

For instance, the quantity of water which is delivered through a
four-inch pipe with two feet of water above the orifice will be 354
gallons per minute while the quantity delivered through the same
pipe with a head of one foot of water would be only 250 gallons per
minute, being a difference of 1,240 gallons per hour.

So the problem to be solved was to invent or arrange some plan
by which the water should always be delivered under the same pres-
sure which would be secured if always the same head or depth could
be maintained.

In Italy this water measxirer is called a module. The principle of
which is, that a stone trough is filled from the canal, river or spring,
in which trough or module the water is always kept at one state of
fulness or level, and so maintains the same pressure and consequently
delivers exactly the same quantity of water at all times and in perpetuity.

In the United States of America the law of water delivery pro-
vides for the construction of a " module. "

Water is sold by the square inch, that is the quantity which will
be delivered by each square inch of the aperture through which the
water flows. An orifice one foot long and two inches high, thus
delivering 24 inches.

The law provides that " water sold by the inch by any individual
or corporation shall be measured as follows, to wit, every inch shall
be considered equal to an inch square delivery orifice under a five-inch
pressure, and the five-inch pressure shall be from the top of the orifice
of the box (module) to the surface of the water." This will give a
constant pressure of four inches.

A module thus constructed, and with this pressure, will deliver
through every square inch of the orifice 7^ galhms (Imperial) every
minute, and 450 gallons per hour.

A four-inch pipe under the same pressure will deliver 94 gallons
per minute.

183. -A JAMAICA DRIFT FRUIT-

In Nature of November 21st 1895, Dr. D. Morris, Assistant
Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, discusses the origin of a drift

152

fruit found on the shores of Jamaica, the history of which is as fol-
lows : — Dr. Morris when in charge of the Jamaica Botanical Depart-
ment made a collection of drift fruit and seeds washed ashore in that
Island. Among these was a curious fruit or seed which could not be
identified. The writer, then employed in the Jamaica service,
assisted Mr. Morris in the selection and packing of the set for Kew,
and in doing so happened to notice the seed in question. In January
1889, an article appeared in Nature from Dr. Morris who in the end
after quoting all known references, stated that " we are still without
information as to the origin of the fruit or the plant bearing it."

Having a distinct remembrance of the fruit, the writer at once
commenced a search among the specimens and papers left by his pre-
decessors, and was fortunate enough to find among Criiger's drawings
a most complete one of Saccoglottis amazonica, in the details of which
he at once recognised the familiar likeness of the Jamaica drift fruit,
and in writing to Dr. Morris, in March, 1889, these drawings were
sent on to Kew.

These have now been thoroughly examined, and as a result, they
have solved the mystery of the Jamaica drift fruit which is now
shewn to be the seed of Saccoglottis amazonica, a tree which was
found by Criiger, when travelling in the Irois District many
years ago. The tree is also found at Teffe or Egas on the right
bank of the middle Amazon, where it was collected by Martins and
others. From these points the fruits drift to the shores of several
West Indian Islands and it has been found also to have crossed the
North Atlantic, and to have found a resting place on different points
on the shores of Western Europe.

Dr. Morris in his recent article lays great stress upon the value
of field drawings and dissections, which he declares to be of the
greatest value in the elucidation of questions of a character similar
to that surrounding the origin ot the " Jamaica drift seed."

10th March, 1895.

Note. — Since the above Avas writtei several trees have been discovered in the
district where Criiger collected, and further specimens have been secured which
will form the subject of a future note.

153
184. -GORDON'S PATENT COFFEE PULPING MACHINES.

The "Columbia" and the "India."

Both these Pulpers have been specially designed to meet the
requirements of Planters of very small estates and they will be found
to be very strong, simple and serviceable machines. The ripe Coffee
Cherries and feed water should be delivered into the water-box which
is formed in the hopper, so that the water may float the coffee over
the division into the machine ; the supply is regulated by the feed water.

The " Columbia" consists of a grooved disc of hard cast-iron
fixed to a shaft which runs in a long bearing mounted on a suitable
standard which also carries the bar 'A' and a hopper. The bar 'A'
has a channel on its side along \. hich the coffee passes while being-
pulped ; the pulp and skins are dragged down past the bar by the

154:

revolving disc and the cleaned beans are discharged at B. The bar
should be kept as close to the disc as possible but without touching it.

The hopper is fitted with a division which forms a water-box for
retaining any stones, &c., that may be among the coffee and prevent-
ing them from passing to the disc and damaging it.

The bearing is specially long to minimise wear and is fitted with
a brass syphon lubricator which should be kept supplied with oil.
This machine weighs 82 lbs. and when packed in a case 130 lbs.
Price packed for shipment £10.

The " India" consists of an iron Cylinder covered with a
punched Copper sheet mounted on a spindle running in two side-
frames Avhich carry the hopper and the pulping bar. The hopper is
provided with a division for retaining stones as in the " Columbia."

155

On revolving the cylinder, the cherries are drawn down past the top
half of the Pulping Bar which is fixed at such a distance that the
cherries are pulped in passing —the beans being delivered through
the opening in the bar, while the skins and pulp are discharged down
^he shoot between the side-frames. This machine weighs 76 lbs. and
when packed in a case 116 lbs. Price, packed for shipment £10.

185.-CRYSANTHEMUMS.

Upon the principle that it is infra dig — some never record
a failure in the cultivation of plants. It has, however, ahvays
been held by this Department that a record of failure is quite
as important a feature of work in general, as the record of a
success, as it shows us how and in what direction danger lies, and
how ultimate success may be attained. At page. 22 of this Volume I
recorded how successful we had been during 1894, and the early months
of 1895, in cultivating a batch of Japanese Crysanthemums. This
year, our cultivation has resulted in failure, and this failure has been
brought about entirely by the attack of a night feeding insect whose
name is as yet tmdetermined, which has absolutely destroyed many of
the plants, and so much damaged others, that no flowers worthy of
the name have been produced this season. It has not yet been devised
now the enemy is to be met in future, but it is certain the danger
must be met and overcome, if we are to continue growing the Crysan-
themum. Our experiences has, I learn, been general, for through-
out the town district, this class of plants have all suffered alike, and
from the same cause. It is to be hoped that we may be able to record
a better success next season.

186.-NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No. 25 — The Corbeau in Error.

Kesidents in Trinidad are well acquainted with the iibiquitous
"Corbeau or John Crow" Vulture, Cathartiis atratus, for these birds
are common both in town and country and act as scavengers by feeding
upon all kinds of carrion. Their sense of sight and smell is very
keen, and has often been the subject of discussion and sometimes of
dispute between naturalists. "Gosse" who wrote on the Natural
History of Jamaica many years ago, records some interesting facts in
relation to this matter, showing that the sense of smell as well as of
sight can be employed at will. My object in writing is to put on
record a circumstance which occurred recently in the Royal

156

Botanic Gardens, in wbicli it was clear that the sense of smell only"
was employed. In a part of the Gardens a plant of Aristolochia
gigas var. Sturtevantii was in flower. This plant on opening, gives off an
offensive odour resembling that arising from carrion. During the
morning hours this is more than usually pronounced, and vultures
that detect it, at once alight on trees close by, their movements being
similar to those they u.se when in sight of prey. The birds are-
however disappointed of their meal as it is simply the odour from the
flower which brings them to the spot, their sense of smell in this case
failing to supply them with a suitable meal. They were in fact
" Corbeaux in Error."

24/12/95.

No. 26 — Coccidoe. New sp. <& var.

In the list of Trinidad CoccidEe by Professor Cockerell there is
one new species and one new variety. The new species is Lecanum
nanum. Chll. which has been found in the covered runs of a species of
ant. Azteca Chartifex. together with minature specimens of Icerya
BoscB. The scale appeared to be imprisoned by the ants building over
it a complete covering without outlet except one or two small open-
ings for ingress and egress of the ants themselves. These ants were
found located on trees of 3Iimusops dissecta — ("Balata") and Bassia
latifolia which were growing near to each other. The ants appear to
make the covered runs, Avhich are composed of woody fibre, simply for
the sake of protecting the Coccids as they have for themselves a large
nest or homestead where the major portion congregate. I have how-
however found in the runs or tunnels which covered the Coccids, eggs,
larvas, and pupge, in all stages, which have possibly been brought there
from the nest so as to be near the food supply which is afforded them
after extraction from the plant by the Coccids.

The new variety now registered is Aspidiotus Hartii var. Luntii,
— a variety bearing a close relation to the species found on Yam roots,
the description of which was published at p. 85, in the Bulletin for
October, 1895.

No. 27 — Snake Bites.
" What promises to be a new departure in the treatment of snake
bites, was the object of a communication by M. M. Physalin and
Bertrand to the Academic of Sciences recently. These savants

157

believe that the blood of venomous reptiles constitute a real antidote
to their virus. They have confirmed their opinion by repeated
experiments on guinea-pigs, when the effects of a fatal dose of the
poison of a viper were counteracted by an injection of four drops of
the blood of the snake. Mr. Bertrand finds that the serum of hedge-
hogs and adders possess similar antidotal properties. Should these
observations be further borne out by experience a new field of experi-
ment will be opened out in the treatment of bites from other and
more deadly snakes such as are common in many parts of India." —
{Pharmaceutical Journal.)

TABASHEER.

By Walter H. Ince, Ph. D., &c., &c.

Tabasheer or Tabusheer is a white, smooth, porcelain-like substance
rarely found deposited in the knots of the bamboo, where it forms a saucer-
like layer. Owing to the fact that this deposit occurs so seldom, several
valuable medicinal properties have been ascribed to it. The Indian popula-
tion here use it as a specific against fever, malaria and ague. I have been
informed that the name — Tabasheer — is derived from the French " Taba-
tiere." This is however more than doubtful, seeing that neither the form,
nor the colour, nor the occurence of the substance remotely suggests any-
thing connected with tobacco, snuff or its uses.

A Java variety is said by Tonningen (Jahresb. 1860, 531) to have the
following composition :-
Silica ...

Oxide of Iron
Oxide of Calcium
Oxide of Sodium .
Organic Matter
Water ...

86-39
•42
•24

4 •SI
•51

7-63

100^00

I find, however, after examining several samples that have been brought
to my notice, that its composition varies very considerably. They all con-
tain large quantities of silica, with indefinite quantities of iron, potassium
and calcium. From this it would seem that the substance is not a definite
silicate, but silica mixed with accidental quantities of other sihcates.

The following are the results of the analyses of Tabasheer : —

Tonningen's
Analysis.

II.

III.

Silica ... ... 86-39 ...

91-69 .,

89-77 ..

90-46

Oxide of Iron ... '42 ...

Trace. . .

-665 ..

Trace

Oxide of Calcium ... ^24 ...

2-057 ..

3-81 ..

•725

Oxide of Potassium 4 "81 ...

4-332 ..

3-35 ...

1^524

Organic Matter ... •51 ...

-53 ..

•00 ..

3^122

Water ... ... 763 ...

1-613 ..

3-051 ..

413

100-00

100-192

100-645

99-961

I am indebted to Mr. J. H. Hart, F.L.S., of the Royal Botanic Gardens
for bringing this substance first under my notice.

TRINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

No. 7. JULY, 1896. Vol. II.

CONTENTS.

187 —Rum Aroma.
188.— Trinidad Orchids.
189.— Natural History Notes.

No. 28. — Night Noises, Athene torquata., Dandin.

„ 29. — "Petite Chouette, Athene phalcenoides.,

„ 30.— A Bat's Dining Room. [Daudin.

,, 31.— Life History of the Parasol Ant
and means for its destruction.

,, 31.— Origin of Sex.
190.— Onions in the West Indies.
191. — Cedar, Cedrela odorata, L.
192. — Mahogany, Sivietenia Mahogani, L.
193.— Vanilla.
194.— Botanical Notes:

No, 5,— Cynometra Trinitensis, Oliver.

,, 6.— Schizea elegans. Sw.

„ 7.— Schizea pennula. Sw.

,, 8.— Fungus on Coccidse.
195.— Eucharis Amazonica.
196.-" El Canto" Bark.
197-— Sugar Cane — Experiments and Report of Seedlings

Committee.
198,— Sweet Cassava.

WM1.^W% W-@WWLWMM^W'

Edited by the Superintendent Royal Botanic Gardens,
J. H, HART, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD:
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN.

1896.

161
187.-" RUM AROMA."

SERIES of articles have lately been published in the
Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Jamaica, under
the above title.

It will be remembered that in the July number of the Agricul-
tural Record for 1892, in *' Notes of Fermentation," I showed that
the Trinidad method of distillation gave " spirit almost devoid of
flavour," and pointed out that an examination of the processes
followed in Jamaica for the production of the so-called " German
Rum" wovild give interesting results.

Work in this direction has since been taken up by Mr. Percival
H. Greg, with a large amount of success, and his results are in course
of pu.blication in the above-mentioned periodical under the head of
" Rum Aroma."

Mr. Greg's investigation has not yet been concluded but the
articles published in August and September, 1895, and January,
1896, appear to demonstrate that the experiments are being con-
ducted with the greatest care, and that it is highly probable,
that definite conclusions of the greatest importance to planters will
ultimately be arrived at.

Without attempting a review of these articles, it appears from
the papers referred to that the Aroma of Rum depends largely upon
the boiling house treatment of the cane juice, and the development
of a certain and peculiar kind of yeast or fermenting organism which
Mr. Greg calls " No. 18."

Mr. Greg concludes his third article as follows : — " It is obvious
" however that even the practical side of the question is far from
" being exhausted and an ever widening field of investigation is
"opened up. If one may be allowed to theorize a little, there seems
" sufficient grounds for concluding from the results which I have up
" to now attained, that though the Aroma of Rum is in the first
" instance derived from the soil, that this influence is chiefly potential
" not actual ; that it is latent, dormant, and only brought into
" existence during the process of manufacture. If this should prove
" to be the case, it would seem to hold out a hope that much may be
" done to improve our Rum both for the home trade in England and
" for export to Germany."

Some may say, but if we do make a fine flavored Rum in
Trinidad we shall never sell it ! That remains to be seen ; and is
not such a proposition hard upon the common-sense of the English
buyers, who would thus be openly accused of not knowing a good

162

article ? It is fairly clear that up to tlie present Trinidad has
not pnt a highly flavoured article on the market, but if ever she
does, it is more than probable she will get prices in accordance
with quality, not at first perhaps — but a good article ahvays meets
its market sooner or later, and there appears to be no good reason
why Trinidad Rum should form the exception.

It remains to be seen however whether the pure culture of No.
18 yeast will act in the same way in Triniiad upon a "wort" or
" Avash " made up on the lines of the Jamaica process, or whether
there are ferments present here which will not allow of the growths
of the special Jamaica ferments. For instance, unless the sponta-
neous 48 hours ferment grows and alcholizes the Trinidad wash,
there is the greatest danger of viscous ferments monopolizing the
charge of the vats, and in a few hours the sugar solution may be nothing
more than a pasty mass. The ferment spoken of is one of very fast
growth, forming in 48 hours the maximum amount of alchohol which
it is possible to obtain. It is also one which by cultivation in cane
juice can be brought to do its work even more quickly than 48 hours
for it has been found that by using a setting of it on new material
that a rapid fermentation at once begin, and in 3 hours wash is in a
state of rapid fermentation. It is a bottom yeast, almost white, with
a resemblance to some of the figured forms of Saccharomyces cerevisice
but with cells apparently much more circular than in any of the
recognised forms, and will probably on being examined by an expert
turn out to be a new species of that genus.

188.-TRINIDAD ORCHIDS.

It is projoosed from time to time to give notes on the various
orchids which are natives of Trinidad, with a view of ultimately
compiling a small pamphlet for the use of visitors to the Island, who
come in 3'early increasing numbers, and make lai'ge demands upon
our time for the purpose of ascertaining wliat arc the most suitable
orchids to take away to Europe or America.

Now if a visitor has the appliances at his command for maintaining
a high temperature with plenty of moisture all the year round, he may
take home and grow a considerable number of the native species in
comparative safety and with no little success; but if he has only a
greenhouse or the heat of a parlour, in which to place them, he had
better leave them alone, and save his time, his moiaey, and his trouble ;
for most assuredly they will not thrive under such conditions. I
know there are persons who will give different advice to this, but I

163

pity the visitor who relies upon ir. A temperature of 7o° to 78° Fah,
with a minimum of 60° degrees, the orchids of Trinidad must have,
or they will suffer largely, and those who wish orchids to grow in
rooms, should select species coming from altitudes where the climate
is more nearly akin to that of the temperate zone than is shown by
the Trinidad register.

If however the visitor has appliances which will enable him to
maintain proper conditions, there are several Trinidad orchids well
worthy of his notice which can be obtained at reasonable rates, and
it is proposed to note such, as each species or variety is passed in review.

The best time for packing and sending away (fixed after many
years trial) is during the month of July ; a week sooner or later
being a matter of no importance. Orchids should be sent in dry cases
at this season with ventilation, and in no instance should any kind of
packing or stuffing be used, but simply struts or bars to prevent
the plants pressing upon one another in the cases.

Oncidium anaphatum. —Lindl.

Onoidium Ampliattim., Lindl, appears to have been first described in
Lindley's Orchidaceous plants published in 1830, and the habitat was given
as " Panmna et Columbia occidentale." Reference is made to the same
plant in Botanical Register in 1835. Grisebach gives the habitat [Costa-
Rica to Venezuela] which includes Trinidad. The orchid is known in
Trinidad as the " Yellow bee," and is one of our commonest kinds, some of
the branches of native trees in the Garden being sufficiently covered to
furnish us with basketsfull of bloom at a single cutting, and is in great
demand in its season for table decoration. The variety, Oncidium amplia-
tum niajus, grows to a much larger size than the type species, and it is said
to be obtainable only from Costa-Rica. There is however an indigenous
\'ariety which was termed niajus by my predecessor, which is so near the
Costa-Rican plant as to be hardly distinguished. The difference between
the type and the variety is well marked to the cultivator ; as the first has
short peduncles (1-2 feet) and somewhat spreading panicles, while the majus
variety is noted for its long (4-5 feet) pedmicles and compact panicles. The
latteral lobes of the lip in the type are spotted red, while in the variety
majua they are clear and yellow like the lip. Oncidium ampUatuin is
always to be found in Trinidad in tiower in the earlier months of the year,
its favourite home being on the upper side of the branches of large spreading
trees which afford it partial shade. The plant is one suitable for cultivation
hi Europe and America.

Oncidium iridifolium, Kth.

This Oncidium is really a little beauty, but like many others is a hard
one to maintain under cultivation unless the exact condition it requires is
supplied. In 1887 I had it first brought in by a native collector and then
for seven years I did not again see it — the pieces kept at the Gardens
gradually dwindling away.

164

From the appearance however of the twigs on which it is brought, and
from the accounts given by a collector it appears to grow upon the outer
branches of trees situated in damp districts, some of the plants
being on twigs not more than a quarter of an inch in diameter. Last year
we tried it, tied tightly to such branches as I have just described and left
it fully exposed, to take care of itself. It has done fairly well and
continued to produce its single flowers during the greater part of the year.
Ovir garden however evidently is not damp enough, for the plants put on
a shrivelled appearance. On the other hand it is found to be extremely
impatient to an excess of moisture. If some orchid fanciers could see this
little beauty, as now on the table before me, a single plant with twelve
blooms regularly spread out in the shape of a fan, exactly 4J inches in
diameter, they would I feel sure, not rest satisfied until they had placed it
in their collection. The plant apparently grows freely from seed as the
twigs of the trees on which it grows are covered with plants of all sizes,
from the mere speck, to the mature form 4J inches in diameter.

This orchid must be placed with those difficult to cultivate, although it
is a highly desirable one from its rarity and beauty.

189. -NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No. 28. — Night Noises.
For sometime during the months of February and March there
had been noticed a peculiar weird sound proceeding from large trees
-in different parts of the Garden. Close observation of the localities
for a long time failed to show the origin or cause of it.

The noise might be described as what would be expected from
the English or Barn Owl with a sore throat, or like the slow clapping
of the wings of some large bird. I directed my assistant and
others to endeavour to ascertain the cause of the noise, as many
of those who heard it attached no little superstition to its occurrence
in the vicinity of dwellings.

Mr. Lunt shortly afterwards successfully detected the author
of the noise. Having heard the cry one evening on a large tree under
which he was passing, he sought out the direction from which it came
and observed a large bird which he took to be an owl. Leaving the
spot he procured a gun, returned, and shot the bird, which proved
to be on comparison a fellow to specimens in the Victoria Institute ol
Trinidad collected by Leotaud, which are deposited under the name
of Athene torqiiatus Daudin. It is called by French residents
Chouette a Collier from the markings of its neck.

Leotaud in his Oiseaux de L'ile de Trinidad states as follows :—

[Translation.]
Athene torquata without being common, is met with frequently.
It stays in buildings or in the midst of thick foliage, or in holes in

165

the trunks of trees. It requires obscurity during the day, and goes
out, only at night, in search of small animals for food. Its cry has a
mournful sound, and to ignorant people is a sign of bad augury which
chills them with fear. Although they fear it, their hate of it is still
greater, and they destroy it without mercy Avheu opportunity occurs.
It should however be preserved as it is useful for destroying the
mice and rats, but those who are incapable of comprehending the
harmony of the laws of nature think nothing of destroying it.

No. 29. — "Petite Chouette." — Athene phalcenoides, Daud.

The above is Leotaud's name for a tiny and pretty little owl,
which is quite common in the garden and its vicinity. Unlike the
•ubject of No. 28, it cries and feeds in the day time, as well as at
night, and sometimes during the day its cry is so frequent and
mouonotous, as to become quite distressing to nervous ears. Leotaud,
in Oiseaux de I'lle de la Trinidad says : Elle est aussi bien dinrna que
nocturne, aussi Ventend-on a toute heure du jour et de la nuit. Son
cri se compose d'une seule note qui semhle vendue par une flute, elle la
repete coup sur coup et pendant longtemps. I have at times been
obliged — when not feeling well — to have them driven away from the
trees near by the office, especially when engaged on work requiring
special attention. The bird is not a shy one by any means and will
allow itself to be approached fairly close before it takes wing. As
far as an oavI can be — it is the prettiest of its class that has come
under observation.

No. 30. — A Bat's Dining Room.

In many places under spreading trees in the Royal Botanic
Gardens are to be found small heaps of the various fruits which may
be in season at the time, — more or less mangled and eaten. The
observer will learn that these seeds are brought to such situations
by the frugivorous bats, which are very numerously represented in
Trinidad. Advantage is taken of this fact, as an easy means of
obtaining some seeds of our woodland and other trees ; and when
such are desired, a careful watch is placed upon such spots and the
seeds taken possession of early in the morning before day feeding
animals can destroy them. Amongst the fruit found on a late examin-
ation at one of these places, were those of Terminalia catappa
Psidiuni guava, Sapota acliras, (Hort.) Mimumsops Elengi, (Hort.)
Sideroxylon masiichodendron, Coffee arabica and Camellia tliea.
So that it would almost appear that bats like the human species are

166

apt to take tea or coiFee after a dinner of more solid food. Bats do a
serious amount of damage among fruit trees, and unless it is protected
fly away with all the best fruit. They also attack legumes, such as
Phaseoliis lunatus, by opening the pod when about half grown, always
from the dorsal side, and abstracting the tender seeds. These fruit
and seeds they carry to their feeding place or dining room, which
is generally the under side of some shady branch of a tree, where
they hang head downwards, their usual position while resting or
eating their food the debris, seeds, &c., &c., dropping upon the
ground below.

