Columbia Goll in the City oF aw ae ‘i r ‘ ; i ' i ; - ee. @ ~~ r Sa 4 fa ‘4 _# ‘ ; ~* Lt : 53 . ££ » ris ‘ , Soe — -— = £ + oy r i . ~ r - ’ - > 5 ah | A 7 vey Lf ._ bist ans TA ; a vias te vhs ve WS : * vi ‘ 7 a) y ‘ seh . ‘ Ay “ : ‘El/ JANvARY, 1893. BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, -. 7 JAMAICA. CONTENTS: Report of the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations for the year ended 31st - ; March, 1892. P RI C E—Two-pence. ; [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] JAMAICA: + a GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON. « 1893. FFB 8 1905 Jed. b/ 50 a . REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC GARDENS AND PLANTATIONS, JAMAICA, For THE YEAR ENDED 3\)st Marca, 1892. O.O NP ENT &. 1. Introduction. 11. Library. 2. Castleton Garden. 12. Hope Industrial School. 38. Hill Garden. 13. Foreign Students in the Gardens. 4, Hope Gardens. 14. Bulletins. 5. King’s House Garden. 15. Cultural Exports and Imports. 6. Kingston Public Garden. 16. Appendix I.—Distribution of Plants and 7. Bath Garden. Seeds. 8. Situation of Botanic Gardens. 17. Appendix II.—Measurements of Trees. 9. Locality for Head. Quarters. 18. Appendix III.—Library Catalogues. 10. Herbarium. 19. Appendix IV.—Meteorological Tables. 190201 - 4 ) OL FEU LO HO vOustTG +, ee. 7: ol ule i at if 15%) aaaltal oe kt abtad) tit . rotrier D casa ay brat olldn'h ost Als ao beaO feta tahwan) sindto ff ta 6 othe vtePoi) bookl tok etieends e st) a ee ' : atts i 5 ; ———_ REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC GARDENS AND PLANTATIONS, JAMAICA, FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH, 1892. The two main divisions under which work in a Colonial Botanical Department may be classed are, first, the supply of plants yielding products new to the agriculture of the colony, or of a better kind, or such as are not readily obtainable otherwise,—involving experimental and nursery grounds in such situations as are suitable; secondly, the providing of information regarding the kind of soil, climate, &c., fitted for the plants, their proper cultivation and preparation for the markets. The second division is most economically and effectively carried on by means of printed matter combined with correspondence; but practical demonstrations of methods in the Gardens are advisable whenever they can be carried out. Both divisions imply considerable correspondence with persons in other countries as well as a complete Herbarium and a good Library. CasTLETON GARDEN. During the past 124 years from the time that Mr. Morris was first made Director to 31st March 1892, about.220,000 plants have been distributed from Castleton, besides seeds which would produce at least as many plants. This gives an average for a year of 17,600 plants, and includes those sent to Hope for distribution from that centre. Of those plants, about half the number were such as may be termed strictly ‘“‘ Economie,’’ such as cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, Liberian coffee, vanilla, oranges, Kast Indian mangoes, cardamom, cola. The remainder were palms, roses, ferns, orchids