The naturalist will at once see what a splendid arrangement the
habits of these animals afford for the distribution of species of plants,
and what an important factor is animal life, in the economy of the
forest. The writer has often seen seeds of trees in one of these
spots, which Avere known to grow not nearer than a mile from the
place where it was eaten ; and on the occasion of the last observation,
taken when in company with Dr. H. H. Eusby of New York then
on a visit to the Colony, Tea seeds were found ; while the nearest
plants from which they could have been gathered Avere fully four
hundred yards from the spot.

Bats moreover select the best and SAveetest fruit, and there is
therefore a distribution of seeds by selection Avhich probably has an
important effect on the evolution of the special varieties Avhich arise.

No. 31 — Life History of the Parasol Ant.

The "Parasol" Ant.

Atta ( (Ecodoma ) cephalotes., Latr.
Atta ((Ecodoma) octospinosa., Beich.

The destruction caused by various species of "Parasol Ant" in
the Western Tropics is a matter of very serious importance to the
Agricultural Industries.

To any one but an eye-Avitness, the amount of damage they are
capable of inflicting on groAving crops can scarcely be credited, and a
constant Avar has to be Avaged against them, Avhich forms a very
expensive item in the management of estates.

The nests are found of all sizes from one occupying an area of
five or six thousand square feet, or niore, to one as small as a single
foot in diameter ; and the cost of destruction ranges accordingly from
some 50 cents to $30 per nest. The Parasol Ant is found from
Mexico doAvuAA'ards through central and the northern parts of South
America, Trinidad included.

167

In the more northern West Indian Islands however, this pest
(happily for cultivators) has not yet been found. Notwithstanding
the fact that the Parasol Ant is practically ubiquitous in Trinidad,
not a spot in the whole Island being safe from attack, the life history
of the insect is but little known to the ordinary cultivator, and it had
up to a recent date received but little attention from the scientific
world. Of late, however, observations have been carried out which
have considerably increased our knowledge of the habits and charac-
teristics of these insects, and it is now seen, as in many previous cases
where the life history of insects has been properly studied, that a
close attention to the facts will better enable a persistent attack to be
maintained upon insects which must be considered as deadly foes
to all Agricultural and Horticultural operations.

Classification.

Under the name Parasol Ant must be included several genera

and species of ants. Professor Forel who is a w«ll-known authority

gives the following in a publication dated 1893 : —

Qenus. Atta.

Atta lutea. , n. sp. , Forel.

A — aexdens, Latr.

A — nigra, Smith.

A — siibterranea. , n.sp., Fox-el.

A — octospiiiosa. , Reich.

A — Moelleri., n.sp., Forel.

A — coronata. , Fabr.

A — Urichii., n.sp., Forel.
Oemis. Apterostigma.

Apterostigma Urichii., n.sp., Forel.

A Mayi'i., n.sp., Forel.

A Wasmanii., Forel.

Genus. Cyphomyrmex.

Cyphomyrmex olitor., n.sp.

C strigatus., Mayr.

Some of the above are placed iinder sub-genera by this author.

Many of these genera are present in Trinidad, so that we have
not one " Parasol Ant," but several, different in form but similar in
habit. All the fungus eaters however are not to be taken and recog-
nised as " Parasol Ants." This may be done Avith many species, biit
some, although fungus growers are known to use other material than
vegetable tissue, for the preparation of their "' Gardens" as they are

called by Moller.

Natural Histort,

The more important of these insects from a planter's point of

view are the two species whose names are at the head of this paper,

viz., Atta cephalotes, and Atta octospinosa. The latter mostly inhabit

the neighbourhood of towns or villages, the former being more com-

168

mon in the woodland districts, though both are to be found in almost
every kind of situation.

Bates, who travelled in the Amazon, and Belt, who wrote the
^' Naturalist in Nicaragua," are both credited with observations on
the habits of Atta cephalotes, the latter author being the first to note that
the ants CARRIED VEGETABLE MATTER INTO THEIR NESTS,
NOT AS FOOD, BUT AS A MATERIAL UPON WHICH THE
FOOD WAS GROWN, in the form of the conidia of a fungus.

The matter however did not receive direct attention until some
years later. Early in 1892 I constructed a few artificial nests, and
commenced observations, and a resum^ of these was read at a meeting
of the Linnean Society in the latter part of 1892. Alfred Moller, a
German Naturalist, appears to have been studying these insects at or
about the same time, in the province of Santa Catherina, Brazil, in
the neighbourhood* of Blumenavi. It was clearly shown by these
observations that the food of the ant was really the fruiting portions
or conidia of the fungus in the nest, a fact which Belt only surmised.

This was proved by observing the nurses take portions of the
food material and place it directly in the mouth of a larva, and the
material placed there was proved to be fungus by again removing it
and subjecting it to microscopical analysis.

Ants in all the mature stages were also observed to feed directly
upon the conidia of the fungus, which is the part used by all as food.

Moller, besides noting these facts, traced the origin of the fungus
a.nd found it to be the mature stage of Bozites gongylojjJiora Moller,
which is similar in form, though different in colour, to the common
edible mushroom Agaricus campestris. It is just possible however
that the fungus of our ants nests may not be the same species as that
observed by Moller ; and it is also possible that the species cultivated
by the different kinds of ant are singular to the nests of different
species ; as some recent observations show that the material used for
the growth of the " mushroom gardens," as they are called by Moller
differ in the nests of various species. It has also been seen that the
form of growth of the mycelium in some nests differs materially from
that found in others, which leads to the inference that the fungus
may be found to be specifically distinct on closer examination ; but of
course tintil the fungus of the nests of the various species is observed
in its mature form, it is not possible to determine this point with
exactness.

169

The nest of Atta cephalotes contains six different forms as shown
by the illustrations.

A ia the Male, a large wiugod form^with small head.
K is the Queen, a large winged form with large head.
C is the .Soldier, a wingless form with large head.
D ia the \^^orker Major, a wingless form.
E ia the Worker Minor, a wingless form.
F is the Nurse and Gardener.

170

I am indebted to the courtesy of Messrs. Macmillan & Co., the
publishers of the "Cambridge Natural History" now in course of
issue, for the use of the cliche for printing our illustration. The
materials, however, from which the draAvings were made were supplied
from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, to Dr. D. Sharp, the
Editor, who has kindly afforded us assistance in making observations
by sending us valuable suggestions.

Atta octo8j)inosa has no "soldier" form in its nest, and the
qvxeens and workers are much smaller than the like forms in the nest
of A. cepTialotes, and their colour is a lighter red. In some of the
nests of the smaller species of Fungus-growing ants the workers are
all of one size, and the winged male and female forms are only
slightly larger. In Trinidad the winged forms of A. cephalotes and
A. octospinosa emerge from the nest about May or June ; when
marital functions are carried on, new nests are formed, the males
perish, and the fertilized queen seeks a suitable home. It is not how-
ever, clearly shown as yet, whether the queen alone is capable of
forming and maintaining a nest until she has reared sufficient progeny
to take the work off her hands, but it is strongly indicated that she
is able to do so. It is however quite clear that three or four worlers
and nurses can start a new colony without the intervention or aid of
a queen, as this has been proved by experiment at the Gardens. It is
also clear that others besides the Queen can produce fertile eggs, as it
has been seen from the experiments we have carried on, that a colony
is capable of raising all the forms from eggs laid — when a Queen is
not present — either by fertile workers, or by individuals which are
enabled to carry on the extension of a colony by Parthenogenesis.

An egg on being laid is taken charge of by the nurses, under whose
care it passes through its larva and pupa stages, a process which takes
about 50 or 60 days. This period is stated, for in a nest under daily
observation we noted that an egg passed through every stage in fifty-
seven (57) days. When the egg hatches it becomes a larva or " worm,"
during which time it is diligently and regularly fed by the nurses
until it reaches the pupa stage.

In the pupa stage, it takes no food, but remains quite dormant
and when ready to emerge, it is again waited upon by the nurses Avho
can be seen to subject the insect to what may be termed a system of
massage. Numbers of them can at this period be seen assisting the pupa?
to get rid of their pupa cover or blanket, after which they can be
seen to take the various parts of the body in succession, and by

171

bending and extending the limbs, moving and twisting the head and
abdomen, they seem to induce a revival to a more active state of life,
and in due course the subject of their attentions makes a few spasmodic
struggles and staggers away with trembling steps to carry on the
special duties of the life to which it is born.

In the pupa stage the Queens appear to receive more attention
than the worker form, bu.t no es2')ecial or royal honours appear to be
paid to them after becoming mature, until they have commenced the
duties of maternity. The annual flight is probably in part originated
by the want of food and not to celebrate their Queen's Birthday, for
it has been found in our artiiicial nests that when numbers of the
winged males and females are present the supply of fungus food soon
becomes exhausted, and if left to themselves they take to flight. If,
however, sufficient food is supplied, (which can be obtained from
other nests where no winged form is allowed to develop), the winged
forms remain in the nest until the next season. At the time of
Avriting we have an unfertilized Queen which has been kept in this
manner since last year.*

While in the nest, the winged forms, male and female, appear to
do nothing but eat, day and night from the time of birth until the
time of flight, and if examined, they will at all times be found dis-
tended with food. This is probably a provision of Nature to enable
them to sustain the long fast they have to endure during the time of
the annual flight, the swarming, or honeymoon period, for it is fairly
certain that they cannot obtain when abroad, anything that will
serve as a substitute for the under ground fungus on which they
naturally feed.

Although there is no certainty about the matter, it is supposed
that, after the necessary marital relations have been completed and
the Queen has lost her wings, she seeks for, and takes possession of, a
suitable spot in which to found a nest, and the larvre she hatches
arc supposed to be fed on re-gurgitated food, the supply being laid
up by her as we have previously seen, before leaving the home in
which she Avas born. I have been particular in giving this only as a
supposition, but any one who will undertake to study what are really
the methods adopted by newly fertilized Queens to found a colony
will be doing a great service to the cause of Natural History, and
also to that of Tropical Agricultural Economy.

* This insect is since dead, hid (ift> r datth the bodi/ was ahvays attended lit a
numerous retinue and allowed to remain in the nest — 7rh>le the bodies of all other forms
that mail die in the nest, are itnmediatehj carried outside.

172

The soldier of Atta cejihalotes is a very vigorous defender of the
nest and justly warrants the application of the name. This is fully
shown in the text of the following paper published in the " Annals
and Magazine of Natural History," February, 1896, where our obser-
vations on this point are recorded : —

Atta (CEcodoma) Cephalotes, Latr. -. — " The Soldier."

(By J. H. Hart, F.L.S.J

In studying the various forms of the inhabitants contained in a nest of the
" Sauba " or " Parasol- Ant" I have observed :— (1) males, (2) queens, (3) soldiers,
(4) large workers, (5) smaller workers, and (6) nurses.

Lubbock gives only five classes — 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5— the fourth and fifth of
which he calls large workers, and states : — " Bates never saw either of the last
two kinds do any work at all, and was not able to satisfy himself as to their
functions. They have also been called soldiers, but this is obviously a misnomer
— at least they are said never to fight. Bates suggests that they may serve in
some sort as passive instruments of protection to real workers. Their enormously
large, hard, and indestructible heads may be of use in protecting them against
the attacks of insectivorous animals. They would be on this view pieces de
resistance, serving as a foil against onslaughts made on the main body of the
workers. "

Lubbock then states* that he is not satisfied with this solution, and thinks
the true function of these large-headed forms is not yet satisfactorily explained.
I have personally had the advantage of studying the insect both in
Nicaragua and m Trinidad, and I must agree with him, for the observations I
have made clearly show the "soldier," or No. 3 of my set, to be actually a
"soldier," and a most resolute defender of the nest in which he (?) resides.

If a nest of Atta cephalotes is visited and the slightest disturbance made,
the first members which appear are the " soldiers," who will seize any and every
thing presented to them or that comes in their way. I have suffered myself to
be bitten on the hand by one of them, and have watched the process.

The mandibles are first fully extended and the skin is firmly grasped by
the points, but as the pressure is continued the mandibles meet below the skui to
a depth of 3 to four millim. , causing a neatly incised wound sometimes as much,
as 5 to 6 millim. in length, and resembling a cut from a small knife. The grip of
the animal is so tenacious that it will allow its head to be pulled from its body
before it will quit its hold, and will fix to iron, flesh, or cloth with equal facility.
Mr. Lunt, my assistant, when visiting a large nest had thick woollen socks
so ciit through by the "soldier" of this species that they were useless for further
wear.

If a nest is visited and an alarm caused by putting a piece of iron, stick, or
other instrument into their holes, it is sure, when removed, to be covered with
the " soldier" ants hanging to it by their mandibles.

In addition to these facts I have seen m my artificial nests, which I have
had under observation for some three years, many fights with the "soldier."

The workers of Atta octospiiiosa, Reich., among which there are no
"soldiers," can easily kill the "soldier" of A cephalotes: they proceed as fol-
lows :— The "soldier" is attacked in regular order by six or eight of the
octospinosa, who completely surround their victim, and watch their opportunity
to seize the outer joint of his (?) legs. This is cut off, and gradually the creature

^Ants, Bees and Wasps."

173

ia deprived of these appendages joint by joint, and ultimately is left to move on
mere stumps, when it dies in a few hours. In doing this, the smaller insects
take particular care not to approach within the reach of the "soldier's"
mandibles, as to do so is certain destruction to the individual who has such
temerity ; they seldom do so, but on the contrary, the object appears to be to
keep as far away as possible and to hold the legs fully extended while effecting
their object of cutting them off piece by piece.

*' Soldiers," again, when placed together fight among themselves, and a
bodiless head and thorax is frequently seen stalking about after such meetings.
When placed together in spirit they at once seize one another and form them-
selves up into a complete mass, which is tightly held together by the mandibles.

The "soldier" of Atta cephalotes is the same in form in Nicaragua as in
Trinidad, and possesses the same powers of defence and offence.

Trinidad, January 9, 1896.

The duties of the larger and smaller forms of workers are to
cut and bring in the pabulum or material on which the fungus grows
which serves them as food ; to help in the defence of the nest, and to
act as carriers of the eggs, larvae, or pupae in case of a migration.
They cut and bring in leaves, twigs, flowers, fruit, and in fact almost
every kind of soft vegetable matter, and in so doing a large nest will
often strip a forest tree of its leaves in a single night. When the
leaves are brought into a nest, they are first cleaned or licked over
and then chewed up in little balls, which are placed one upon another,
like an irregular pile or heap of bread in a baker's shop. Amid
these little balls the mycelium soon spreads, and in a short time little
bunches of conidia called by Moller " Kohl-Eabi" make their appear-
ance, forming tiny white points on the spongy surface, and it is this
portion of the fungus which forms the food both of the larvve and

MATURE INSECTS, AND NOT THE LEAVES WHICH ARE CARRIED IN, Avhich are

in no case eaten by these insects.

The form known as the " Nurse" also appears to act as gardener
and scavenger, and no other but the special fungus on which the ants
feed is allowed to make its appearance in the nest. It appears almost
certain however, from actual observation, that the nurses (possibly
under orders from higher authority) are able to raise from the egg —
or an egg — any form they may require, simply by the method they
adopt for feeding the larvse, for it has been observed that the greatest
development takes place during this stage, and that once the larva
assumes the pupa form we can readily determine what particular class
of insect will emerge therefrom ; the queen appearing to be the highest
developed form and the nurse the lowest, the latter taking the
shortest time and the least food, and the former the longest time and
greatest amount of food.

174

A resume of the life history of Atta cephalotes may be con-
venient : —

1st stage ... ... ... The egg.

2nd ,, ... .. ... The larva.

3rd ,, ... ... .. The pupa.

4th „ ... ... ... The imago or perfect insect.

{a. ) There are six forms of the insect produced in the nest, but the ant once
hatched from the larva stage never grows, but remains the same size as when it
issues forth. A Queen is a queen from birth and the nurse, the nurse, &c., &c.. &c.

(h.) Males and queens only, a,re furnished with wings. The wings of the
queen are lost soon after fertilization.

(c. ) It is possible for workers to start a new colony without the aid of a
queen.

(fZ. ) It is deemed probable that a fertilized queen can found a new colony
without assistance.

(e.) An egg left to itself will hatch, l)ut the issue Avill starve or die without
aid from the nurses or queens.

(/. ) Ants bj^ a system of feeding appear to be able to develop whatever form
of insect of their own kind they may desire.

{g.) The greatest activity in the nest, and consequently the most damage
done by these insects is during the early months of the year ; as more food is
required at that time for the development of tlie queens and males.

{h. ) The queens and males are only produced at one season about April —
June, but workers are produced all the year round.

(?'. ) Nests of Parasol Ants will migrate if disturbed and will again return
if they find a secure retreat.

Methods of Destruction,

Innumerable are the means which have been devised from time
to time to destroy the nest of the " Parasol Ant," " We-We " or
'' Bachack " as it is called in various places. Each operator has his
favourite method, and each district a different manner of procedure ;
generally speaking however these methods come under four heads,

1st, Puddling or digging or pounding.
2nd. By the use of poisonous gases or vapour.
3rd, By the use of Coal tar or Corrosive fluids.
4th, By fire.

The agriculturist should not bind himself to adopt any one of
these methods to the exclusion of the others. If he finds a case in
which one method can be better, more economically, and effectively
applied than the other, the operator's judgment and discretion should
direct him which he should use for the accomplishment of his
purpose. There can be no doubt that these ants can be effectively
destroyed hj many difereut means, but to use such means indis-
criminately without taking into consideration the position of the
nest would be manifestly absurd.

175

Puddling or digging is evidently a very cheap and handy means
of destruction if the nest is small and situated in friable or easily
dug soil, near to a supply of water.

If, however, the nest is situated in brick Avork, among tree roots,
in rocky soil, or is very large and far from water, it must be evident
that puddling or digging would become a very troublesome and
expensive operation.

Poisonous fumes should be used only on nests where they caii
be easily generated without danger to human life, and forced in, in
such a manner as to fill every portion of the nest. But if used in
situations where it is impossible to confine them for the required
time, or in places where the gases escape without filling the nest, the
application usually, fails. The fumes which are given off by a solu-
tion of Cyanide of Potassium are useful for destroying nests in some
situations, but as this chemical is a deadly poison it requires to be
used with the utmost care

Sulphur fumes forced into the nest seals the death-warrant of
all insects that are there at the time. This is effected sometimes
by a pair of bellows but is more economically accomplished by the
Asphyxiator, a machine much used in Europe for the testing of drains,
and the destruction of rats and mice in situations underground.

It has been adopted in Trinidad for the purpose of destroying ants
nests, and there can be no doubt that for this purpose it is both
practical and effective when properly used. It consists of a small
chamber containing a centrifugal fan, much after the pattern of a
forge blower, which draws the sulphur fumes from a small combustion
chamber and discharges them into the nest through a rubber tube by
one of the main openings. In using the Asphyxiator, the chief
points are, to see that the fan is properly working, to see that the
combustion chamber is properly supplied with sulphur, and to see
that the orifices or openings of the nest are properly stopped as soon
as the smoke is seen to emerge therefrom.

Coal tar is a very useful agent, but to try and force coal
tar upwards, or to place it, or any corrosive fluid, at the

176

entrance of a nest which runs from the aperture in a horizontal
or ascending direction, is evidently impracticable, but it may
be used very effectively where nests are situated below the
level of the entrance. Coal tar is not only destructive to those
in the nest, but those outside on coming home are liable to be
entangled and destroyed by it, and moreover the nest on which it has
been used will not again be occupied, until all signs and smell of it
has disappeared. Even large nests may be effectively and economi-
cally destroyed when situated below the surface of the ground. A
large nest in one our Town squares was completely destroyed by this
means three or four years ago and has not since reappeared.

The use of fire is very economical, but large and small nests can
only be destroyed by fire when situated in such positions as will allow
of the use of this agent. In pastures and in new clearings it is
probably as effective and as cheap a means as can be used, if _the effort
is properly directed. It is not sufficient however to heap up a pile of
burning bush upon a nest and maintain it on fire, for the ants will
beat a convenient retreat to the inner chambers of the nest, and when
the fire has burnt out, will either migrate or start anew. In attempting
the destruction of a large nest by this method, a watch should be
set, and torches used, to destroy all incoming ants, resting assured
that the ashes covering the seat of the nest will for a time
keep back those which are inside. In a day or two however these
will commence working, but on newly cleared ground they can be
readily seen and should be at once destroyed by any handy means
such as torch, gunpoAvder, or by sulphur fuse or squib, used on the
entrances as they are opened from the inside.

Nests may also, when small, be entirely destroyed in soft ground
by the simple pounding or ramming hard each entrance hole once or
more daily.

In attempting the destruction of any, even the smallest nest, it is
seldom that one operation is sufficient, for we have seen that the ants
are regular outside travellers, and we can never be sure that some are
not outside. There will be always some people Avho will say after the
most effective operations, that the ants were not destroyed in the nest ;
especially if it is not the system they favour, because they are
able to find ants in the same nest a week afterwards. Now we
have already seen that three or four ants are able to re-construct a
nest, or form a new colony, and is it not likely that the ants they find
in the nest are more likely to be those which were outside at the time

177

it "was operated upon, which, having returned have commenced their
nest anew ?

In using chemical fumes also, there may be some chamber Avhich
has not been reached, and in which ants are alive. This will, if left,
certainly carry on the nest, and it is certain that chemical fumes
cannot kill those which were away from home at the time they were
applied. Some nests also are held by separate families and
although they form one community, still their burrows or runs are
separate and distinct, and if one such run, burrow, pocket, or nest is
left untouched, the nest must of course be considered as incompletely
destroyed.

The course pointed out therefore, is for plantei's to continue a
persistent and daily attack until they are certain the insects are
exterminated, whatever the means used, and not to think that any
method or system will, IN A MAGICAL WAY, ONCE AND FOR
ALL, DESTROY BY A SINGLE APPLICATION. Certain it
is, no system can or ever will do this until we can devise
means to attract every wanderer home previous to setting about
the operation of destroying the nest. Water will drown, Tar
will stifle. Sulphur will asphyxiate. Cyanide of Potassium will
poison, and Fire will consume, but unless carefully and continuously
applied, the operator will fail to effectually eradicate the Parasol Ant;
but if he pursues the policy of waging ceaseless Avar, and treating a
parasol ant's nest as he Avould a house on fire, (i.e.) attempt to subdue
it as soon as seen and continue until he has extinguished it, and if
(happy day for Trinidad) all the planters were a join in a united
attempt at the same season, this pest would not do the damage
it now does to Agriculture, but Avould soon be reduced in numbers,
and practically harmless to our Agri-Horticultural Industries.

No. 32 — Origin of Sex.

The qiiestion of the origin of sex, has long been a difficult one,
but our knoAvledge is being gradually extended.

In H. J. Webber's article in "American Naturalist" (February,
1892), he recapitulates the results of some of Young's experiments,
in which among tadpoles the percentage of females was 57 in a
hundred. Fed on beef the percentage of females was raised to 78
per cent. Fed on fish to 81, and fed on the flesh of frogs the percent-
age of females became 92, or 92 females to 8 males out of every hun-
dred. And these changes are possible, owing to the tadpole " passing

178

througt a hermaplirodite stage in common, according to some authors,
with most animals." That the " parasol ant" has the power of arrang-
ino- what sex its young shall be and also what form they shall assume,
has been fairly proved by observations taken at the Botanic Gardens.
It has also been stated in Cape Agricultural Journal, November 28,
1895, that by adopting certain measures and matching males of certain
ages with females of certain ages, combined with an abundant supply
of food, a majority of ewe lambs can be confidently relied on ; while
opposite measures produce a large percentage of males. This progress
in the knowledge of the primary form of life has been so rapid of
late years, that a relation of it to the unstudied, seems to them
like a chapter out of the "Arabian Nights" or some wonderful and
mysterious book. By the general public scientific facts are rarely
understood until they affect the political or domestic economy of a
people, and then their eyes are opened and wonder expressed why
they were not able to discover such apparently simple things them-
selves. However there is no doubt that an advance has been made in
determining the causes of the variation in sex, and although as yet
there is no apparent certainty there is that which leads to the inference
that the further development of methods of study will reveal more of
that which is even yet, a somewhat hidden page .

190.— ONIONS— ^?^»w»i Cepa., Linn.

Spasmodic attempts are at times made by local publications to
induce the planters of the various islands to undertake the growth of
Onions.

From several of the Islands we frequently see records of the growth
of onions ; Mr. Hobby-horse is related to have produced one actually
four ounces in weight, Mr. High -success grew two, which between
them weighed three quarters of a pound, and so on ; but few or none
of them have told of the expense of sowing, growing, reaping or the
weight and full value of the entire crop grown. The want of the
latter information, together Avith a credit and debit account is what is
reqriired to show whether it is advisable to continue the efforts to

grow onions.

It may be mentioned that the writer's first attempt in the "West
Indies was made over twenty years ago, and our advice on the subject
to those seeking it, has ever since been as follows : —

While readily admitting that onions could at times be grown of

179

fair size and quality, if a suitable season is chanced upon, yet taking
all conditions into consideration, we advised that it would seldom pay
tlie cultivator for the time and labour expended.

1st. In consequence of the very numerous insect enemies there
is to contend with ;

2nd. On account of the variable character of the climate, and
the heavy rains experienced at times :

3rd. On account of the difficult artificial conditions which have
to be maintained to counteract the first two reasons ;

4th. On account of the prevailing temperature being much
higher than that of countries where the onion is indige-
nous or well acclimatized.

The native country of the onion according to De Candolle, the
eminent French author, is very uncertain** but he gives evidence
that it has been cultivated in Southern Asia and the Eastern region
of the Mediteranean, from a very early period. He also mentions it
being found in a wild state in Beluchistan, Afghanistan, and the
mountainous regions of the Khorrasan. It has also been found
in Western Siberia. The climate of these countries and that ol the
present centre of modern civilization, show that it flourishes where
the humidity is much less and the temperature much lower than in
the West Indies.

Besides this, there is little doubt that the centuries of cultiva-
tion in Europe has produced a form of onion which is specially suited
to the climate of that part of the world, and less suited perhaps than
the original wild variety (whatever that might have been like), to our
West Indian climate. Hence we have the white Spanish — the Portu-
gal — the Tripoli — white Italian — the Strasbourgh, &c., &c., &c. —
showing, the various forms that arise in different countries, while
English and American varieties are also numerous.

There is, we fear, little hope of possessing ourselves of the
seed of the wild variety and still less hope that we may be able to
acclimatize sufficiently to fit it for economic culture in our climate.
It is therefore compulsory on us, in attempting to grow the onion
to use seed which has been raised in a cooler climate than that in
which we live. As I have before mentioned, long years ago it was
a well ascertained fact that under favourable circumstances onions

* Origin oj ctiUivated plants.

180

can be grown, but whether it is worth while to grow them; or
whether on an average of years they will pay the grower, is in my
humble opinion, quite another question, or " a horse of another
colour."

I have however been induced by those who enquire about such
things, to make various trials, from time to time, but in not a single
instance has the conclusion come to in the first instance stood in need
of modification or correction. The result of the last trial is put on
record herewith so that would-be cultivators may judge for themselves
whether or no, it ofi"er8 encouragment. Ifc may be explained that seeds
cannot be sown in the open beds in Trinidad, as ants and various other
insects at once destroy them previous to germination, and therefore
a water surrounded spot has to be used for the germination of nearly
every kind, which have perforce to be sown in boxes and transplanted.

The seed was sown (May 1895) in boxes, was transplanted once, and
planted out finally in September in a bed 30 feet long by 4 feet wide.
The weight of onions in the total crop was a trifle over 3 pounds and
the largest of the lot weighed three (3) ounces. They were harvested
April, 1896. The cost was as follows : —

Dr. Cr.

Seeds

Postage ...

Boxes — six @ 3d. . . .

Transplanting into boxes

Preparing ground . . .

Planting

Labour, shading, watering, i o 5 6

weeding, &c. , eleven months i
Harvesting ... 3

£ s. d.

1 3

10 Hi

£ 8. d.

By 3 lbs. onions ? „ ^ -.,
@2iperft. J " " '5

Now Madeira onions of first class quality can be bought nearly all
the year round at rates ranging from l-|d. to 2^d. per pound in.
Trinidad.

Whether the above Debit and Credit account is one likely to
give encouragement to onion growing, I leave my readers to judge.
It is made out taking minimum cost, and may be taken as fairly
corresponding with previous trials. The experiment I may add, was
conducted by one who many* years ago grew and exhibited, in
Oxfordshire and Berkshire, the once celebrated and still catalogued
" Nuneham Park Onion," a variety of the white Spanish that in its
day took various first prizes at some of the best Horticultural
Exhibitions in England.

181

With us it will be seen Oaions cost over 3/7 per pound, while
over twenty pounds of imported onions of excellent quality can be
purchased for the same money.

It is not what Ave can grow that should occupy the atten-
tion of our people, but what we can grow economically and at
lemunerative rates.

191.— CEDAR— Ce*-e?a odorata, L.

Residents and natives of the West Indies are in general well
acquainted with the West Indian Cedar and its uses, but American
and European visitors and " stay at homes" of other lands have
not the same acquaintance with this famous tree, nor are they well
informed of the class of wood to be looked for when the word cedar
is mentioned. This is not much to be wondered at Avhen we find that
there are woods from all parts of the world known as cedar, as well
as the West Indian, produced by trees of very different character,
and far removed from each other by Botanical classification.

The common name Cedar, is applied to the wood of Junijperus
virginiana, or Virginian Red Cedar which grows in the United States.
By some there is no distinction drawn between this and Juniperus
Bermudiana, or the Bermuda Cedar. The wood from these two is
practically indistinguishable ; it is used for the same purposes, and a
fine essential oil can be distilled from either. Taking the two as one
species it is found to be present in Cuba, Jamaica, Hayti, and by
cultivation (if not otherwise) in several other West Indian Islands.
A large pencil manufacturer recently applied at this office for informa-
tion as to the possibility of growing it in the West Indies on a com-
mercial scale as he anticipated a scarcity of the Virginian wood. He
was informed that the tree was apparently indigenous to the hill lands
of Jamaica and Cuba, and that large areas in these islands could be
readily devoted to its cultivation if inducement offered. It could
hardly be expected however that property owners would expend large
sums on planting pencil cedar as .a speculation unless under some
guarantee; but it is nevertheless clear that if certain sums were
judiciously expended a steady supply of these woods could be main-
tained, sufficient perhaps to render the manufacturer iudependant of
American supplies.

182

In Trinidad our lands are not so -well suited to the growth of this
tree as Jamaica, Cuba, Hayti, &c., as we do not possess any large
areas of elevated land, but even here, there are spots on our hill-sides
which might be turned to good account for this purpose. The tree
will grow even at sea level, and attain a fair size, bvit in the language
of the cultivator it does not appear to be " happy" in such positions
(i.e.) it does not put on a sturdy, robust, or well grown appearance
and is hardly likely to be profitable grown at such elevations.

Other cedars are the " Cedar of Lebanon," Cedrus Lihani, Barrel.
The "Deodar" or "Indian Cedar" Cedrus deodara, London. The
Mount Atlas or " African Cedar" Cedrus atlantica. The Ncav Zealand
CeAviX —Lib cedrus Bidwillii HooTc and the Australian Red Cedar.
Cedrela toona, Roxb., a tree belonging to the same genus as our West
Indian or Creole cedar. There is also the white cedar of the Northern
West Indian Islands which is the wood of a Bignoniaceous tree
Tecoma leucoxylon, Mart., a genus to which that famous yellow flowered
hardwood tree called the "Poui" belongs. The latter is a special
feature in the Trinidad landscape, as the hills are ablaze for miles
during spring weather in March and April with its glorious show of
bright yellow flowers. As a "cedar" however, the wood of Tecoma
leucoxylon has not much in common, not even colour, with the well
known market varieties. The North Americans have a " Eed Cedar,"
all to themselves, and this " cedar" is found to be produced by the
tree known as Thuja occidentalis or the American "Arbor Vitce" of
which there are several varieties. The wood is durable, red, and it
may be possible by a great stretch of the imagination to draAv a
resemblance between it and other better known " cedar" woods.

On the eastern coast of North America there is also found a
" White Cedar"; a wood furnished by the tree known as " Cujpressus
Thy oides, Linn, and Lihocedrus decurrens, Torrey, is also known as the
Californian White Cedar.

We have therefore the list as follows : —

Juniperus Virginiana, Linn ... ... Pencil Cedar.

Juniperus Berimidiana, Linn. ... ... Bermuda Cedar.

Cedrus Lihani, Barrel ... ... Cedar of Lebanon.

Cedrus Deodara, London ... ... Indian Cedar.

Cedrus atlantica, Mamth .., ... Mount Atlas or African Cedar.

Tecoma leucoxylon. Mart ... ... West Indian White Cedar.

Thuja occidentalis, Linn. ... ... American Red Cedar.

Lihocedrus decurrens, Torrey ... ... Californian White Cedar.

Lihocedrus Bidwillii, Hook ... ... New Zealand Cedar.

Cedrela Toona, Roxb. ... ... Australian Red Cedar.

Cedrela odorata, Linn. ... ... West Indian Cedar.

183

It will easily be seen from this list, which is not exhaustive, what
a difEcnlt subject the determination of the word "cedar" must be
to any but those acquainted with the Botanical characters of the
various plants producing woods known under this name, and the woods
themselves may be quite vmrecognisable without the aid of Botanical
specimens for identification.

The "Cedar" of the West Indies however bears very distinct
characteristics. It is known to Botanist as Cedrela odorata L. and
belongs to an order of plants called the Meliacese ; an order to which
the well known Mahogany {Swietenia Maliogani, Jacq) and Carap
{Carapa Guianensis, Aubl.) also belongs; and is the only "Cedar"
I have mentioned, except Tecoma leucoxylon, which does not belong
to the order Coniferce. As I have previously indicated, some Botanists
consider Jumpevus Bermudiana, and Jnniperus Virginiana to be forms
of one species, others consider Cedrus Libani, Cedrus Deodora, and
Cedrus Atlantica should only be considered varieties of one species,
but as our concern is not specially with nomenclature, it can well be
left to specialists at various Botanical centres to determine such
intricate and knotty points.

Cedrela odorata L., is a large quick growing tree and it is native
of the Neo-Tropical Region, which includes the "West Indies. Figures
of it are given in Sloane's Natural History of Jamaica, and also
Brown's Jamaica, the latter giving at p. 10 f. 1 excellent figures of
flowers, leaf, and capsule of the plant.

The following description is taken from Grisebach's Flora of

the West Indies : —

PEDRELA, L.

" Calyx 5-lobed. Petals imbricative, oblong ; midrib on the
inside furnished with a plait, which adheres to the gynophore.
Staminal tube wholly combined with gynophore : fertile filaments 5,
long, inserted on its top. Ovary 5 celled : cells 8 — 12, ovulate.
Capsule dehiscent from the top : seeds with a terminal wing; albumen
thin. Foetid trees; leaves pinnate ; p>anicle large, terminal.

Cedrela, odorata, Linn. ; Leaves imparipinnate ; leaflets 5 — 8
jugal, oblong, oblique at the base, petiolulate ; petals pubescent ;
capsule ovoid, sub-costate. A high tree ; leaflets variable in being
broader or narrower shortly or long petiolulate ; panicle drooping,
often above one foot long ; flowers pale yellow."

The tree is a very fast grower in its younger stages and the
wood is of the greatest service, and commonly used for many pur-

184

poses. As a building wood for frames and timbers, it is useful and
durable, and cedar boards are all that can be desired for house build-
ing, and cabinet work. Cedar presses for clothes, cedar cabinets,
cedar tables, are among the very best in use, and for wardrobes it is
considered to be in advance of all other woods from the character
it has of not habouring moths or other insects. The wood is also
largely used for the manufacture of the well known cigar boxes, and
Avhere the tree is common, small flat pieces sawn or split, called
" shingles " are used for the covering of buildings, and a roof made
of well seasoned cedar, is one which is known to outlast everything
of its kind.

In central America where trees of the largest dimensions can be
obtained, it is used for making boats, sometimes " dug out " and
sometimes " built," which are light and very lasting, but they should
always be kept out of the water when not in use, as the wood is
slightly absorbent and the boats become heavy if left in the water,
and this applies more especially where they are not kept well painted.

The tree when in flower gives out a very peculiar odour, which is
overpowering to some and is sometimes called foetid. The wood also
when fresh cut, has a harsh and rather unpleasant smell, but with
age this disappears, and well ripened wood gives off an odour very
much liked, and many use wardrobes and presses of cedar by
preference for wearing apparel, simply to give them by contact the
sweet and peculiar smell of the wood.

Sometimes the trees reach the enormous height of 90 to 100 feet
or more, and I have seen trees with a diameter of twelve feet at the
bole, but this of course is unusually large. In Trinidad and Jamaica
the growth of the tree is very steady and regular, and with us in
Trinidad probably faster than in Jamaica, as our climate seems rather
better suited to its growth.

On the average the planter may calculate on a diameter of
one inch per annum. If planted in good soil, a tree twenty
years old would probably have a stem or trunk tAventy to twenty-five
inches in diameter. Of course a contrast to this will sometimes
appear, for if planted at great distances, in poor soil, and if left un-
protected, a slow growth and stunted character is all that can be
expected and certainly is all that any planter who gives them such
treatment deserves.

Altogether the planting of West Indian Cedar through the West
Indian Islands, a few of the most wind blown perhaps excepted, is au

185

enterprize whicli should recommend itself to the capitalist ; for if he
looks at the price of the timber of the present day, and the outlook
for the future, there are certain and sure signs that he who possesses
an estate covered with this valuable timber in a convenient spot for
haulage and shipment has an investment which is superior to many of
those which the present day oifers.

The planting is easy and inexpensive, the attention required at
the outset is but little in comparison with other cultivation and when
once established, the trees practically take care of themselves and
grow into money. Cedrela Wood Oil is also obtained from Cedrela
Odorata.

In the semi-annual report of Messrs. Schimmel & Co., Leipzig
and New York the following appears : —

Oil of cedar wood {Punta Arenas) Costa Rica, colour yellow,
yield 3-06 per cent, boiling between 265 and 270*^, sp. gr. 0*915,
Optical Rotation — 5° 53' in 100 in tube consists mainly of sesquiter-
pence and yields dichloric-hydrate (Cadinene hydrochloride) having
the melting point of 118°.

192.— MAHOGANY— Sivietenia Mahogani, L.

This tree like the " Cedar " Cedrela odorata grows rapidly and
produces excellent wood in the Island of Trinidad. Grisebach in his
flora of the West Indies makes it indigenous to Trinidad, but this, as
stated in " Corrections" to that work, is questioned by Cruger, and I
think rightly, as I can certainly find no sufficient evidence that the
tree is indigenous here. It is also given as a native of Jamaica and
Bahamas and it is well known to be indigenous to Central American
Countries from Mexico Southwai'ds ; a large export trade being done
by some of these countries especially by British Honduras, and
'•' Honduras Mahongany " is a well known mark in the markets.
The tree however is found commonly throughout the West Indies,
and whether indigenous with us or not matters little, so long as we
have the knowledge that it thrives well and produces excellent timber.
In the year 1876 I planted trees in the lowlands of Jamaica which
during the time they were under my care gave a yearly average
growth of one inch diameter of stem. I planted some in Trinidad in
1889 and the average of these now give a trunk considerably over
seven inches in diameter and some thirty feet in height. Trees
planted in the early years of these gardens are now ot large
size and have for a series of yeai's furnished excellent timber of

186

tlie best quality ; some of whicli was used in building the Governor's
Eesidence at St. Anne's. The garden was started in 1818, or 78
years ago, so that they may be estimated to be about 60 years old.
Some of these give trunks over four feet in diameter so that the
average growth for a series of years including youth and maturity
may be taken at ~ of an inch per annum which I think is fairly
correct and reliable average growth when planted in fairlygood soil.
There are of course places in which from character of soil and various
other causes, trees would probably give not more than half these
results, but a great deal depends upon the care and attention they
receive. I have acquantance with a case in point. A forest was cut
down and the land laid bare on an area of many acres. The land was
not good, and the aspect and situation Avas, dry at one season and
flooded at another. The trees were planted some thirty or forty feet
apart and not protected in any way, cattle pulled them down, the
wind broke off branches, and no attention was paid to them for years.
The rule with them has been slow and stunted growth, and in 15
years they have made little progress. This is not to be wondered at for
few trees of any kind would have thriven under similar circumstances.
Now there should be no excuse for a failure of this kind, for it is
evident that those who had the care of these trees could have had no
training on wood craft, or in fact any practical knowledge of the
principles of that art, for if they had they would have known that
the first rule of the forester is to plant thickly and the first cost of
plants shoxild never be a bar to carrying out this practice, which is
one pursued hundreds of years ago in the forests of Europe and still
carried on in the same way to-day where practical forestry is properly
understood. Cover the ground first, and thin afterwards, plant
thickly and you can choose year by year what has to be removed and
the thinnings Avill pay for the cultivation. If a planter wants forest trees
say 40 feet apart he shovild at least plant his ground in not less than
ten feet intervals. For example ; on a square of forty feet he Avould
have to plant twenty-five trees; out of Avhich he will eventually have
only four as permanent timber— -the other twenty-one falling, as
necessary to give room for growth of the others. Thick planting
affords a protection and induces a growth which can be had in no
other way, and it is a practice that should be pursued if success in
timber culture is to be secured, and it is but little use to plant
otherwise, except in particularly favoured situations. The Mahogany
produces seed freely in some climates but like many other trees does
not give regular crops. The seed however when produced grows

187

freely and the seedling are of a rapid growth and very hardy.
Looking to the probable out- put from Central American Countries
and the regular demand for this wood. It is fairly certain that he
who cultivates Mahogany in the West Indies at once, and with a deter-
mination to do it well, and on a fairly large scale, will succeed in
making laud that is now improfitable and valueless, into estates which
will give to their owners, in due time, a regular and substantial
return. Of course in matters of this kind the first question asked
is what will be the costs of planting. An answer can be easily and
truthfully given. The cost of planting is a small one. Say we plant
at 10 feet apart, 435 plants will be required for each acre or to allow
for supplies say 500 plants. These should be grown in nurseries
for at least two years and the cost should be but trifling as any
intelligent labourer should be able to attend to them in the intervals
of other work. And the practice which it is necessary to persue
can always be learnt by sending a man to the Royal Botanic Gardens
for a short time. "We can raise them here at a cost of some two cents,
2c. or one penny each and planters should certainly do it for the same
money. It will thus cost some $10 per acre for plants. The planting
can best be estimated for by the planter himself, but he should see
that it is properly done, and when this is done it is highly essential
that the plants should be protected from inroads of cattle, for the
first few years at least. So that the surrounding growth does not
over-shadow the plants or grow too near them, the thicker it is the
better and it is not ncecessary to clean or brush except to keep the
plants clear and to see they are not overrun by climbing plants.
After the first 4 or 5 years the plants, if in fair soil, should be
beyond the reach of stock and protection will not be required, but if
possible keep stock away altogether. The best way for a planter to
commence is to fence in half an acre or an acre in different localities
as trial plots and to increase his area if his plants thrive, and the
position is found a suitable one.

193, —VANILLA— Vanilla planifolia.

A SMALL quantity of Vanilla grown and cared in the Garden was
sent home in the beginning of the year and was valued by a large
firm at 10/- to 11/- per lb. Vanilla grandiflora and Vanilla
phmianiha also produced fruit. V. grandiflora produces a large
meaty pod having a fine perfume, but V. phoenantha is of no
great value for cultivation, as though sweet, its pods are much too
small to take the market.

188
194. -BOTANICAL NOTES-

No. 5 — Cynometra Trinitensis — Oliver.

It was stated in No. 5, Vol. II. p. 122 that Professor Oliver would
shortly describe in Hooker's " Icones Plantarum" a tree which is
growing in our Gardens. Through the kindness of W. T. Thiselton-
Dyer Esqr., who edits this publication for the Bentham Trustees, I am
possession of a copy of Professor Oliver's description and it is here
given in full. With the description there is a most excellent figure of
the leaves, flowers, and fruit, but for obvious reasons this cannot be
reproduced in our Bulletin.

Cynometra Trinitensis— OZw.

Leguminosce. Tribe Cynometrece.
C. trinitensis, Oliv. {sp. nov.) ; foliolis unijugis plus mmus coriaceis valde
insequilateralibus oblique ovato- v. oblongo-ellipticis obtusiuscule apiculatis
glabris, florum fasciculis axillaribus sessilibus multifloris, bracteis late ovatis
concavis striatis fusco-puberulis caducis, pedicellis pilosulis bractea longioribus,
calycis segmentis 4 longitudinaliter venosis intequilateralibus, petalis 5 calycem
superantibus subsequalibus subcymbiformibus acutiusculis 1-nerviis pennivenis,
staminibus 10, filamentis glabris, ovario brevissime stipitato compresso parce
pilosulo 1-ovulato, legumine subgloboso v. leviter compresso, pericarpio tenuiter
crustaceo obscure papilloso-verrucoso sitblsevi.

Hab. W. Indies : Trinidad, Cruger, Prestoe, dbc.

Arbor mediocris, corona densa ; raniulis glabratis crassitie pennse corvinEe,
ultimis pendulis. Foliola brevissime petiolulata 3-4i poll, longa, \^-2 poll, lata ;
petiolus 4-6 lin. longus. Fasciculi Jlorum 1-1^ poll. diam. Calycis tubo
brevissimo. Stamina alternatim breviora ; antherse parvse, versatiles, late
ellipticae. Legume7i 1-1^ poll. diam.

This fine species has long been in the Kew Herbarium, but not hitherto
satisfactorily determined, and the recent receipt of excellent specimens from Mr.
Hart has agam brought it under notice. It was regarded by Dr. Grisebach {ex
descr. ) as C. crassifolia, Benth. (described from specimens in the Paris Herbarium),
but Mr. Bentham did not confirm this, and thought it might prove to be C.
americana, Vog. Dr. Schumann some years ago kindly compared a specimen for
us with Vogel's type, and found it ' quite different. ' It resembles C. ramiflora,
L., of India, but the fruit is entirely different. — D. Oliver.

No. 6 — Scldzea elegans. Sw.

DuKiNG the month of March there was received in the Herbarium
several specimens of this fern taken at Valencia in the northern
district of the Island. It answers very well indeed to Baker's des-
cription in Synopsis Filicum and one specimen is decidedly an
intermediate stage between the type and the variety. S. FlaheUinn
Mart of which specimens are in the Herbarium collected by my
predecessor Mr. Prestoe.

189

No, 7 — Schizea pennula, Stv.

In our Herbarium are two sheets of this Schizea. Specimens of
this fern were also brought in during the month of March. The
above ferns grow in open — but partially shaded ground in clayey soil
among grasses and other Ioav herbage. They are seldom seen in
cultivation.

No. 8 — Fungus on Coccid.

A FUNGUS which preys upon one of the Coccidae or scale insects
found infesting the leaves of Hippeastrum has been named by the Kew
authorities as Microcera coccopliila Desm. Observation shows that
scale insects suffer much from the attack of fungi, in fact these
apparently insignificant members of the vegetable kingdom form one
of the most serious natural enemies of the scale insects of plants.
When it is remembered that in the ultimate stage of its life history,
the Coccid or scale becomes a fixture to one particular spot ; it is
more easy to understand how these insects can be overcome by the
mycelium of a fungus.

The latter organism advances towards the insect once it becomes
fixed> and grows over it enveloping it as completely as a spider does a
fly — and ultimately secures the complete destruction of its life, and
the life of the embryos it may contain. In all cases of insect attack
it therefore becomes an imperative necessity that the life history of
the organism which attacks, should be thoroughly examined, and its
natural enemies ascertained ; for what may become by some special
environment a most serious enemy in one place, may through the
presence of natural enemies be practically harmless in another. In
this way it becomes evident that the attempt to introduce natural
enemies, is a much more intelligent mode of proceeding, than to
endeavour to provide " certain cures" or "panaceas" for the evil in
the forms of washes or fumigations, although it is true, these have to
be resorted to at times to save plants from a persistent attack, in the
absence of the natural enemy of the insect.

It is put on record that the practice of introducing natural
enemies to subdue or overcome insect attack, has been very successful
in many parts of the world and though the attempt may sometimes
fail, it is fairly clear that in the end it is a much safer and economical
plan than to trust to chemical fumes or to washes. Even the destruc-
tive parasol ant might probably be overcome if we could find out its

190

true natural enemy, but a thoroughly effective one has yet to be
discovered, and in the mean time we must accomplish the destruction
of the pest in the most economical way that is possible.

195.-BUCHARIS AMAZONICA.

The " EucHARTS Lily."

Among all the flowers grown in the "West Indies none is more
throughly appreciated than Eucharis Amazonica.

It flowers if well treated during many months of the year, but
the principal show of bloom generally comes in during January and
February, although much depends upon the season, and upon the
rainfall for the previous months In tropical cultivations quite as
much depends upon the season as in temperate climes, and a plant
may flower late or early in consequence. The factor in the Tropics
being moisture and drought, instead of heat and cold, as in temperate
countries. We can always supply water in dry weather, but it is
not always possible to protect a large quantity of plants from an
excessive fall of rain and prevent them getting more than they require.

In February of 1896, we had plants in 18 tubs with over 100
peduncles, Avith five or six flowers on each open at one time, making a
very fine exhibition of flowers. The plant is one which is admirably
suited to the climate. Given a certain amount of shade, plenty of
root-room, plenty of manure, and due attention to the watering, feAV
cultivators will fail to grow them well. It is a plant however that
does not succeed well with us in the open ground although even in
such a position it exists and flowers at times.

196.-" EL CANTO" BARK.

This is a bark of curious character produced by a tree belonging
to the order Rosacae, Licania hijpoleuca, Benth. The tree grows to a
large size and produces pulpy fruits oval in form, some 3 inches in
their largest and 2 inches in their shortest diameter.

A paper in our Herbarium published at p. 236 of Bulletin for
April, 1894, relates that Dr. Cruger, late Government Botanist in
charge of these gardens published a note on the same in 1856 in
"Botaniche Zietung"— and further adds, " three more papers being
puhlisJied now.'' These papers are not in our hands for reference and
we are quite unaware of their contents but Dr. Cruger is so well
known to have been an accurate and careful observer, and I am in

191

hope througli the publication of this note that some correspondent
may inform us where copies of the papers may be had as it is desired
to secure them for the Library of the Botanical Department.

Dr. Walter H. Ince has made a preliminary examination of the
bark for Silica — it being thought from its brittle and extremely hard
character, that a large amount of this substance would be found.
The analysis is given below : —

Bark called "El Canto." —i>ica?i?a hypoleuca, Benth.

^ ::: ::: ::/:Sh—

Silica ... ... . . ; '65 on dry bark.

W. H. I.

197. -SUGAR CANE CULTIVATION.

A SHORT review of what has been lately done in connection with
this industry, will I trust, prove interesting. At the Agricultural
Society's meeting of the 11th December, 1894, a resolution was passed

in the following terms : —

"That in the opinion of this committee it is desirable to establish at once
"a small experimental plot for growing and testing seedling varieties of cane,
"and that a Sub-committee of three be appointed to carry out this object.."

The sub-committee met, and it was unanimously decided that a
jmaU experimental plot should be started at the Royal Botanic
Gardens under the immediate supervision of the Superintendent, and
this course was recommended in the report of the committee which
was adopted by the Society in March, 1895. The Sub-committee
recommended that this course was advisable for the following reasons : —

1st — To test the value of the seedlings in comparison with other varieties of

sugar cane.
2nd — To prove their suitability for cultiv-ation in our climate and soil.
3rd — To provide a depot for the supply of plants for extended cultivation.
4th — To test the value of manure in all stages of the growth of the cane.

It was stated in my annual report for 1894 that several varieties
of seedling canes had been received from Demerara, and some from
Barbados and the following was written : —

" The culture of these varieties has been conducted with the
greatest care and the reasons for the establishment of the cultivation
given as above, have been kept most fully in view, especially the first,
as it is considered that the object should be, to select the best canes
out of the many varieties so as only to propagate those which give
promise of the best yield. After this is fairly ascertained, the next
object will then be to test their suitability for culture in Trinidad. It
is well known that the soil at the gardens is of the very poorest class,
but this Avill, we think, be not a little advantage in the forthcoming

192

trials, as canes that will grow and produce good resvilts on sncli a soil,
can hardly fail to do so when planted in better lands. Thirdly Ave
shall endeavour to supply all requisitions for plants on equal terms,
working up for the purpose of a stock of plants which will be dis-
tributed at a stated time to applicants, so that all may start their
culture at the same time, and no advantage will be afforded to one
more than another. It is expected that it may be possible to give the
results of the first year's trial in an appendix to this report, but in
case this work cannot be carried out in time, I may now state that I
have received information from. Messrs. Jenman and Harrison that the
previous results have been fully confirmed by the crop which has been
reaped in the British Guiana experiment grounds during 1895. Thesa
results show that there are several canes among the seedlings which
give a return so far surpassing the Bourbon and other older varieties
as to induce the hope that by their extended culture, the sugar indus-
try will receive a substantial benefit, one, sufficient of itself to
disperse the gloomy views which have lately been held as to its future.
It would apjDear that the trials of the different manures need not be
carried out with haste, as the wox'k of the Demerara experimentalists
shows in a most complete and forcible mamier, the direction in which
success lies, and that all that need be done, at least at present is, to
prove by experiment that the same manure can be used in the Trinidad
as on the Demerara soils ; but even this trial on the experimental
grounds will, I fear, not be sufficient for all wants, in so much as the
character of the soil in Trinidad estates varies in a large degree, and
what would be suitable on one, would not be applicable to others.

Extended trials should therefore be made by the planters them-
selves, on the various soils, but if they submit to be guided by the
results obtained in Demerara, it will, I feel assured, conduce to
greater success in the matter of cultural proceedings.

The destructive character of the cane fungus TrichosjjJuvria
sacchari, has been accentuated by the fact that it has, during 1895,
been found present on estates in British Guiana, where a considerable
loss is attributed to its action. As mentioned in last year's report
" further observation is still required to show to the full extent of
its spread, and the measure of its destructiveness." I have received
reports from some, that burning the fields have lessened the amount
of damage, but on the other hand it has been shown that the burnt
areas when replanted have again been badly attacked. Our seedling
canes were planted on and near to a spot on which canes infected with

193

disease had been growing, for the purpose of showing their power of
withstanding attack. During 1895 the laud on which they were
grown was carefully ciiltivated and the canes were "trashed" at
frequent intervals.

The disease is however present in a minor degree in all, but to
some varieties little harm has been done, and only one or two really
rotten canes have been found.

This fact points the way for further improvement, for it is possible
that we may be able to select from the varieties under trial some kind,
or kinds which will really be disease resisting varieties, and large
sugar producers. I mentioned in my last report that the cane plot would
be given good cultivation, to test whether it would have any effect on
the progress of Tricliosphcpria. It is, I think, quite clear from the
appearance of the canes, that the attention given them has not been
in vain, and that the fungus has, in consequence been kept check ; as
there is certainly, not so much in the plot as there was during the
previous year. The attack by " termites" or " white ants" however
still continues, and many canes are cut off at or slightly above the
ground line.

The element of yield per acre must be well considered in con-
ducting an experiment of this kind for a cane yielding high saccharine
contents, may be a poor cropper, while a cane yielding moderate sugar
contents may give a very large weight of cane to the acre, and thus
be more profitable to grow than one yielding higher sugar contents.
It would appear desirable therefore, first to select the varieties having
high sugar contents, and from these secondly to select those of a
vigorous constitution and disease resisting power, and thirdly, those
which will afford the largest yield. These objects are well brought
out by Messrs. Harrison and Jennian of British Guiana in their reports,
and it cannot be doubted that it is the proper plan to secure the best
results, as it is one Avhich has long been folloAved by the Agri-Horti-
cultural world in European countries, in dealing with numerous
economic plants and especially with the sugar beet, with unvarying
success. To fully carry out the idea, it is however necessary to take
seeds again and again from the beet seedling and other canes after
test, and by that means ultimately secure varieties of the very
highest class, 1st as sugar producers, 2nd as disease-resisting varieties,
and 3rd as crop producers.

Why sugar producers are placed first is, that by their use, a
larger crop of sugar is produced from a less number of tons of cane ;

194

and therefore labour all round, in both culture and manufacture is
reduced. Disease-resisting varieties are placed next, for it is certain
that if we have a cane giving a high yield of sugar but liable to be
attacked by disease, the actual yield to the planter will certainly be
less than with a kind prodvicing less sugar, but not suffering from
disease. Canes as "crop-producers" have been placed last in view,
as it is evident that a heavy yield of canes, inferior as sugar-producers
will lay a great burden upon the planter for carriage. A heavy yield
by a high sugar producing cane is therefore the ultima thule of the
planter.

Altogether the outlook for the sugar planter in so far as regards
seedling canes, appears tc be a very promising one, and especially so,
as it can be shown in reports from Louisiana and British Guiana that
canes are now in cultivation, which have, for four years in succession,
not only given as many tons per acre as the Bourbon, but have given
an increased yield of sugar contents over that variety while maintain-
ing a good disease resisting form of growth. There can therefore be
little doubt that the sooner the older varieties are replaced by the
best of the seedling kinds, the better for the sugar industry ; as it
must now be conceded that these varieties are, especially in some dis-
tricts and in some soils, distinctly inferior to the newer kinds. There
is also another point Avhich will not be lost sight of in conducting the
cane experiments. It has been noticed that some of the newer canes
mature much more rapidly than the older varieties, and one special
kind is under observation, Avhich has, under seven months, produced
canes nearly twice the length of the other varieties planted at the
same time, and I have to-day tested the specific gravity of the juice
from a cane taken from the " stool " when it gave I'OiO by balance,
not a high density by any means, but still, somewhat remarkable for
time of growth. There are at least eight or nine canes of the same
size and length, at each stool, grown from cuttings (tops) planted 8th
June, 1895, and consequently six months and twenty-two days old on
1st January, 1896. Such a cane I take it Avould be invaluable to the
planter as a "supply" cane. The probability is that the density of
juice will improve with age so as to render it little less in value than
that from standard kinds at crop time in March."

The above is an extract from the annual report of the Depart-
ment for 1895, to which the report furnished at the Agricultural
Society's Meeting of April, 1896, will form a suitable appendix as it
gives the results of the March examination.

195
CANE SEEDLING CULTIVATION.

Report on cultivation of seedling canes at the Royal Botanic
Gardens. Read before tlie Agricultural Society on the 14th April,

189G.

Early in the year an examination was made of the seedling canes grown in
tlie Royal Botanic Gardens, but as the results sheM'ed that the canes were far
from being ripe, it was considered unadvisable to pnl)lish them. Arrangements
however were made for a further examination in March, and the following table
shows the results obtained during that month, which we trust may be found
useful for practical purposes. The examination was based upon the value of tlie
Bourbon cane, as grown side by side with seedlmgs, so as to ascertam the relative
value of the latter without reference to the class of soil in which the plants
were grown.

A planter therefore who knows what the Bourbon yields will be able from
the table to estimate approximately what the seedlings may be worth on his owai
land. It will be noticed that the Caledonian Queen and Bourbon gave a similar
yield of sucrose and taking the value of the seedlings from the sucrose column
alone, it will be seen that eleven of the seedlings gave a superior yield to either
of these. The yield of Nos. 74 and 78 is low but there were circumstances
which account for this, and they are therefore not strictly comparable with
others, and their value should rest upon the Demerara examination and not
upon ours.

Several other Demerara canes were also under a similar disadvantage, having
suffered from too much shade. A cane of No. 95 was tried in January and was
found to maintain its high reputation, it was therefore considered best to use all
further material for propagation rather than lose it in the mill for testing
purposes.

From our examination the canes which stand first, both as sugar producers
and croppers are Nos. 61, 102, and 95, and Nos. 1 and 2, these latter indeed
gave the highest yield of all, quite unexpectedly. They were raised in the
gardens from seed sent us by Mr. Bovell of Barbados, and previously had not
been tested. They are light purple canes and fairly good croppers.

The * " Murray" cane is a good cropper and the fastest growing cane among
the set, but is poor in juice.

The * " Robinson" is a poor grower and poor in juice.

The * " Hutson" is a very heavy cropper, a hardy cane, and is likely I believe
to liecome a favourite with some planters from its vigorous character and freedom
from disease.

The * " Callender" is fairly rich but does not give enough canes to a stool.

The * "Hart" cane with the last four mentioned are from a set raised at
Dodd's Barbados ; it is a robust looking cane of the Bourbon type, and a fair
sugar producer.

No. 53 is a peculiarly brittle cane as a slight pull will snap the cane at its
base, and it is quite difficult from the want of fibre to get the canes to draw
through our mill. It would be a splendid cane for sale in local markets, as a
cane for eating in tlie fresh state.

Nos. 1.32 and 128 are both pretty canes, but their yield is poor.

No. 125 is a cane giving a hard woody megass. The question of quality and
quantity of megass is one which must enter into tlie planter's consideration in
determining the cane most profitable for him to grow for it has been found that
the megass of some kinds of canes does not give the same heating power as

* These canes shoiced marked improvement a month later.

196

others, and on those estates where megass is used for fuel instead of wood or
coal, this is certainly a matter for serious consideration.

Our column shewing percentage of juice extracted is probably somewhat
lower than it should be, as the weighing apparatus at our command was not of
the highest class. For the next experiments we hope to have a really good
balance at hand.

Tlie propagation of the most valuable kinds is being rapidly proceeded with,
and we hope to have plants sufficient for distribution early in the coming year.
It is not intended to give these results as final in favour of any one special
variety ; all that can at present be said, is, that there are at the Royal Botanic
Gardens canes which deserve a good trial on estates, and we would emphasise
the possibility that ^hey may be of the greatest value to planters,

rjoHx S. Wilson.
Committee -"i C. W. Meadex.
(j. H. Hart.

CANE EXAMINATION,

1896.

Pounds per Gallon.

TCainp nv ^n

mber

Per cent.

Juice
Extracted.

Specific
Gravity.

Quotient

of
Purity.

of Cane

Sucrose.

Glucose.

102

(a) ...

G7-8

r075 (e)

1-696

•113

84^3

(«) ...

02 -5

1-063

1-357

•090

787

(«) ...

07-5

1-057

1-028

-170

68 •Q

Cal. Queen

(d) ...

56-5

1-058

1-389

•086

87^4

Bourbon

(d) ...

60-5

1-063

1-331

•044

77-2

(a) ...

63-4

1-072 (e)

1-701

"103

86-6

(«) ..

60-9

1-067 {e)

1-571

•181

86 •O

108

(«) ...

50-5

1-009 (e)

1-.529

•042

81-2

(«) ...

68 -7

1-053

1-090

•176

75-5

128

(a) ...

64-5

1-045

•897

•193

71-1

170

(«) ...

587

1-068 [e]

1-555

•103

83-6

(a) ...

63-4

1063

1-362

•171

79-0

(a) ...

67 "5

1053

•927

•222

64-2

132

(«) ...

66 -S

l-()46

•814

•200

64-8

145

(a) ...

02-5

1-067 [e)

1^566

•095

857

103

(a) ...

56-2

1-049

1-007

•181

74^9

110

(a) ...

581

1-066 (e)

1 -519

•085

84^3

102B

{b) ...

63-1

1051

•793

•240

57^1

Murray

(b) ...

62-5

1-055

•929

•222

00-7

Hart

(6) ...

59-3

1-063

1-294

•176

75-1

Robinson

(h) ...

1-053

•955

•146

60-2

Callender

(6) ...

"597

1-005 (e)

1-419

•142

80-2

Hutson

(h) ...

65-6

1 -050

1-156

•142

75^4

No. 1

OU-6

1-077 (c)

1-832

•106

87-2

No. 2

{(■) ...

03-1

1-074 (e)

1-780

•106

88^1

No. 3

c) ...

64-3

1-008 (c)

1545

•175

83-1

212

a) ...

66-2

1-048

•647

•200

49-3

109

a) ...

60-6

1-050

•981

•176

7r8

129

a) ...

63-1

1-050

•829

•187

60-7

130

a) ...

612

1 -001

1-3.57

•110

81-4

a) ...

687

1-050

1-035

•150

67-5

125

a) ...

61-2

1-061

1-153

•130

69-1

(a) ...

61-8

1-060

1^070

•162

65-5

220

a) ...

637

1061

1-247

•136

74-8

135

(a) ...

53-1

1-002

1-393

•105

82-4

(«) ...

57-1

1-060

1-231

'130

75-3

240

(«) ...

63-1

1-055

1^054

•142

68-8

269

(^0 ...

)
1

1-069

1-070

•187

66^4

A later examination 30 days subsequently of some varieties showed an
average increase of 0-5 lbs. per gallon of sucrose.

197
198.-SWEBT CASSAVA.

In an analysis published by E. Francis, Esq., late Government

Analyst in Trinidad in 1877, the mean yield of Hydrocyanic Acid

in Cassava was given as follows : —

Siveet Cassava. Bitter Cassava.

Mean % HCN -0168 ... Mean % HCN "0275

Highest % HCN -0238 ... Highest % HCN -0442

Lowest % HCN -0113 ... Lowest % HCN -0132

Thinking it possible that the variety of Sweet Cassava commonly
grown in Trinidad was probably not the best variety, I imported the
Jamaica kind, which proves in appearance very distinct from that
of Trinidad and gives on examination by the Government Analyst the
following yield of Hydrocyanic Acid, viz. : 0-01017 % — which is
lower than the lowest return obtained by Francis out of fifteen sam-
ples. As pointed out to me in conversation by the Government
Analyst the returns given by a single analysis are not sufficient
to show that there is a definite diiferencc in the yield of HCN
between the two varieties but it certainly shows that there is grounds
for further examination.

I have with myself and family and friends partaken of these
roots freely Avhen boiled without the slightest harm, and their appear-
ance is certainly quite distinct from the Trinidad variety of Cassava.
Dr. Morton's question, whether Sweet Cassava ever becomes bitter is
however not yet satisfactorily answered, but I may mention in con-
nection therewith that my friend Dr. G. C. Henderson of Jamaica
who was lately travelling in Columbia, states that Jamaicans who
have imported the Bitter Cassava in preference to the Sweet as a
starch producer, find in Columbia that the bitter variety becomes sweet.

One thing is certain that the less poison the less danger, and it
behoves us to procure for table use that variety which is harmless —
rather than risk the use of the more dangerous varieties. Bitter
Cassava however of the most poisonous kind Avhich has been sliced
thin and then dried in the sun or artificially is capable of being used
for food without the slightest danger, as the elements of danger are
dispersed in the drying process.

ANALYSIS.

The Supt. of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The sample of "Sweet Cassava" contains 0-01017 % of Hydrocyanic acid.

WALTER H. INCE,

Adg. Government Analyst.

TEINIDAD.

ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS.

BULLETIN

No. 8. OCTOBER, 1896. Vol. 11.

CONTENTS.

199 — Loranthacese-

200.— The "Gru-Gru" Palm. (Acrocomia.)
201,— The "Timite" Palm. {Manicaria,)
202.— The "Date" Palm. (Phcenix.)
203.— The "Betel Nut" Palm. Ureca.)
204.— "Yams." (Dioscorea.)
205.— Report on Sacoglottis.
206.— Natural History Notes.

No. 33,— "Wood Destruction in Trinidad.
207.— The "Avocado" Pear. {Per.^ea.)
208.— The "Fustic" Tree. (Madura.)
209.— "Guinea Grass." (Pankum,)
■ 210.— Trinidad Orchids. (" Gonyoras.")
211.— "Arrowing" of Sugar Cane. {Extract.)
212.— Botanical Notes.

No. 9.— Mechanical action and irritabiUty
in the Flowers of Catasetum tridtnta-
turn, Hook:
213.— Circular Notes.

No. 31.
214.— Improvement of the Sugar Cane.

Edited by the Superintendent Royal Botanic Gardens,
J. H. HART, F.L.S.

TRINIDAD :
PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-GF-SPAIN.

1S9G.

201
199. -LORANTH ACB^.

West Indian " Mistletoe."

NDER this order are classed several genera and many species
of destructive parasites which infest cultivated and forest
trees, in Trinidad and the neighbouring Islands. There is
no class however to which they appear to do more harm, than to plants
of the Citrus or Orange family ; for Orange trees, when plants of
Loranthus affix themselves, are speedily sapped of their vitality and
eventually destroyed. These pernicious plants also attack Terminalia
catajppa ; Casuarina ; Grevillea ; Cordia and many other native
and introduced trees. The determination of those species which are
indigenous to the West Indies is much hindered by the difficulty
which is experienced in drying the plants to a fit state for the
herbarium. The leaves and flowers and sometimes the branchlets
are articulated or jointed, and in the process of drying fall to pieces ;
and therefore much of the character of the plant is hopelessly lost
Grisebach names ten species under the genus Loranthus, nine species
under PJioraclendron and three under Arceuthohium, but several have
been named since his time. The Kew Index gives no less than 615
names under Loranthus which of course includes species from all parts
of the world.

The plants, as represented in Trinidad, are true parasites, and iu
contradistinction to the Bromeliads or "wild pines," take their nourish-
ment direct from the trees to which they affix themselves.

The distribution of these plants is effected for the most part by
the agency of birds which, feeding on the berries, drop the glu-
tinous seeds in situations whence they are able to affix themselves to
the bark of trees. It is evident therefore that to lessen th'e number
of plants Avhich produce seeds, should be the aim of the cultivator,
and they should be cut out as soon as seen, from the trees to which
they have affixed themselves, or they certainly will continue to become
the parent of numerous others, year after year. It is not sufficient
with many species, simply to cut off the branch of the parasite which
is growing on the host plant, but it is also necessary to cut away tlie
branch of the host itself : as several species have the power of starting
growth over and over again from the original point of attachment,
that species which attacks the orange being one of the number. The
species which with us is most common on Orange and other trees is
not accurately determined, but it appears to be near to the Peruvian

202

Loranthus sarmentosus as it has a similar habit, but it may possibly
be eventvially identified with the West Indian Loranthus avicularis,
Mart, of Grisebach's Flora, with which it has also characters in
common.

200-— The "GRU GRU" 'PALM.—Acrocomialasiospatlia, Mart.

At No. 165 p. 113 I offered some notes on the " Grii Gru"
Palm and its fibre — and used for it then ame of Acrocomia sclerocarpa,
Mart. From enquiries since made at the Herbarium Eoyal Gardens
Kew, it now appears that it should be referred to as Acrocomia lasios-
jjatlia, Mart, and not to the name previously used. As " all the West
Indian specimens in the Kew Herbarium belong to Acrocomia lasios-
patha, Mart."

201.-MANICARA SACCIFERA, MABT-Timite.

This Palm is a native of the lower or swampy lands of the Colony
Avhere it grows freely and produces large quantities of seed. These
seeds are often borne to the shores of other West Indian Islands a fact
which Grisebach records. Dr. D. Morris also in his article on " A
Jamaica drift fruit" writes : — In the West Indies the ripe fruits of a
palm unhiown in the greater Antilles are contimially brought up by
the Gulf stream from the South and loashed ashore at Jamaica and
other places. They are locally called (" in Jamaica") Sea apples
or sea coco-nuts. They are the fruits of the " Bussu Palm" (" Mani-
caria Saccifera") found in Trinidad and the adjacent Mainland of
South America. The white kernel is sometimes fresh enough to be
eaten after long immersion in salt loater. The fruit ivas gathered by
Shane as long ago as 1687 and he remarhed that it icas frequently
cast on the North-west islands of Scotland by currents and the sea."

In the southern parts of Trinidad, at Irois and at Siparia to the
Soiith of the Oropuche Lagoon, and in some other districts the Mani-
caria grows plentifully but in the larger portions of the North Western
and central districts, the collector weixld search for it in vain, except
as he approaches the Eastern sea coast, or arrives at a swampy part of
a river's bank. In the Royal Botanic Gardens every endeavour has
been made to grow them as specimens for many years, and yet only
one solitary and somewhat poor specimen exists, and this in a most
shady and moist part of the garden.

203

The leaves of the " Timite" [its Trinidad local name] — when ctit
and properly cured are used as thatch by the peasantry and even some
planters houses are roofed with this material, which, besides being
very lasting, secures a delightfully cool interior.

The spathe presents a peculiar shape, and is composed of fibrous
material which is reticulated and so elastic as to stretch from t'wo
inches in diameter to over nine inches, and can be worn as a hat or
bonnet. It is also used in the woods as a. strainer for coffee, &c., for
which purpose it is well suited, as it shape is somewhat like a kitchen
jelly-bag or pointed Bonnet-de-nnit. They are sometimes to be
found in the curiosity shops of the West Indies.

202.-THB DATE PALM.

Phcehix Dactylifera, Linn.

This palm is perhaps one of the commonest of introduced palms
which at present grows in the West Indies, and in nearly every island
large trees thirty feet or more in height are to be found, mostly
solitary specimens. In the Trinidad garden the system with my pre-
decessor appeared to have been to plant in groups as is necessary if
fruit is to be produced, on account of the plants being bi-sexual (i.e.)
the male and female flowers borne on separate plants. In consequence,
fruit has been produced annually for some years past, the seeds have
proved fertile, and young plants have been raised. Some years ago
there was a Date palm fruiting abundantly in Kingston, Jamaica,
owing to the fact that it happened to grow in the neighbourhood of
trees of its kind of the opposite sex. It is to be regretted, however,
that although the Date palm fruits regularly and abundantly, all the
fruit yet seen has been small and of little value, although the trees
have been raised from the best of imported table fruits.

The Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, in a recent issue of the
Kew Bulletin, makes note on Mr. Tillson's report of the growth of
Dates in Antigua, with regard to this point, and states that the best
Dates are only " grown from suckers," and from the character of our
seedling produce it is fairly apparent that no " Dates " of economic
value will ever be grown in the West Indies unless plants raised from
suckers of the best kinds are introduced. As there are thousands of
acres of land in the Antillean Archij)elago which would grow the palm
well, and possibly in the Bahama Group also, no time should be lost
on the endeavour to procure what it is hoped will prove of economic

204

value to ITS and to others (viz.) " Suckers" of the best kind of Date
palms. It came somewhat as a surprise to me to learn that the
Director at Kew was unaware of this tree fruiting in the West Indies ;
but such a fact [which in the multitude of his occupations, is readily
understood] shews the stern necessity for accurate annual official
record of Agri-Horticultural work being kept by authorized persons,
and published by the country which it chiefly interests for reference
at other places beside its own centre. The demand for the Annual
Reports and Bulletins issued by this Department affords convincing
proof in support of the value of such records ; as not only are they
being sought by cultivators, but they are also in demand at the
largest Botanical centres in Europe and America, as affording suitable
references to many enquirers, and they bring us an adequate return
in exchanges. If the fruiting of the Date palm had been recorded
twenty years ago, as it could have been, we might by this
time have been in possession of Date palms giving excellent fruit,
as I am sure the Director of the Royal Gardens would have been one
of the first to help on, as he always does, anything which promises to
become of permanent value, and means would have been found to
secure plants of the best kinds.

There is just one point more, which, however, should not for a
moment retard the introduction : it this is — will the best kinds grown
from suckers produce as good a quality of fruit here as in their native
country ? Let us try and see ; we shall be no worse off if we prove a
negative while the possibility is encouraging.

203.-ARECA CATECHU, L.

" Areca Nut" or " Betel Nut."
This pretty palm was first introduced into England very many
years ago, it is one of the oldest species in cultivation and has been,
known to the Chinese people from time immemorial.

The earliest mention of this palm in Chinese botanical works is
contained" in a description of Changan, the capital of the Emperor
Wu-ti, B.C. 140 — 86, where it is referred to under the name of Pin-
lang, a name apparently derived from Pinang, and by which it is
known in the Malay Islands, whence the Chinese anciently derived
their seeds.

Notwithstanding the high estimation in which it has long been
held by Asiatics, by whom it is supposed to sweeten the breath,

* Pharmacographia, FlUckiger and Hanbury.

205

strengthen the gums, and improve digestion, it is only official in the
British Pharmacopoeia as a vermifuge, and is used more especially for
the expulsion of the tapeworm (Tcenia solium). The trunk is tall and
straight, rising to a height of 40 or 50 feet, and from 10 to 20 inches
in circumference, it is cultivated extensively in the Eastern Tropics
for the sake of its seeds. The fruit is about the size of a hen's Q^g,
smooth, ovoid, and pointed at the apex, the husk Avhich is thick and
fibrous, encloses a single seed somewhat conical in shape, rounded at
the apex and slightly concave at the base.

Areca nuts are sold in India both in the husk and without it, and
their widespread consumption gives rise to a large trade, the export
of these nuts from Ceylon alone is almost incredible as in*'* 1871,
66,543 cwts., value £62,593 were shipped; in 1872, 71,715 cwts,, and
in 1?75, 94,567 cwts., of the latter quantity 86,446 cwts, wei*e sent
to India.

The tree begins to fruit when about five years old and produces
on an average about 300 fruits per annum. The seeds are more or
less astringent according to the relative extent of their ruminations in
which the astringent principle is said to reside, and those seeds in
which the albumen is small and has a bluish tinge and in which the
ruminations are large and red, are considered the best.

In the East they are extensively used, either in a young state or
softened by boiling, as a masticatory, for Avhich purpose narrow pieces"
are rolled with lime in a leaf of the Betel Pepper, Ptper Betel, L.,
this is then chewed, and is hot and acrid ; the teeth and saliva are
tinged red by its use, giving the mouth a very ghastly bloody
appearance.

It is said that natives of Malaya and other countries become so
confirmed in the habit of chewing the Betel Nut that they would
rather forego meat and drink than their favourite Betel Niits.

A dentifrice which obtains some favour in England consists of
the charcoal of the Areca nut, but it possesses but little advantage
over ordinary charcoal beyond its greater hardness, another preparation
from the same source is sold in the form of a paste.

W. LUNT.

Plmrmacographia, Fluckiger and Hanbury.

206
204.-" YAMS."

(Dioscorea Species.)

Under the name " Yam" ai-e cultivated several species of Dios-
corea which furnish the major portion of the food supply of the native
population, besides being generally used by the middle and upper
classes. Our last crop was planted in July, 1895, and harvested in
February, 1896, or seven months from planting. A reference to
page 47 of the Bulletin will show the number and names of the
several varieties under cultivation, and I now propose to place
these names in proper sequence. As was expected, many of
those recorded are merely synonyms, although in more than one
instance the names cover varieties which have probably been obtained,
1st, by the conscious or unconscious selection practised by the culti-
vator, or 2ndly, by the influence of the climate and seasons of the
countries in which they have been grown.

There are doubtless several other species of Dioscorea grown in
various West Indian islands, but the list here given includes those
which are most important as food producers for the people. The
" Kew Index" under the head of Dioscorea give some 300 names, and
this of itself will afford some idea of the number of species.

It is not proposed, however, to enter into a discussion of the
various species and their differences, but simply to refer them with a
few notes as to their proper affinity to the names given by Botanical
authorities.

Dr. Nicholls in Tropical Agriculture refers to four species : Dios-
corea alata, D. sativa, D. acnleata, and D. triphi/lla. Baron Von
Mueller in Tropical Plants enumerates twenty species, but his
description of the roots of plants under the names given by Nicholls,
shew that these authors had certainly different plants in view.

Grisebach in the Flora of the West Indies enumerates nine species,
and among these he placed the Linnean — D. sativa under the D. lutea,
of Mey ! which shows that the nomenclature of the Dioscoreas must
be admitted to be anything but clear. This no doubt arises from the
fact that the parts of the plants required for determination are very
difficult to procure, for plants may be well grown for years without
furnishing them, and yet be at the same time sufficiently vigorous to
ripen good crops of fine edible tubers. We have ourselves grown in
these gardens an experimental patch for several seasons, and as yet we
have no certain material for the identification of many varieties.

207

The Botanical names liere given are those to which it is believed
the various species should be referred, but are still given with some
diffidence, and only as material for better identification.

1. Dioscorea alata, L.—liJegvo yam, Barbados yam, white yam.

2. D — saliva, L. — Yellow yam.

3. D—Jutea, Mey— Afou yam.

4. D-glahra, Roxh. ) Chinese yam.
D — batatas, Decas J •'

5. D—trifida, Z-.— Cush-Cush or Indian yam,

6. D—bulbifera, i^.— Cut and throw away.

7. D — triphylla, L.

8. D — polygonoides, H.B.K.

9. D — Kegeliana, Grisb.

Dioscorea alata, L. — white yam.

Stem 4 — Winged, angular ; leaves, opposite, cordate oblong, or
cordate ovate with a spreading basilar sinus, glabrous, devoid of
pelucid lines. Tuber large, white.

Under this species we have the following varieties : —

1. Negro yam of Jamaica.

2. Barbados Avhite yam, Barbados water yam.

3. Horn yam.

4. Snake yam.

5. Devil yam.

Of these, so far as the writer's observation goes, the so-called
" Negro yam" of Jamaica (var. No. 1) is by far the best for table use.
It is very productive and does not take too much room ; the tuber is
cylindrical, averaging fifteen inches in length and five or six in
diameter.

No. 2. The Barbados white and water yams also belong to this
species, although there is a distinct diiference in the form of the root,
which in this variety is palmate or branched like the fingers. Our
roots of this variety grown from Trinidad tubers were this year not
more than one quarter the size of those grown from sets obtained from
the Botanic Gardens, Guiana, eight holes of which produced 327 lbs-
gross weight of yam or over 40 lbs. per plant. This variety has also
come to us under the name of " Lisbon yam," and it is mentioned in
Sloane's Natural History of Jamaica that it obtained this name
through being sent via Lisbon to Africa as stores for slave ships.

" They send them with earth nuts, for Lisbon from St. Thome to
victual their slaves by the Avay." — Clusius.

The 3rd variety, or horn yam, is one which grows into the shape
of a curled cow's horn. It has a fine skin, is dry and mealy when
well cooked, and is altogether a fine table yam.

208

No. 4. Is a yam very similar to the former, but instead ot curling
it produces a long tapering and somewhat warty root, in form some-
what like an Indian club. It is a fair yam for the kitchen.

No. 5. Is a very large, coarse and Avarty yam, and is one which
once planted is hard to exterminate. It is useless for table and can
only be used for feeding pigs or cattle. In its growth above ground,
however, it resembles the better varieties so much as to be almost
indistinguishable, except by those who are well acquainted with it.

I have placed the white yam first because it is generally more
esteemed for taJale use. But personally I much prefer the yellow yam
which I call Jffi^^ oCtvo^ p.

DiOSCOREA SATIVA, L. 4f

The stem of this is cylindi'ical, glabrous, covered with prickles at unequal
distances below, and somewhat smooth above, leaves cordate, roundish — or cor-
date, deltoid, cuspidate, 5-7 nerved, basilar sinus, widely open, pellucid, dotted.

There are one or two forms of this variety differing principally
in the shape of the root which in general is cylindrical but sometimes
becomes palmately branched at the base. It has a roughened and
bark -like exterior and a solid yellow flesh which is mealy and dry
when boiled. If in good condition this yam forms a better substitute
for the " Irish" potato {Solanum tuberosum) than any other variety.

The word " Irish" is commonly used in the West Indies to dis-
tinguish this esculent from the sweet potato.

Some Europeans prefer it as a vegetable to imported potatoes
even of the best kinds, but few will admit so much as this although
using it regularly owing to inherent conservatism of character. It is,
however, one of the best yams that is grown in the West Indies. It
takes nearly a month longer to ripen than Dioscorea alata, L., is very
hardy, will stand considerable drought, being quite at home on stony
hill-sides. I find Grisebach has included Dioscorea sativa, L., under
D. lutea, Mey, but according to the Kew determination of specimens in
the Trinidad Herbarium, Linnceus' name should be retained for the
yellow yam, and that of Dioscorea lutea, Mey, should be the proper
determination of the plant given by Nicholls as Dioscorea aculeata or
a plant the tuber of which is known as " Afou" yam.

Dioscorea lutea, Met. ^

"Afou yam;" stem cylindrical, glaucous green, in young state prickly.
Leaves cordate-ovate, pointed, 7-9 nerved, abundantly dotted with pellucid
lines, basilar sinus open, lobes roundish, short.

This is the " Afou" yam of Jamaica, a kind which is also known
as "half-a-yam" in Barbados and "yam a tout ans" in Trinidad.

209

The interior of the tuber is yellowish white, and unless fully-
ripe the flavour is somewhat bitter. It is a coarse yam, and although
extensively grown for use by the poorer classes, is not much used by
the " well to do." The Trinidad name gives a clvie to its being some-
Avhat of a favourite. Of all the varieties, it is the one which can be
had most frequently in and out of season, and the practice is to
uncover and cut away the tuber from one side of the plant at a time,
covering the roots up again, and allowing it to go on producing other
tubers ; a practice also followed with other species but not in so great
a measure as with this kind. " Afou" yam can in fact be had almost
all the " year round." *

DiOSCOREA GLABRA, ROXB., OR D. BATATAS, DeCAISNE.

Stem slightly angular, prickly, leaves cordate, pointed, 11 nerved or less —
slightly hairy on the upper and lower surfaces, 3 to 5 inches in diameter, sinus
almost closed, the lobes overlapping at times.

This yam produces large bixnches of cylindrical tubers (10-20)

from two to four inches in diameter and from four inches to one foot

in length with a soft shining skin. When boiled the tubers are mealy

and good, but unripe, they are slightly bitter.

DiOSCOREA TRIFIDA, L.

Stem angular, narrow-winged ; leaves 3 to 5, lobed beyond the middle,
glabrous, or glabrate beneath, dotted with pellucid lines.

" Cush-cush," " Couche-couche" or " Indian Yam." The tuber
of various forms of this species are well known as table vegetables,
and are in general use during their season. In Jamaica this is known
as the " Indian Yam." In British Guiana a variety of this is called
'' Buck Yam." Specimens of this variety which were imported to
these Gardens were much larger than those grown in Trinidad, and
some of the tubers show a distinct tendency to the palmate form,
while in Jamaica and Trinidad the roots grown are almost universally
cylindrical in form, from six to eight inches in length, and two or
three or exceptionally four in diameter.

Nicholls places the " Cush-cush" under Dioscorea triphjlla, but
our specimens do not warrant our following his nomenclature. The
word " Cush-cush" is evidently an adaption of the French word
Couchee (" place where one stops when travelling") from the root
forming the basis of meals taken by travellers when stopping for the
night. Roasted ^ Cush-cush" with a little salt butter being a food
commonly used.

* Since writing the above I have received specimens said to be " Afou" yam
which proved a fine table variety, but I have yet to prove to what species it
belongs.

210

DioscoREA sr,

" Cut and throw away ;" this yam comes nearest to that described
by Grisebacli as Dioscorea hulhifera, L. It was received from Kew
some two years ago as " Otabeite Potatoe." It is known in the "West
Indies as Potatoe yam from the fact of its bearing large quantities of
bulbils on the stem of the plants. The stem is sub-cylindrical in
form and bears alternate cordate leaves. The tuber is globose or
spherical in form and is generally covered with a number of large
fleshy roots. Its Grenada name — " cut and throw away" — well indicates
its value when compared with the produce of D. saliva and D. alata.
The tubers, however, produce a large percentage of starch of fair
qu,ality.

Dioscorea tripliylla, L., Dioscorea i^olijgonoides, H.B.K., and
Dioscorea Kegeliana, Grish., are species which grow in Trinidad, but
so far as our observation goes, are of little economic imjDortance.

The varieties of Dioscorea alata or '' white yam" produce in
some seasons numerous bulbils, or aerial tubers, which are very useful
for propagating purposes, but in other seasons few or none are
produced.

The local names for the various kinds are many, and well-mixed ;
and it would be imj)ossible, if indeed it were desirable, for any writer
to enumerate them all.

It is mentioned by Dr. Watt, Eeporter on Economic Products for
the Government of India, that the word "yam" is probably derived
from French igname, and the Spanish and Portuguese inhame, of
which it is probably an Anglo-Saxon corruption.

In a description written in 1888 Dr. "Watt enumerates twenty -
four (24) species cultivated in the East. Several of these can
without much doubt be identified with our cultivated West Indian
species and varieties, but it is quite possible that species exist there
which might be worth while to introdiice to the West, and steps are
being taken to procure some of these for trial. Dr. Watt records
that some of the West Indian kinds have been exported to the East
chiefly through the exertion of Mr. R. Mitchell, Emigration Agent
for British Guiana at Calcutta, and they appear to have been highly
valued.

Cultivation.

Our method of cultivation in the Royal Botanic Gardens is one
which is simple in the extreme, and has given excellent results.

211

From one-twenty -fifth of an acre, 1,259 His. gross weight of yams
was raised (crop of 1896).

Deducting 25 per cent, for tops and waste we have a realized
yield at the rate of 23,600 K»s. of marketable yam per acre, which at
3 cents or 1^ per K). gives a gross return of £147 10 per acre.

The system of cultiire followed is to open trenches two feet wide,
and from fifteen to eighteen inches deep, with intervals of five feet.
These trenches are filled Avith a mixture of vegetable refuse, leaves,
stable manure, and litter. Upon this is turned the previously
excavated soil, which is rounded up into ridges twelve or fifteen
inches high, which operation performed leaves a trench between the
ridges. On this the yams are planted, and as soon as growth has
commenced, bamboo poles are placed for the vine to climb vipon ; one
row of uprights to every third row, and the poles from the rows on
either side resting on the ridge pole of the centre row. The growth
tlnis forming a pyramid over each three rows.

The bottoms of the trenches are then forked roughly and supplied
with manure, vegetable refuse, or garden sweepings of any kind, and
from time to time as opportunity offers until they are full. This
affords nutriment to the growing plants, and the roots are kept cool
and moist. Nothing more is done except to give an occasional weed-
ing to the plots during the first stages of growth.

The vines quickly cover the groiind with a dense shade under
which no weeds Avill grow, and nothing further is required but to see
that the vines are properly supported so that air can circulate through
and under them, to allow the crop to ripen in due course. Our crop
is always harvested diiring the dry season, and the tubers are dug and
stored in a dry dark room. For planting, the upper parts of the
yams are used, but when yams are well ripened, the tuber can be cut
into pieces, every one of which will make a plant. It is advisa-
ble in this case, however, to store them under finely sifted
damp vegetable mould or coconut fibre until they start growth, for
to plant such pieces into wet soil is to run the risk of their rotting
before o-roAVth commences. If bulbils or cerial tubers are used for
planting, they should be placed for the first year close together, to
form good plants or heads for the next season. It has been found
better to follow these plans than to adopt those of the native cultivator,
who cuts away his yams from the plant while yet growing and leaves
the tops to developc into " heads" for the next season. Where a long
succession of yam is required, however, the creole plan will give it,

212

but it maintains the plants in position longer, and the yams are never
so well ripened as when grown under the system I have described.
Following it, we have ground cleared regularly at certain periods, and
a proper system of alternating crops is instituted, which would be
absolutely impossible under the native system. The native system is,
however, well adapted for hill-side or pocket culture, where only
small areas can be allotted to individual plants. Dr. Nicholls iu
Tropical Agriculture has estimated the yield of yams at four or five
tons per annum, but our average nett yield for three years in succes-
sion has been over ten tons per acre, or a result which we venture to
think fully justifies the system of culture adopted, and it is open to
enquirers to call at the Gardens and see these results for themselves.

205. -REPORT ON RE-DISCOVERY OP "SACOGLOTTIS

AMAZONICA," Mart.

At pages 151-2 of this volume of the Bulletin the origin of one
of the ocean-drift fruits of which notice had been taken in the pages
of " Nature" was shortly discussed (Article 183). Feeling certain
that the plant in question was still to be found in Trinidad, and
having seen on a visit to the Cedros district, that the seeds were very
numerous on the beach, I determined to send in search of the tree.

Mr. Lunt's report printed herewith shows how fully successful
we have been in obtaining the necessary material for authoritative
determination. Specimens have been forwarded to Kew and to Dr.
Urban of Berlin and from both places the plant has been decided to be
the true Sacoglotiis amazonica of Martins found by him on the banks
of the Amazon, specimens of which have long been in European her-
baria. The question of the origin of this peculiar drift fruit is there-
fore finally settled after being a mystery for a series of years. I may
mention that some of the fresh fi-uit which Mr, Lunt brought home
on the first trip have germinated and a few healthy plants are now in
-our hands, which it is hoped will become permanently established in
some parts of the Koyal Botanic Gardens.

Report of Collecting Expedition in the Cedros District,

Trinidad.

March 16th, 1896.
The Superintendent

Royal Botanic Gardens.

I left the Gardens early on the morning of March the 10th, in search of the
tree described as Sacoglottis amazonica, Mart., in the article by Dr. Morris in
"Natiire" of November 21st, 1895, a copy of which had been handed to me for
perusal.

213

After covering a distance of some sixty miles by steamer, I landed about
midday, at a somewhat wild looking spot near to the site of the old Convict
Depot at Irois the point to which I had been directed to proceed.

Da\-id Alexander, a native of some experience in forest travelling, was
engaged as porter and guide.

After making arrangements for a place in which to sling my hammock for
the night, we set out to explore the immediate \'icinity, in order to determine in
which direction it would be advisable to begin work next morning. We found,
near the place at which we disembarked, three small watercourses containing
much stagnant water, owing to the fact that no rain had recently fallen. Large
quantities of the seeds or " drift fruit" of which I had come in search were found,
appearing to be" washed in and out by the tide, so I made a careful examination
of each in turn, by going up some distance, to ascertain if the fruits were to be
found in the water beyond reach of the ebb and flow. The first did not give any
encouragement, but in the second and largest one, we found seeds as far as we
went, and as the third terminated at a short distance from the shore in a small
lagoon, it was decided to devote attention to the largest on the following morning.

We started about 6 a.m. and made our way up river. The seeds were found
so plentifully in the water, that 1 deemed it advisable to follow the main channel
without deviation, and while doing so, examined the trees on the banks by
shooting down twigs or leaves, and by climbing the more likely.

This work was continued until noon, when a quantity of the seeds was dis-
covered lying on the ground beneath three large trees which grew close together.
I sent the £!uide up one of these, but when he threw down specimens, it was
found that they did not at all correspond to the description of Sacoglof.tis. The
second one was then examined, but the margins of the leaves were found to be
entire ; however, I directed him to search still higher on the same tree, when he
foimd fruits which showed it to be a different tree to that of which we were in
search. On examining the third tree, its leaves answered the description of
Sacoglottis, but the two distinctive glands were not sufficiently apparent to render
the identification certain .

Continuing our way until we reached the head of the river, the seeds were
still plentiful, but not another likely tree was found, and we returned without
being definitely certain about the tree producing them. On the following
morning we again started early, but in another direction.

Taking the bridle track which leads towards a small place called Chatham,
we followed it about three miles, and then turned into the high woods.

Shortly afterwards, we came to a small watercourse in which again were
foimd plenty of the seeds, and near by, a tree resembling that about which I had
remained in doubt on the previous day.

On examining young leaves little doubt as to its identity remained, for it
had, in addition to other characters, the two distinctive glands at the base of the
\ea,i-hlade, but, after a lengthy search, we failed to find either fruit or flowers.

Continuing the search several other trees were found, all of which we
examined, and from one of these, three dry fruits were gathered, which positively
established its identity. Subsequently we found a small number of perfectly
fresh fruits under one of the trees, from it we also procured young flower buds,
and from another, an immature but sound fruit. All the fresh fruits found on
the gi'ound had been fed upon by animals, which had eaten away the bulk of the
fleshy pericarp, and the seeds were, at the time, being still further cleaned by
ants ; a fact amply illustrated by the specimens brought back. The idea, that
the pericarp or sarcocarp of the floating seeds, is worn away by the action of
water, appears therefore to be quite untenable.

The marks upon the ripe fruits prove tliat the pericarp is eaten away by
frugivorous animals, and insects, such as squirrels, porcupines, ants, etc., etc., and
on tasting it myself, found it very pleasant, resembling in flavour a firm -fleshed pear.

Those examples of the fruit which are foimd on the sea shore in more or less
perfect condition are fruits which have become dry on tlie tree, in which case the
pericarp is quite hard, and in tliis condition three good examples were secured
direct from the tree. From the trees discovered we collected as full specimens
of the leaves and flower buds as could be obtained, together with green and dry
fruits, I also collected a number of fresh seeds, from which I trust plants may be
raised.

214

Irois Forest is situated in what is called the Cedros district of Trmidad,
which forms a peninsula, jutting out westward, about forty miles long ; the part
visited is situated some sixteen miles in a direct line from the most westerly
point.

The coast line at this place is devoted to the cultivation of coconuts, and the
land in many places is very swampy, the streams all contain more or less of the
mangrove, Bhizophora manfjle.

The vegetation of the highwoods (as the forest is called) to one who sees it
for the first time, is marvellous, and baffles adequate description.

The foliage of the iimumerable huge trees forms a continuous canopy, so
dense overhead as to be almost impervious to the sun's rays, and the whole mass
is entwined, tangled, and bound together by immense lianes, or climbing stems,
which stretch away in all directions, and eventually force their way through into
the light above, in which position alone their flowers are produced. The com-
monest tree met with on the first day was the "Mora," Mora excelsa, which
seemed particiilarly well fitted, on account of its great height and vigour, for the
fierce though silent struggle for existence; the ground beneath the "Mora"
trees was thickly strewn with its seeds and from them had sprung up quite a
muiiature forest of seedling plants. Another giant seen in goodly number was
the "Silk Cotton tree," Eriodendron anfractuosum. Over one of these grew a
plant of Noranlta (juianensis bearing huge masses of flowers, which, waving in
mid air under a tropical sun, resembled flames of fire. The " Cashew Nut,"
Anacardimn occidentah, was seen near the edge of the forest which was fringed
with the well-known " Razor Grass," Sderia, which has proved a serious impedi-
ment to many a collector. The " Momitain Rose" {Rosa del Monte), Brownea
latifolia, was to be seen on the banks of the streams, and in this situation the
" Timite" or " Bussu," Manicaria saccifera, a very beautiful palm, was plentiful.
It contrasted strangely with the bolder dark green " Cocorite Palm," Maximiliana
carihcea, a plant which was not so numerous. The " Chataine," Pachira insignis,
was also noticed. The part of the forest traversed on the second day was not so
dense as that examined on the fii'st day. The two districts are divided by a
small road running across the peninsula to Chatham, on the opposite side from
the point whence we started on our collecting trip, a distance of some five miles.
It is curious to note that we did not find a single specimen of Mora excelsa in this
part, and 1 was told by natives who knew the district that the tree was never
seen except on the Cedros side of this road. The " Anai-i Palm," Prestcea 2>ubi-
gera, was very common, good walking sticks are made from its stems. A single
specimen of the "Canon Ball tree," Couroupita gmanensis, was seen, and a species
of Bactris with long spines was also plentiful and decidedly troublesome to my
guide, who went barefoot all the time. The "Hog Plum," Spondias graveoleiid
was very common, and large stretches of Spatliiphyllum cannifolium formed a
delightful picture on the edges of the forest.

The ferns were varied and beautiful, and orchids were plentiful on the upper
branches of the huge trees. Amongst those noticed were Epidendrum, Oncidium,
Oongora, Coryanthes. Plewofhallis, Rodriguezia, Stanhopea.

The Sacoglottis was found fairly common on the second day, whilst on the
first we met with but one example, though the quantity of fruits seen proved it
to be more plentiful. On leaving the forest on the second day, we crossed a
piece of land on which the timber had all been felled. One of the trees was a
Sacoglottis, and bore a quantity of half developed fruits with some leaves ; I
learnt on enquiry that the land had been cleared during the previous October. It
is probable that the trees will be found in the full flowering stage in May or June.

WM. LUNT,
March 16th, 1896. Assistant Superintendent.

Since furnishing the above report I was again instructed to visit the same
district. I started on June 4th and returned on June 6th.

The trees were foimd without much difficulty ; but the first few met with
were too far advanced to fuinish good herbarium material, but I eventually
discovered one which was in an ideal condition, and from it obtained ample
material for the purpose which led to the expedition, namely, the proper identifi-
cation of the source of one of the drift fruits found on the shores of the West
Indian islands.

215

Besides the full sets of ordinary herbarium specimens, it was made a point to
secure a goodly quantity of flowers and small fruits, and preserve them in alcohol
for dissection purposes.

On the second expedition I had no guide, but took with me a young Afi-ican
boy to climb the trees, so that I had to rely upon the services of a compass to
find our way to and fro in the dense forest.

I am especially pleased to have had the opportunity of imdertaking what has
proved to be a most enjoyable and interesting expedition, outside of the scientific
object for which it was initiated.

W. L.

June 10th, 1896.

206. -NATURAL HISTORY NOTES.

No, 33. — Wood Destruction in Trinidad.

In article No. 152 of the Bulletin, ia connectiou with a note on
Termitidge, I mentioned that there was evidence of the attack of fungi
on timbei' or trees previous to its destruction by Termitidae. Subse-
quent and regular observations have shown that in no single case
out of the many examined, has the ''Wood Ant," "White Ant"
or " Termit" been found to destroy wood which is tree from the
attack of fungi.

On the other hand wherever the mycelium of a fungus has pene-'
trated into wood of any kind the "Termit" follows, apparently as a
matter of course, and commences to cut and carry away the tissue.
Besides the '* Termit" there is a species of true ant (perhaps several),
that follow the same lines, and cut up timber attacked by fungi.

This fact is not surprising since the discovery of the nature of
the gardens of the "Parasol ant;" an insect that actually cultivates or
grows for food, the conidia of a fungus.

The true ants which attack timber, march in columns during
daylight, and not in covered runs as do the " Termits" and when
these columns are seen in or near a building, it may be assumed as
certain that some of its timbers are attacked and being carried away.

This insect as a rule maintains its nest in some neicrhbourinc;
tree, in a position sheltered from rain, and often travels to a consider-
able distance from the place where they are working at the destruction
of timber.

Tlieir work is mostly hidden from sight, as it is generally the
hidden interior of viprights or beams that is carried away, as might be
expected, for the fungus will not so easily attack the better dried,
exterior parts, which it is usual to cover with paint or other preser-
vative. The attack is also seen to follow as a rule any point which is
rendered damp by leakage from the roof or other cause.

216

It is a common custom to build boarded floors high away from'
the ground to prevent (so says the builders) the attack of " wood ants."

Now it is clear that the timbers of a floor, near to the ground
and insufficiently ventilated must be an ideal situation for the develop-
ment of fungi known to be wood destroyers ; and it is equally certain
that nothing can prevent the spread of these organisms in such situa-
tions but careful ventilation, and the builder to prevent the attack of
the ant, must first of all prevent the attack of the fungus by insisting
upon conditions which will ensure perfect ventilation and dryness,
which are well known to be antagonistic to the growth of fungi.

Fungus may exist in the wood of buildings when it is to all
outward appearance sound ; and sometimes its presence can only be
detected by taking microscopical sections and submitting them to
examination under a high power.

It is not to be wondered at therefore that the ordinary carpenter
and builder should blame the Termit, instead of blaming his primary
and more insidious enemy the fungus ; an enemy which loses no time
in taking possession of his timbers whenever they are subjected to a
set of conditions of the character previously mentioned.

In a tropical country the habits of Termits may be well studied,
and if carefvil notice is taken in the forests of the country it may be
easily seen that they do not attach sound wood, but only that which
has first been permeated by the mycelium of some fungus, which has
probably found entrance to its tissues at some point of injury, or has
been able to inflict itself upon its host owing to a loss of vitality aris-
ing from some special surrounding condition, or from the want of a
proper and continued supplied of plant food.

If observers who hold the opinion that " Termites" destroy sound
wood, will have the subject of attack specially examined they will, it
is believed, find sufficient evidence to prove, that the supposed sound
Timber is in reality permeated by the mycelium of a fungus, and thus
rendered liable to the attack of insects.

It has been observed that the characters shown by the mycelium
attacking different woods afford considerable variation, and this
leads to the inference that there are numerous species of fungi
engaged in such work. The determination of these is however a
matter for a Specialist ; and can only be properly performed when
all the stages of each fungus, are fully known.

That it is really a fungus, which attacks the wood our experi-
ments prove conclusively, and that " Termites" follow the attack of

217

fungi is also clearly shown ; and the only point not proved is, whether
" Termites" do at any time, and in any case attack sound Timber ; for
in all the instances coming under observation here, the mycelium of
a fungus can be readily traced, in all parts of the tissue of the
specimens attacked.

207. -PERSE A GRATISSIMA.-Gcert.

" Avocado Pear," " Alligator Pear," Midshipman's Butter,"
" Zabaca," " Ahuacata." «

This tree is a native of the West Indies and of Tropical America
from Mexico to Peru and Brazil (Grisebach), it is commonly culti-
vated throughout the West Indian Islands where the fruit is much
esteemed as a salad, and considered as an absolute necessity when
in season by man}' persons.

The fruit is pear shaped and contains a single large seed sur-
rounded by a mass of firm greenish cream coloured pulp, the flavour,
though not very pronounced, is somewhat buttery ; the pulp dissolves

in the mouth and is delightfully cooling and refreshing, in fact, in its
cooling effect on the palate resides its great charm. Like many
other West Indian fruits, this should be gathered when in the condi-
tion known to old residents, and natives as " full," that is, as soon
as they have reached their maximum size, and then allowed to ripen
in some cool place.

If gathered as soon as " full," they take from a week to a fort-
night to ripen, so that with careful packing and selection, there should
be no difficulty in sending it to the English market in first class
condition.

The fruits vary considerably in size, but ordinarily they weigh from
^ of a lb. to 1^ lbs. and may even weigh as much as 2 lbs. Among
Avocado Pears as among other fruits there are both bad and good kinds,
but the quality of a pear is to be judged exactly like that of a potato,
when soft and watery, it is of poor quality, and when firm and mealy
and with a fine buttery flavour, it is of the highest standard.

There are many varieties, all of which are raised from seed, dis-
tinguishable either by their shape or the colour of their skin when
ripe ; those resembling in contour the ordinary club-shaped soda water
bottle, and those the skin of which turns black or purple when ripe
are generally found to be the best.

* Mexican name pronounced ah-wah-kah-tah. — (J.H.H. )

218

Although in reality a true fruit, it should be classed as a
table salad, as it is eaten with the addition of pepper, salt, vinegar,
oil, &c., as other salads, which additions are thought to intensify its
delicate flavour, but many prefer it dipped in salt and eaten with
bread and butter. On first acquaintance it is usually considered to be
very insipid, especially if the novice takes it without the proper condi-
ments, but a liking often amounting to a craving is very readily
acquired by most people, although instances are known where a lifes
residence has not familiarized its use to others. The tree attains a
height of 25 to 30 feet and with due attention to cultivation will, in
ordinary seasons, produce crops ot 12 to fifteen dozen fruits per year,
although in a good season this estimate will be largely exceeded. It
thrives best on good ground with plenty of moisture, but is impatient
of both excessive wet and drought, it is also partial to slight shade
more especially on the sides so that fertile valleys would be exactly
suited to its requirements. It Avill of course grow in exposed situa-
tions but does not give such good results. An indelible black marking
ink is obtainable from the seeds, and an abundance of oil suitable for
illuminating purposes from the pulp. A sample of fluid extract of
Alligator Pear has recently been received by the Department from
Messrs. Parke, Davis &Co., Manufacturing Chemists of Detroit, Mich.,
U.S.A. It is obtained from the seeds of Persea gratissima and is
recommended as a remedy in Intercostal Neuralgia, its medicinal pro-
perties were known to the natives of S. Mexico through whom Dr.
Frcehling of Baltimore became acquainted with it, and on whose recom-
mendation the drug has been prepared.

W. LUNT.

208.-" FUSTIC."

(Madura tinctoria, Don.) — Morus tinctoria, Leim.J — (Chlorophora

tinctoria, Laudich. )

Under the name " Fustic" — " Bois d'orange" " Palo Naranjo" —
a fine yellow dye wood is exported from many of the West Indian
Islands. The tree producing it belongs to the Order UrticaccB (the
nettle family). It is nearly allied to Morus, the European mulberry,
and to another well-known tree, the Letter Wood or Leopard Wood of
Trinidad Brosimum Auhletii, Poepp and Endl. Fustic is indigenous
to the island and groAvs rapidly, forming a fair-sized tree in good soil
in five or six years. The value of the wood per ton, July, 1896, is
from £2 15 to £5 5. As only the heart wood is used for export, the
outside or sap-wood has to be chipped off, which is the only prepara-
tion it requires. Pieces of four feet in length and six inches in diameter

219

may be sent, but the tree grows to a much larger size, and the larger
the wood the better the price obtained. Jamaica ships yearly a fair
amount of this dye-Avood, but Trinidad ha3 not as yet so far as I am
aware, competed in the market. It is not intended to represent
" Fustic " as a paying crop to grow when everything ejse has failed,
for if everything else fails "Fustic" will probably be found in the
same category, but attention is called to its presence as an indigenous
tree which, when fairly Avell grown and prepared for market, is worth
some five guineas per ton. It is not a tree requiring cultivation or
shade. It is a true native, and will grow up in many places from
self-sown seed. It is not particular as to soil, and will grow in almost
any locality if planted, and does not require protection of any kind.
It is considered to be a tree fully deserving of the attention of
proprietors wdio wash to improve and increase the value of their pro-
perties. A corner planted in " Fustic" would cost little or nothing
for upkeep, and would annually increase in value. It is certainly a
tree whose growth, with that of Logwood, should be encouraged by
those who possess landed interests in the Island of Trinidad.

P.S. — During the current week and for the first time in ten
years, we noticed logs of this wood being cut in St. Ann's for export.

August 15, 1896.

209.- GUINEA GRASS-

Panicum maximxim, Jacq. — Panicum jmnentoruyn, Pas.
Guinea grass is said to have been introduced into Jamaica as

bird food about 1740.

In that colony taxes Avere paid in 1879 on 115,576 acres under
Guinea grass. " Analysis shows it to be very rich in nutritive
qualities, and where this grass can be fully established in the West
Indies it is probably the best fodder plant known for permanent cul-
tivation.'"'

Though so largely grown in Jamaica it does not find the same
favour in Trinidad, probably owing in some measure to our having a
fuller supply of natural fodder in the form of Para grass i^Paiiicum
viuticum, Forsk) which does not require — in our lands — the same care
as Guinea grass.

Guinea grass flourishes best on lands having a fair proportion of
lime in their composition, and does not do well on heavy clays. It
can stand a large amount of drought, but will not endure a soil con-
stantly saturated with moisture. The land should be prepared for
planting by ordinary plovighing, or forking, giving it at the same time

* Kew Bulletin.

220

as much manure, wood-ashes, or vegetable refuse, as can be afforded.
Old stools with tops cut some twelve inches above the ground are
dug up and divided into small well-rooted portions and used for
planting. Each portion should be carefully planted, not too deep !
(say three or four inches) and the earth made quite firm around its
base. The field looks better when set in rows from twenty inches to
two feet apart, but some cultivators prefer to plant irregularly, using
the same distances.

The productiveness of a Guinea grass piece depends greatly upon
the regularity of the attention it receives. In Jamaica, in limestone
districts, and in the Bocas Island, Trinidad, it is thoroughly acclima-
tised, sows itself, requires no attention, and is practically ineradicable ;
but in the neighbourhood of Port-of-Spain, and in many other
districts it cannot be left to itself, or it will rapidly die out. In
Jamaica and in Tobago considerable areas are covered with Guinea
grass which has become fully acclimatised, and these are used for
grazing purposes, cari-ying large herds of cattle and sheep.

They receive little more attention besides an annual hoeing, and
cutlassing or brushing out, which is really all that is necessary to
keep this grass in order where soil and climate are suitable.

In the Homestead grass fields, however, especially on heavy clay
or on soil indifferently suited to its culture, Guinea grass requires
regular attention.

It had been the system previous to my taking charge of the
grass fields at the Botanic Gardens, to hoe and fork through between
the plants with great regularity, in fact there was a standing order to
fork over at once the area cut over for the daily supply. This system
was given a year's trial, but the supply of grass was not equal to the
demand, and other measures had to be adopted. It was finally decided
to stop forking process and to "mM?cZi"* regularly with any manure
or vegetable refuse that was available, completely covering the ground
between the plants. This mu.lching has been found, after eight years'
practical trial, to be far superior to forking or hoeing, as it prevents
weeds growing, keeps the ground moist, and it sujjplies, by decay, a
regular amount of plant food. It is of course necessary that all
large weeds should be removed either by pulling up or cutlassing at
regular periods, but small or surface weeds will be killed out by
regular mulching and by the luxuriant growth of the grass itself.
The condition of our field is such that no one can dispute the value

* Mulch is an English term used when the roots of plants are covered
thickly with manure or vegetable refuse.

221

of the process and the abundant crops it gives. Given a good supply
of manure and vegetable refuse, regular cutting and regular manu-
ring, Guinea grass will give the largest return of fodder of the most
useful kind of grass known in the island, and grass, too, of a kind
as suitable for the dray horse, as for his higher classed brother who
draws a carriage.

In wet weather Guinea grass, like all other kinds, contains a large
amount of water, and if it is possible, it is better to cut fodder and
dry it in the sun as opportunity oifers, rather than feed it to the
animals in a watery condition. If weather permits it may be turned
into excellent hay which is really capital food, although queer-looking
to the eyes of an American or European who has been accustomed to
hay from meadow grasses only. This class of hay is used in
Jamaica for racing animals.

Guinea grass should not be allowed to stand long after it flowers
as shortly after that period it becomes hard and "boney" and not so
useful for the stables : cut, however, just at the flowering period, it is
at its prime.

There is decided prejudice against the use of Guinea Grass for
cows in Trinidad, and it is alleged that it shortens the supply of milk.
Seeing, however, that many "Pens"'' in Jamaica have to depend upon
it alone for dairy purposes, it is not clear how such a prejudice has
arisen in Trinidad, and it is highly probable that if more generally
■grown, such ideas would quickly vanish. Guinea grass flourishes best
under the shade of the umbrageous Pithecolobium Saman, the '• Zaman"
of the mainland, and Avhere new fields are being planted this tree
should be put in at distances of 80 to 100 feet apart, as it is evidently
the best known for the purpose, and the grass will in dry weather be
found to grow better under this tree than anywhere else, and it will
grow quite as well near to its trunk as at a distance therefrom.

There is a larger form of Guinea grass which has coarse and saw-
like edges to its leaves known as St. Mary's grass in Jamaica, Avhere
the natives describe it as having " plenty of bones" — (i.e.) hard stalks
which are not eaten by cattle or horses. This kind should be avoided
by the cultivator, for if he gets it for Guinea grass, cultivation will
not spread, and no one can wonder why other grasses are preferred,
and true Guinea grass gets a bad name. See therefore that the right
kind is planted, give it good surface dressings, and it will amply
repay any attention that is paid and no better fodder can be found
for stable or cattle pen throughout the West Indian islands. +

'* Cattle Farms, + A late analysis shews its decided superiority over other grasses.

222
210 -TRINIDAD ORCHIDS-

" GONGORAS. "

Grisebach's Flora of the "West Indies records Gongora atropur-
ptirea, Hoolc, as indigenous to Trinidad. Hooker's Exotic Flora
relates that a plant Avas sent in 1825 to the Liverpool Botanic Garden
from Trinidad by Baron de Schach. The Kew List (1896) gives it as
a native of British Guiana. Dr. H. H. Rusby's late expedition to
the delta of the Orinoco found it fairly plentiful there, so that it will
probably be found in the greater part of the tropical regions of
South America on the Atlantic slope. It is a plant that flowers
freely every year at the gardens, growing iipon blocks of wood or bark
Avithout covering of any kind at the root. Gongoras, like several
other orchids, have when in good health two classes of roots. First
the main or clinging roots and secondly the upright or vertical.
These upright or vertical roots are found in Gongora, Coryanthes,
Catasetum and Epidendrum, and always commence growth during the
moist season, having the green and growing point exactly vertical.
On this point is to be seen in damp weather radiant globules of mois-
ture. In dry weather the green and growing point entirely disappears
by gradually tapering aAvay into a needle-shaped point when it becomes
covered Avith the Avhite covering common to the clinging roots and
becomes practically non-absorbent.

These roots are similar to those exhibited by mangrove and other
SAvamp plants. If the surroundings to lagoon plants are examined
closely it will be found that, proceeding from the roots Avhich are beloAV
the surface of the mud or water, there are countless thousands of tips
Avhich are exactly perpendicular. That these roots perform some
function, important both to orchids and to mangroves, &c., is clearly
apparent, as where they are most abundant the plant and the tree
is most vigorous and in the most robust health. But what that func-
tion is exactly, is not yet clear to us, but the feature is such a notable
one that it is fully deserving of further close enquiry.

Beside Gongora atrojnirpurea we have Gongora maciilata, Lindhj,
Avhich is given by some as a synonym of Gongora qiiinqiienervis,
Ruiz and Pavon. This is a much prettier orchid from a florist's point
of vieAv than the first mentioned, and flowers more freely.

Besides these, Ave have another Gongora Avhich gives a straAV-
Avhite floAver, and is distinguished by lighter coloured pseudo-bulbs
but for the present Ave place this Avith the last named as a variety.
Whether the tAvo latter are deserving of specific distinction is a matter

223

for specialists to settle, but the variation shown in the form of bulbs ^
and the colour of the flower leads to the belief that the three are
merely forms of the one species indicated by the flower being almost
identical in form no matter what colour is assumed or what shape is
put on by the pseudo-bulb.

Whether they are eventually proved to be species, or mere varieties,
it still remains that there are three forms of Gongora native to
Trinidad : — 1st, the dark purple; 2nd, the spotted; and 3rd, the straw-
coloured ; all of which are easy of cultivation at or near to sea -level in
positions, sheltered from the wind.

211.-"SUGAR CA-N-Rr-iExtracf.)

DOES THE ARROWING OF SUGAR CANE AFFECT ITS YIELD AND ITS SACCHARINE CONTENTS,

In Java it has been observed that of late years the cane is more
disposed to flowering than formerly, and this is not to be wondered
at. Formerly, the tops from grinding canes were exclusively used
for planting new fields, which tops were always taken from stalks that
had not blossomed, while, as a rule, no seed was taken from canes
which had arrowed. By this means the individuals which had
bloomed were always eliminated as material for propagation, causing
a greater proportion of the descendants of non-flowering canes to be
cultivated. Arrowing of the cane grew more and more uncommon,
and gradually a variety of cane has arisen that has lost its capacity
of producing flowers. This has however changed, since the planters
have been obliged, owing to the sereh disease, to plant cane for seed
only in order to be always to have a supply of sound seed cane. The
top is cut from these canes when they have reached the age of six
months, and have not yet had an opportunity of flowering. In this
case one cannot know whether the cane has a disposition to flower or
not, and as the whole is planted the unconscious selection of nonflower-
ing cane, formerly in operation, ceases, and at present seed is planted
of cane which is disposed to flower as well as of cane which does not
show this property.

Bearing this in mind, and also with a view to die questions aris-
ing from the discussion as to whether cane from seed can be used as a
progenitor of new varieties, which will be more apt to flower than
such as have for centuries been propagated by cuttings, it seemed to
me not uninteresting to investigate whether canes that had arrowed
might perchance be less profitable, as regards yield or saccharine con-
tents, than those from which no flower had proceeded. For this

224

purpose I made a like experiment on three estates. From a field,
where cane which had flowered stood together on the same plots with
cane that had not, canes were cut at the moment of maturity. Of
both, several thousands were cut and conveyed separately to the mill.
On two estates the tops were cut for seed from the non-arrowed canes,
and on the third the tops were crushed together with the canes. At
the mill 200 canes of each kind were measured and weighed, and
afterwards the whole of the cane, both that which had blossomed and
that which had not, was ground separately and the juice analysed.
The figures obtained were as follows : —

Balapoelang.

Pagongan.

Bandjaedawa.

Natmt, of the Estate.

Arrowed.

Not
Arrowed.

Arrowed.

Not
Arrowed.

Arrowed.

Not
Airowed.

Measure in metres ...

...

2-56

3-60

Weight in kilos., with top

1-65

1-88

117

1-24

1-83

1-87

„ „ without top ...

...

1-73

...

109

...

1-72

Sugar in the juice ...

19-3

18-8

19'43

17-93

19-11

19-61

•Glucose „ „

0-42

0-44

0-37

0-39

0-57

0-49

Brix

21-3

20-2

22-0

20-4

21-09

22-0

Quotient of purity in the juice.

90-6

92-8

88-3

87-9

90-57

89-14

Available sugar „ „ ...

17-3

17-4

16'86

15-46

17-13

17-22

Fibre in the cane ...

13-2

13'0

...

«..

• ••

■ *•

The analyses of the juice thus showed no considerable difference
except in the case of the Pagongan estate, where the percentage of
available sugar in the juice of the non-arrowed cane is 1-^ per cent,
less than in the other case.

Though the flowering of the cane is a distinct loss to the planters
owing to the fact that it decreases the available quantity of planting
material, it has no influence as regabds the yield in sugar if the canes
are cut in proper time, but, after this, the flowering cane dies much
earlier than cane which has not arrowed. Where circumstances
prevent the planter from cutting his canes at the moment of maturity,
a field which has arrowed will contain more dead canes than one
which has not, but if the crop can be crushed in due time, the
difference will not be perceptible.

H. C. Prinsen Geerligs.

Tegal, Java,

24th December, 1894.

225
212. -BOTANICAL NOTES.

No. 9. — Mechanical action and irritahility in the floicers of " Cafa-

setum tridentatum" Hoolc.

Darwin in his work on the " Fertilization of Orchids," carefully
describes the structure of the flowers of Gatasetum tridentatiim., Bool:.
He states that the labellum stands uppermost, forming a helmet or
bucket protecting the column and in a position in which it cannot
hold nectar,* while his drawings show the position of the antemiiB
or horns of the column and their position. He argues also the
hypothesis that the antennae are possessed of a special irritability
which leads to the ejection of the pollen. Kerner and Oliver in
" Natural History of Plants," follow Darwin, but their illustrations
show the flower in a reverse position to that in which Darwin
describes it to stand, and it is evident from the text that it has
been drawn so intentionally.

Darwin, however, is quite correct in describing the position ot
the flower, and Kerner is as certainly so as Darwin, for the truth is
that sometimes the flower stands one way, sometimes the other, and
also at every possible angle. Gatasetum tridentatum, HooTc., is one
of the commonest of Trinidad orchids, flowering every season in the
Botanic Gardens, and numerous observations on its process of fertili-
zation have been registered. Kerner as well as Darwin discusses
the special irritability of the antennas, and declares that nothing
special has been found " to account for it." Darwin allows that in
some instances the pollen is ejected by other means, but lays great
stress upon the sensitiveness of the antennae. " / find no moderate
degree of violence on any part of the flowers, excepting the antennce,
produces any efect." It is certain, however, that the ejection of the
pollinia can be caused by other means than the irritation of the
antennae by touch, for it can be easily proved that a concussion of the
flower, the removal of the anther-cap, and pressure exerted on
almost any part of the column, and especially any irritation on the
margins of the stigmatic pit, will effect this readily if the flower is
at a favourable stage of maturity, and irritation of one side will
cause the gland of the pollinia to be thrown to the same side, and
vice versa ; while if both sides are irritated at the same moment the
gland is thrown directly to the front.

* Page 232.

226

Darwin noted that "flowers icJien they first arrived were not
sensitive, btit after the spiJces had stood for a daij or tico in loater they
became sensitive. Whether this is oiving to fuller maturity or to the
absorption of water, I Jcnoiv not."

There is reason to think that both maturity and absorption have
something to do with the so-called irritability, for if the pollinia are
fully ripe the disturbance of the anther-cap is quite sufficient to
cause the expulsion of the pollinia (as we have proved by experiment
on numerous occasions) without in any way touching the " antennae "
or " horns."

On the other hand, the anther-cap can be wholly removed, and
the pollen masses will not be expelled, but this can only be effected
when the parts are immature. In Darwin's description of C. saccatvm
he states that the right hand antennee hangs downwards paralysed
and functionless. This he repeats twice later on in the same work ;
while at p. 225 he states that a touch of the right hand antenna;
causes the pollinia to be instantly ejected. This statement is hard
to unravel, but it clearly does not lend itself in direct evidence of
special irritability.

A series of sections of flowers taken at different stages of develop-
ment, appear to show that the expulsion of the pollen does not
depend upon any special irritability, but upon mechanical action alone.

The pollen masses, the caudicle and the gland or " viscid disk"
are seen to be held in place by tissue which, as it matures, granulates
and forms a " layer of separation," or " absciss layer " which allows
the division to occur ; but until this tissue has properly matured no
rupture can or does take place. The antennae are seen to be merely
a prolongation of the material forming the edges of the stigmatic pit,
curled into cylindrical form. A part of this curl grips or holds the
margin of the caudicle, at the base of the antennse, and the antennae
at the period of anthesis become turgid, stiff and non-elastic. In
this state they furnish levers which are amply sufficient to cause a
disturbance of the grip they hold upon the margin of the caudicle,
and to produce a vibration or disruption of the separation layer, on
being slightly touched.

The horns or points of the antennae, do not stand near to. but
far back from the point of dehiscence of the anther, and the point
of the coliTmn or rostellum is the first place upon which an insect
would alight when visiting these flowers, if standing in certain posi-
tions, but it would first have to travel over the easily displaced

227

anther cap, before reaching the points of the antennae, which are
situated further back. In cases where the pollen is mature and
expelled by the displacement of the anther cap, the insect, standing
on the column, would, if a large one, receive the flying pollen masses
on the underside of the abdomen. If it is a very large insect that
causes the displacement of the pollen, by contact with the horns or
antennge, it would receive the pollen masses still further to the rear ;
but if a small insect effected the disruption of the pollen masses by
irritation of the antenna it is possible for them to fly clear from the
flower, and be lost, as there is plenty of room between the anther
bed and the points of the antennte for an insect to effect disruption
without receiving upon its body the " viscid gland." If the gland is
fixed upon the underside of the insect's body, it is easy to perceive
how fertilization may be effected in MonacTianthas viridis, as the
helmet or covering stands in the same position as in G, tridentatiim,
but if the pollen is deposited on the back of the insect it is necessary
that it should turn round while in the flower to bring the pollen in
contact with the stigmatic cavity of the plant, and this they often do
while visiting these flowers. This actually happens when the flower
is visited by a small golden-coloured bee, as is shown by a drawing of
Dr. Cruger in the Library of the Royal Botanic Gardens, which I
am able to confirm by actual observation. Darwin's trials, like all
his work, have been faithfully carried out, but they do not appear to
be conclusive, for it is seen that the pollen will not be ejected until
the separation layer of cells is mature, and that when this occurs
the liberation of the anther cap has the same eflPect as vibration pro-
duced by the touching of the antennae. In a flower of G. BungerotJiii
which was under observation, the pollen masses being liberated by
the removal of the anther cap, the caudicle, by its contraction, drew
them directly into the stigmatic cavity ; showing that under certain
circumstances self-fertilization would be effected. In another flower
of the same species, however, the pollinia were ejected by irritation of
the antennae. Darwin likens the position of the points of the antenn£e
to the position of the hands when in defence. Now in a drawing
made sixteen years ago, the position observed was as follows : — Look-
ing at the flower with point of column downwards — the right hand
horn or antenmij is always to be seen curved round the base of the
labellum at the same level as the attachment of the column, with the
apex pointing outwards. The left hand ''horn" grows straight to
the rear and curves upwards slightly towards the opening, and these
positions ai-e constant both in G. Banijerothii as well as in G. tridcn-

228

tatum. The drawing I mention has since been confirmed by
numerous observations during a series of years.

Dissections of the immature buds shew that the antennae are only
developed after the pollen gland, and all other tissue is completely
formed.

When half mature buds are opened, the antennaj are represented
merely by a slight prominence on the surface of the column. Darwin
states that he is almost certain " that the disk does not separate by the
simple mechanical movement of the antennse," but I venture to assume
that his material was inadequate for him to fully demonstrate this,
for he certainly failed to do so.

The hypothesis of mechanical action is moreover clearly sup-
ported by his own experiments, not only that on C. saccatum where
the column, loithout tension, had no sensibility, as it certainly would
not have if the action is really mechanical as I suggest.

If the arms of a pair of spectacles having curved holders for the
ears are brought together, the left upright and the right horizon-
tally folded downwards, they will almost exactly represent the position
of the points of the antennae in the flower of C. tridentatum. The
point of securest contact between the column and the pollen masses
and their appendages has been seen to be situated on the margin
of the column on each side of the caudicle, and it is fairly evident
that a turgid antennaj would mechanically aiford suflScient vibration
to cause a disruption of the separation layer, and thus allow of the
expulsion of the pollen masses by contraction of the caudicle. If the
antenna are really possessed of a special irritability or stimulating
property, proof is necessary to show how it acts ; but so far none has
been forthcoming ; Darwin's strongest point, (viz.) the absence of
antennae in MonacJianthus , being quite as strong if not stronger in
favour of simple mechanical action.

Until the perfume of the flower is developed it receives no visits
from the fertilizing insects, and some flowers that were emasculated,
developed no perfume, but on the third morning after opening were
in a shrivelled condition. On the same date flowers that were not
emasculated, developed perfume and were visited by insects. Some
flowers which developed perfume also changed their position from
that at which they stood at the period of antJiesis. The attractive
matter for the bees which visit them appears to be similar in char-
acter to that noted in my annual Report for 1890 as the attraction
in Coryanthes flowers, and is situated on the underside of the lip.

229

The perfume is not developed until the parts of the flower are highly
turgid, and the anther cap as well as the antennae capable of causing
expulsion of the pollen, shows that there is no special plan for ferti-
lization, but the various sizes of the insects which visit the flower,
and the several means of inducing the discharge of the pollen masses,
show that the apparatus is capable of efiecting fertilization by means
of more than one insect and in more than one manner, and that latent
mechanical action is a potent factor made use of by the flower to secixre
this result. J. H. HART.

213-CIRC ULAR NOTES.

Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 31.

Young Seedling Sugar Canes.

Planters interested in raising seedling sugar canes or wishing

to obtain an acquaintance with their earliest form as raised fi'om seed,

can now see growing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, numerous young

plants.

The appearance of the young plants is so similar to that of
many other species of grasses, that they might easily be mistaken by
those unacquainted with the character of their growth. In fact it is
highly probable that thousands of young seedling canes have been
annually hoed away for weeds when the clearing of cane fields has
been in progress.

22nd January, 1896. J. H. HART.

214.— IMPROVEMENT OP THE SUGAR CANE.

There was a time not very long ago Avhen the proposal to raise
sugar canes from the seeds Avould have been treated with ridicule.
To-day happily it is not only known that the sugar cane will grow
from seed, but that the amount of variation which is shown when
plants are produced from seeds, is someAvhat remarkable. This is
beautifully illustrated on the fields devoted to the raising of seedlings
in Demerara and Barbados, and may be seen on a somewhat smaller
scale in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

The history of the share taken by the Trinidad Gardens in rais-
ing seedlings may be briefly recorded. In the Annual Report of the
Department fur 1890 it was shewn that the prospects of raising canes
from seeds were of a very encouraging nature, and that plants had
been raised from seeds collected in Barbados. In the following year
seeds from Barbados were again received, but none of them germinated.
From that time no canes had been raised from seed in the Trinidad

230

Gai'dens until the present year (1896), when we succeeded in obtaining
a single plant from seed obtained from Forres Park. We have, how-
ever, a set of young plants growing in our nurseries, which were
received when about 5 inches high from J. R, Bovell, Esq., of Dodds,
Barbados. These show clearly the variable character of canes raised
from seed, as no two are alike. Messrs. Jenman and Harrison have
shown that it does not always follow that seed from a first-class
parent will produce a first-class seedling cane — and per contra, that
first-class canes have been raised from seed taken from kinds con-
sidered by planters as inferior. This pronounced character of variation
is a most hopeful one for the raisers, as it is evident that it gives a
wider range of choice for the selection of kinds suitable for cultivation.
The effort of the raisers of the sugar beet have long been directed to
secure a strain of plants that would, while giving a large yield per
acre, afford at the same time the maximum amount of sugar, and
their efforts have been attended with great success, for it is well known
that the yield from roots cultivated of recent years show a tremendous
advance over the percentage yielded by the beet twenty years ago.
Had the yield of the Cane increased in the same proportion as that of
Beet, the sugar industry would not have suffered as it has done of
late ; and why cannot the yield of the cane be increaed ? Mr. Neville
Lubbock is reported to have pointed to the bamboo as an example of
the size a sugar cane should be, and though Ave may not get it to
reach this, it is apparent from recent experience that great advances
can be made.

It is recorded in a recent work on " Plant Breeding " that a
seedsman conceived the idea that a new form of bean pod Avould com-
mend itself to his customers, and wrote to a noted bean raiser to
'' maTce it for him/' and it is reported that he obtained from the
•experienced raiser exactly what he required. This may seem to
the uninitiated far-fetched ; but nevertheless it is really what is
being done with the plants of the vegetable, the flower, and the frnif
garden ; and why it should not be done for the cane-field, is hard to
say. The ideal has been reached with many plants, why not in the canes ?

A beginning has been made and a fair amount of success has
been obtained ; inasmuch as we have now canes that have given 25
per cent, above the yield of varieties commonly grown ; and if Ave
can once get those varieties into the field on a large scale, Ave shall be
able to proA'e conclusively the value of Avork done, and Ave hope to
see this accomplished before the return of man^^ seasons, and before
" the steed is wholly starved."

231

There are not a few people whose idea of raising seedling canes
is that cane seeds are sown like peas or beans to produce a crop. It
is not so ; for this would be not only impracticable, but with canes
impossible.

The operations are conducted as follows : — Seed is collected from
the cane arrow when it is fully ripe, and about to fall. It is of little
use to look for the seeds among the feathery part of the arrow, as it
is quite impossible to distinguish them with the naked eye on account
of their diminutive size — (they may of course be seen with assistance
of a lens or microscope) — so that it has to be taken on trust that the
seeds are really there.

Boxes of soil are then prepared by burning or scorching it in an
iron pot, to destroy all grass seeds that it may contain, and then
when pressed firmly down, the seed is sown thickly upon the surface.
A sprinkling of earth will flatten this somewhat, and it should then
be pressed and watered. After this a pane of glass should be placed
over the box or pot to keep the soil humid, and it should 'be further
secured by standing it on pots or stands suriounded by water to keep
away seed-eating insects.

In a few days the seedlings will appear like little grass plants.
They have been mistaken by myself and others for grass plants, and vice
versa — but this is not a great mistake after all, when we consider
that the sugar cane itself is a true grass ; so that the error of taking
the one for the other is simply that of not being able to recognize
different genera of grasses in their [at present] little studied
juvenile forms. To this common error is to be attributed the old
idea that the sugar cane could not be reproduced from seed ; and it is
fairly apparent that numerous yoi;ng sugar canes have been annually
hoed up as " grass." In Barbados in 1888 Messrs. Harrison and Bovell
proved that it was possible to grow canes in large quantities from
seed, and the Report issued by these gentlemen show how the circum-
stance was taken advantage of, by making it the first step towards
the improvement of the sugar cane by selection from the seedling
growths. In the seedling stage (i.e.) when the plant is from one to five
inches high the cane plant is very tender and susceptible to injury,
but once established it grows freely and rapidly into its mature form.
Those now in the Gardens planted out when six inches high on April
4th, are now (June 26th) three feet and a half high— a growth fully
equal to, if not better than, plants from tops.

The seedling cane plant has a greater tendency to tiller or

232

produce shoots from the base than plants grown from cuttings, and
its value in sugar contents in the first year is not so high as it is
when plants are produced from cuttings of the same plant in succeed-
ing years. It has therefore become the rule to plant seedlings largely,
and to grow them for several years before finally deciding what their
value really is, as sugar producers and croppers ; rooting out annually
such as prove to be entirely useless for the purpose in view. An
examination of their sugar contents is made at intervals during the
ripening period so as to ascertain their relative value when com-
pared with kinds of standard merit grown on the same ground .

Although a large number (say 5,000) seedlings may be grown the
first season, these will by selection be reduced to some 10 or 15
varieties before they are introduced to the planters for extensive trial.
No. 95, of the Demerara set, has stood the test for five successive
seasons, and this is followed by Nos. 102, 78 and 74; all of which can be
seen growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens side by side with the Bourbon
and other standard varieties. All seedlings of whatever character are
l^ropagated for the field by cuttings, and when an improved variety is
found, we have to commence from a single plant to get a stock in
hand for the field; a very lengthy process, it is true, but one which
may be expedited if a close watch is kept upon the plants, and good
culture is given, for we estimate that from a single stool 5,000 or
more plants may be obtained in 24 months.

Two canes raised in the Gardens from Barbados seeds in 1889
(both " purple") gave a larger sugar content than the " Bourbon " grown
on the same ground. These have been propagated for further trial , now
that their value is known. They are quite ordinary looking canes, and
Avere thought of little value previous to examination, and of so little
account were they considered that it was actually debated whether
they were worth the labour of making the examination. I am glad to
say that it was decided to make it, as it is possible these canes may
prove worth cultivating on a more extensive scale.

There is no room on the Botanic Gardens to grow sufficient canes
for seed purposes, and I propose asking planters to assist me for nex t
year's sowing, by collecting and forwarding to me ripe seeds from the
fields under their care.

It is proposed to distribute cane plants of the new varieties early
in the year 1897, and we hope to have a large stock on hand so as to
get them into the fields, and again into the factory, at as early a date
as possible.

26th June, 1896.

iM^D£::x.

Vol. II. No. 1-8.1

[1895 & 1896.

Page.

Ant (Parasol)

Cyrtopodium Aadersonii

Ant (Hunter)

Cacao Shade

Ant (New species)

Cashew— The

Averrhoa carambola ...

Cassava

... 25-87

Arthrostilidium irTestoei

Cola or Kola

... 15-49

Azteca chartifex

Candle Tree

Aristolochia gigas var.

Coccidse ...

...63, 37,a5

Acacia spadicigera

Circular Notes No. 10

Asphyxiator ... 175-65—3

» ^^..no

Anacardium occidentale

Nos. 12 & 13

Arrowroot...

No, 14

Actinopus scalops

)j j> 15

Argiope argentata

» 16

Asclepias curassavica ...

» 17

A Freak of Nature ...

Nos. 18 & 19

Ants (a flight of Parasol)

„ 20 & 21

Ants (CEcodoma cephalotes)

No. 22

Aspidiotus Hartiijnew species) ...

J) ji 23

Automaton Lawn Mower

„ 24

Agave rigida var. sisalana

„ 25

Arachis Hypogea, L. ...

124

r. » 26

114

Asplenium nidus, L. ...

123

„ 27

115

Arrowing of the Sugar Cane

211

» 28

116

Ax-oma, Rum

161

11 J > ""

116

Athene torquata

164

„ 30

181

Athene Aalanoevides ...

165

Cereus peruvianus

124

Areca oleracea

204

Cactus — A Giant

124

A Bat's Dining Room ...

165

Coccidse, List of species, Appen-

Avocado pear " Zaboca "

217

dLx L

• ■•

Allium cepa

178

Coccidpe — See new species

1.j6

Adrue or Ardrue

107

Corbeaux in Error

1.j5

Acrocomia sclerocarpa fibre

113

Chrysanthemums

185

Appendix, List Coccidse — (p. 1-8).

Cedar

ISl

Analysis of Garden Soil

117

Cedrela odorata

181

Allium ascalonium, L.

124

Cynometra trinitensis

... 122-1S8

Cricket Ground

lf»3

Belostoma Grande

Cyperus articulatis ...

107

Banana disease

Cutiterebra funebris n. sp.

110

Beetle (Orchid)

Coffee Machines

l.")3

Beetle (Habit of)

Castor Oil...

119

Beetle (Melolontha ...
Botany of a Tree
Bignonia unguis
Bamboo, flowering of...
Bletia Shepherdii
Bougainvillea spectabilis
Botanical Notes

No. 1

)» )> >» ^

Nos. 3&4 ...
5& 6

169-188

121

122

Dactylopius sacchari, Ckl.,

Diacriums, Trinidad ...

Dioscorea, sp.

Drift Fruit, a Jamaica

Date Palm

Dioscorea (Yams)

Eucalyptus

new sp. 85

151

203

2(M>

Electric Bug

123

188

Eperua falcata
Eupatorium populifolium

,, ,, ,, J Ofc u ...

„ 7&8 ...
No. 9
Betel or Betle Nut Palm

189
225
2f)4

Eucharis amazonica ...

l!tO

El Canto Bark
Eriobotrya japonica ...
Fungus (a new)

liHt
124

Chionaspis citri
Cane experiments

6.3
53

Fungus on Coccid
Fodder Grass
Fustic

189
109
218

Cane disease

14-17

Cane Seedlings

Guilielma speciosa

Cane Pest ...

Gru-gru Worm

Cane— Sugar cultivation

191

Garden Ordinance ... .

Cane Seedlings

195

Garden Seats

109

Coffee Machinery

73-5

Guaiacum officinale ...

111

Cordyceps Luntii, new species ...

57-86

Ginger— Zingiber officinale,

L. ... 112

Chrysanthemum— The

Gru-gru Fibre

113

11.

IM^]>E:x:.— Continued.

Page.

Grafting the mango ...

114

Onions

178

Ground Nut

124

Parmentieria cerifera

Guinea GrasB, Panicum

219

Piper ovatum

... 35-94

Gongora, sp.

222

Phalangium cosmetus pictus

Hippomane manicella

Peach Palm

Herbarium specimens

Planarium

Helianthus, dwarf

Pseudidiops Hartii . . .

Icerya rosoe

Peripatus ...

Isaria barberii

Porophyraspis

Improvement of the Sugar Cane...

229

Persea gratissima

217

Jamaica Drift Fruit ...

212

Phoenix dactylifera ...

203

" Jack Spaniard"

222

Polypodium trinidadense, Jen.

122

Kola or Cola

Petite chouette

165

Livistona chinensia ...

111

Parasol Ant (Nat History of)

166

Latania Borbonica

111

Parasol Ant, Illustrations of

169

Lucuma Mammosa ...

Logwood ...

Rubber (Para)

Lagerstrsemia flos-reginse

Rat (a Forest)

Loranthacese

201

Roses

... 134-145

I.,ignum Vitse

111

Rollers — Garden

Loquat

124

Rhyncophorus palmarum

Mango

Rainfall ...

149

Mangosteen

Rum Aroma

161

Manicou ...

Sapote

Manicou "grosyeux"

Siphonotus purpureus

8»

Mosquito Worm

21, 16

Smilax officinalis, Sarsaparilla

Melolontha

Siphonorhinus Hartii, new sp.

Mygale (spider)

Seeds, Transport of ...

Ma J' bug ...

Simaba cedron

Manioc or Yucca

Sunshine Recorder ...

Mahogany...

185

Stictoplastis rabidus ...

Manufacture of Castor Oil

119

Sunflower, a new dwarf

Blanicaria saccif era . . .

202

Sisal Hemp

... 71, 98

Mechanical action and Ii

•ritability

Soil — Our Garden

in Catasetum

225

Shallot ...

124

IMaclura ...

218

Snakebites

156

Natural History Notes Nos. 1 & 2

Sugar Cane Seeds

148

»j i» j»

Sugar Cane Seedlings

... 116, 195

» ft J)

Sugar Cane Cultivation

191

?» >f 9»

5& 6

Sugar Cane (yield of Seedling)

117

99 »f tf

7, 8& 9

Seedling Canes (Report on)

191

1» »9 »?

10, 11 & 12

Sugar Cane Improvement

229

5> »» 5>

13, 14 & 15

Schizea elegans

18S

9» »» 9»

16, 17 & 18

Schizea pernula

189

11 »» )>

19&20

Sweet Cassava

198

»» It tt

Silica in Grasses

115

•1 U J)

rt >» >>

23&24

110

Transport of Seeds ...

> > ft 5 »

155

Tarantula...

>> »» Jt

26&27

156

Trigona species

)» »l tt

164

Trinidad Orchids

162

9t tt ,,

29&30

165

Tennis Lawn

103

tt >l tt

176

"Tabasheer"

109

tt Jl it

176

Termites ...

110

»' '» tt

215

Trichopilia hymenantha, Rchl.

123

Nutmeg, yield of

...

"Timite"Palm

202

Nicaraguan Cacao Shade

Vaginula occidentalis (slug)

Names — Local Plants . .

...

Vanilla

187

Night Noises

...

28, 164

Natural History of the Parasol Ant

Water Measure and Rainfall

149

Oreodoxa regia

Origin of Sex

117

"Yams" ...

Orchids, Trinidad

162

" Yams" Dioscorea ...

206

Oncidium ampliatum...'

163

Oncidium iridifolium...

^ '••

163

Zingiber officinale

112

-AJPX^EIVOIZX:.

lU.

ON THE COCCID^ (SCALE INSECTS) OP TRINIDAD.

By T. D. A. CocKERELL. New Mexico (U.S.A.) Agricultural

Experiment Station.

I HAVE just finished studying a very interesting series of Coccidae col-
lected in Trinidad by Mr. J. H. Hart and Mr. W. Lunt, and at Mr. Hart's
suggestion offer a revised list of the species known from that island, with
notes on those which are of interest among the specimens lately received.
It suggests that the West Indian Coccidse are becoming pretty well known,
that among so many specimens have been foimd only one new species and
one new variety. A striking contrast is offered by the Coccidae of Japan,
which the present writer has lately been studying, among which the per-
centage of new species is very much greater. Similarly, the Coccidae of
Ceylon, studied of late by Mr. E. E. Green, offer a very large percentage of
novelties.

In the following list the collectors are designated by letters : U.^F. W.
Urich. H.=J. H. Hart. L.=Wm. Lunt. G.=P. L. Guppy. P.=W. V.
Pierce. C.=H. Caracciolo. The species and varieties marked ("■') are at
present only known from Trinidad.

1. Icerya montserratensis, R. & H. —

H. U. L.

2. Icerya rosce, R. &. H. — U. H.

3. Dactylopius nipa. Mask. — U.

4. Dactylopius citri, Boisd. — U.

*5. Dactylopius sacchari, Ckll. — U. H.

6. Dactylopius virgatus var. farinosiis,

Ckll.— U. H.

7. Phenacoccus barberi, Ckll. — U. H.

8. Orthezia insignis, Dougl. — U. H.

9. Orthezia prwlonga, Dougl. — H.

10. Asterolecaniv/m oncidii, Ckll. — H.

11. Astcrolecanium aureum, Boisd. — L.
*12. Asterolecanium urichi, Ckll. — U.

13. Asterolecanium miliaris, Boisd. — U. H,

14. AsterQlecaniuiaham,b%i.sce, Boisd. — U.L,

15. Pulvinaria brassia, Ckll. — H.

16. Pulvinaria simulans, Ckll. — U.

17. Pulvinaria pyriformis, Ckll. — U.
*18. Lecanium nanum, Ckll. — H.

19. Lecanium mangifercv, Green, H.

20. Lecanium he speridum, L. — H.

21. Lecanium urichi, Ckll. — U.

22. Lecanium depressum, Targ. — U. H.

23. Lecanium olece, Bern. — U. H.

24. Lecanium hemisphcericum, Targ. —

G. U. C. H.

25. Vinsonia stellifera, Westw. — U. H. L.
*26. Inglisia vitrca, Ckll. — U.

27. Chionaspis brazilicnsis, Sign. — U. H.

28. Chionaspis minor, Mask. — U. H.

29. Chionaspis citri, Comst. — H. C.

30. Chionaspis biclavis, Comst. — H.

31. Aulacaspis boisduvalii. Sign. — U. H.
.S2. Pinnaspis pandani, Comst. — U. H. L.

*32a. „ ,, var. albus, Ckll.

— U. H.

33. Mytilaspis citricola, Pack. — U. P. H.

34. Ischnaspis liliformis, Dougl. — U. H. L.

35. Diaspis amygdali, Try on. — U. (syn

lanatus).
*36. Aspidiotus hartii, Ckll. — H.
*36a. ,, ,, var. i?m<u, Ckll.— L.

37. Aspidiotus dictyospermi, Morg. — H.

38. Aspidiotus palmfe, Morg. & Ckll. — U.

39. Asjudiotiis dcstrxictor, Sign. — U. H.

40. Aspidiotus articulatus, Morg. — U. H.

41. Aspidiotus biformis, Ckll. — H. G.

1. Icerya montserratensis. — Fine specimens on rose (Hart). Plenty,
with a few IscJmasjns filiformis, on a palm (Lunt).

2. Icerya rosce. — Immature specimens on Bassia with an ant (Hart) .
A few, young, on Mimusops (Hart). On Amherstia (Hart).

7. Phenacoccus barberi on Hibiscus leaves (Hart . Formerly des-
cribed as a variety of P. yuccce, but I think it is a valid species.

9. Orthezia prcelonga. — Very abundant on leaves of croton (Hart).

11. Asterolecanium aureum. — Mr. Hart sends me what I believe to be
the true A. aureum. It is quite distinct from A, oncidii, which Targioni-
Tozzetti recently described under aureum.

IV.

13. Asierolecanium miliaris. — In great quantity on stems of bamboo
(Hart).

15. Pulvinaria hrassice on leaf of some orchid, \\-ith Lecanium lies--
periclmn and Chionasjns hraziliensis. P. brassice has hitherto been onl^'
known from specimens found in an orchid in a greenhouse in Canada.
The present specimens differ from the original types in the marginal spines
being all entire, and the anal plates do not show the three large bristles on
outer hind margin. The antemiae and feet agree precisely with typical
brassice. The ovisacs are about as wide as in the typical specimens, but
only about 3i mm. long, being doubtless not yet fully formed. The species
is very closely allied to P. simulans, but seems to be distinct.

18. Lecanium nanum, n. sp. — Female scale flat, reddish-brown or yel-
lowish, broad-pyriform, shiny, with more or less of a median longitudinal
ridge. Length 1| mm., breadth slightly over 1 mm. Antemiae seven-jointed,
but the joints very obscure, 3 much longest, formula apparently 3 (27) 14
(56). Marginal spines very small, entire, rarely shghtly branched at end,
pointed. Anal plates short and broad, red-brown. Derm with small scat-
tered round gland-dots. The general color of the females after boihng in
soda is brown, the contained embryos being pink, Eostral loop extending
beyond insertion of posterior legs. Legs very small, ordinary, tarsus about
two-thirds length of tibia. The four digittdes about of equal size ; digitules of
claw have rather the larger knobs, which are somewhat obliquely truncate,
but all the digitules are fairly slender and have smalhsh knobs. Those of
claw reach considerably beyond tip of claw, but those of tarsus do not reach
any further than those of claw.

In the covered runs of some ant, along both sides of the midrib of
underside of leaves of Balata, with a few young Icerya rosce. — Hort. Trm.,
25th July, 1895. (Hart).

This little species looks just like immature L. hes2}eridum, except that
it is rather more pyriform instead of oval. The females were mature and
contained many embryos. L. minirnum, Newst., is a very similar species,
but according to Newstead's brief description, differs from nanum in the
dermis, the antennae; and, judging from the figure of mijiimum, in the
digitules. I am sorry I have no minimum to compare, but it seems reason-
ably certain that it and nanum are distinct. Another similar species is L.
rubellum, CklL, but nanum has not the large claw-digitules of that msect.

20. Lecanium hesperitlum. — On leaves of an orchid (Hart). New to
Trinidad. It may be known from Pulvinaria brassice, on the same leaves,
even when the latter has not yet formed its ovisac, by the much smaller
marginal spines and the seven-jointed antennae.

22. Lecanium dejoressum. — Plenty on Hibiscus (Hart).

23. Lecanium olece. — On Eriodendron. (Hart).

24. Lecanium hemisphcericum. — On Aristolochia. (Hart).

25. Vinsonia stellifera.— On Clusia (Lvmt). On Asplenium (Hart).
Stanhopea (Hart),

27. CJtionaspis hraziliensis. — On an orchid (Hart). These have the
female scales much paler than those from Ceylon.

29. Cliionaspis citri. — Very abundant on limes (Hart).

30. Chionasjns hiclavis. — On some thorny plant. (Hart). New to
the West Indies.

31. Aulacaspis hoisduvalii. (syn. tentaculatus, Morg). On Latania
commersoni. (Hart).

32. Pinnaspis pandani. — On Pandanus, Areca catechu (with parasitic
fungus), and Pinanga Kulilii. (Hart). Abvmdant.

32a. Pinnasjns pandani var. alhiis.— On Latania commersoni. (Hart).
This may be a distinct species ; it is known by its white scale and less-
developed median lobes.

33. Mytilaspis citricola. — Plenty on orange. (Hart).

34. Isclmaspis filiformis. — With Pinnaspis pandani on Monstera.
(Lunt).

36a. Aspidiotus Jiartii var. nov. luntii Scale as in saccliari and hartii,
all three of them have a curious pale pinkish-brown tinge. Females,
although mature and containing embryos, showing no groups of ventral
glands. Anal orifice transversely broad-ovals, a considerable distance from
hind end. Median lobes large, rather close but not touching, rounded, sub-
truncate, entire ; second lobes considerably smaller, entire. Spine-like
plates, a little branched, between the lobes. Beyond second lobe is, first of
all, touching it, a short tubercle, which maj' represent part of the lobe ;
then two rather pointed tubercles, of which the second is the larger and
looks like a rudimentary third lobe ; between this latter and the second lobe
are three branched plates ; then comes a long spine-like plate, then a spine,
then a group of four long spine-like plates, then an interval, then a rather
short spine-hke plate ; beyond that the margin is crenate.

On stems of some plant, collected by Mr. Lunt, August, 1895. This
may be separated from typical hartii and sacchari thus : —

A. Median lobes deeply notched ... ... ... sacchari.

B. Median lobes nearly or quite entire. Groups of ventral

[glands present ... Jiartii.
Groups of ventral glands absent ... ... Luntii.

37. Aspidiotus didyosperyni. — On Areca catechu. (Hart).

40. Aspidiotus articulatus. — Plenty on leaves of lime at the Railway
Station, with Mytilaspis citricola. (Hart).

I have asked J\lr. Hart to kindly append such further particulars regard-
ing precise localities, abundance and destructiveness, &c., as may be known
to him, in a separate article below.

Les Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.A.,
26th November, 1S95.

VI.

NOTES ON COCCID^ BY J. H. HART.

Peofessor Cockekell has asked me to add a few particulars as to
" locality, abundance and destructiveness of the Coccidse" in the preceding
list.

1. Icerya montserratensis, E. & H. — Found on Clusia, Eose and Livis-
tona chinensis. It is a very handsome species but it does not appear to do
any great harm at present. It is the white insect which may be seen on the
twigs of the trees of Clusia planted in " Almond Walk," Port-of-Spain.

2. Icerya rosce, B. & H. — Found on Amlierstia, Bassia, and Mimusops
always with a small ant on all Garden plants. It apparently loves con-
cealment as in the first instance, it was covered with earth on the base of
the stem of the tree and in the latter two cases it was in the covered runs of
a small ant Azteca-chartifex, n. sp. Forell.

3. Dahjlopius saccJiari, Ckll., n. sp. — A mealy bug commonly affecting
the sugar cane, but the damage that it does is not readily apparent to any
but the closest observer. It is without doubt higlily prejudicial, and it
should be exterminated where possible.

7. Phenococctis Barberi, Chll. — This is very common on Hibiscus of
many varieties growing m the Botanic Gardens.

9. Orthezia x>rcelonga, Douglas. — A very common species on Crotons
(codieuvis) of all kinds, especially in arid ground, but it may be removed by
a wash made of tobacco and soap.

11. Asterolecanium aureum, Boisd. — This was found on leaves of Hip-
peastnum cultivated under glass. It is commonly destroyed when nearly
mature by a white fungus, which has lately been sent for determination.

13. Asterolecanium miliaris, Boisd. — This is very plentiful on bamboo
stems near an old rubbish depot on lands at Belmont near the Gardens.

18. Lecanium nanum, n. sp. — Interestmg as the inhabitant of the runs
of the same ant as Icerya rosce (see No. 2), but apparently does little
damage.

25. Vinsonia stellifera, Westw., is a fairly common scale and is a great
trouble on pot plants.

29. Cliionaspis citri, Comst., is a great pest, but parasitic fimgi, and
heavy rains are antagonistic to its spread, and it does not appear to make
much progress where the plants have plenty of vitahty.

30. CJiionasjpis biclavis, Comst. — This was found on the stem of
Flacourtia Bamoutchi, the well known " Governor Plum." It having found
an apparently congenial home on the large and thorny compound spines
which cover the stem of that plant.

32. Finnaspis imndani, Comst., is a great pest on palms which are
natives of a cooler climate than ours.

33. Mytilaspis citricola, Pack., common on orange fruits in St. Anne's.

34. Ischnaspis filiformis, Douglas, is a great trouble to us on Cycas and
several Palms and Aroids,

Vll.

36. Aspidiotus hartii, Ckll., was found on the roots of Discorea or yam.
This scale covers the yam roots very plentifully when they are stored for
any length of time ; but it does not appear to injure growing plants,

37. Aspidiotus dictyospermi, Morg., was found on leaves of Areca
catechu growing in pots in some quantity in the Nursery grounds of the
Botanic Gardens.

39. Aspidiotus destructor, Sign., is common on the leaves of Bassia
latifolia which it covers, and evidently does great harm to the plant.

40. Aspidiotus articulatus, Morg., was found at the Railway Station at
Port-of-Spain on the leaves of lime. When this insect together with Mijti-
laspiis citricola and Cldonaspis citri attack the trees at the same time,
something must be done to decrease their numbers or the trees will surely
succumb.

The scale insects until late years were but little studied, and agricul-
turists as a general rule only know them as " blight." Study of them
has however resulted in providing information to the cultivator showing
how they may be destroyed or how their ravages may be restricted
and in some cases their attack entirely overcome. There is however, yet,
much to be learnt. They have their natural enemies as well as other classes
of living organisms, and it will probably be found that by maintaining the
proper balance of natnre with regard to these as far as possible, that their
attack on any particular plant may be reduced so as not to be practically
any important hindrance to the agriculturist.

It is a well known fact that a low state of vitality tends to induce
attack, and that when once such pests obtain headway it is very difficult to
reduce their nimibers except by the use of destructive agents such as the
various washes and sprays that are now in common use. No reliance can
however be placed upon these sprays, &c., as real extermmators, and unless
the general health and economy of the plant is properly attended to the
attack will most surely recur. The cultivator's aim therefore, should be
first to destroy the insects, then to clean, and to keep clean the plants, and
see that they get all that they require in the way of protection, drainage
manure and general cultivation.

J. H. HART.

26th December, 1895.

New York Botanical Garden Librai

ill

3 5185 00259 6227

^ »k^

f**---^

?^^..^-

M---:

f'^.

'^n^^^-

#^fr

4M^:i::[

•^f^t.

**•«{?: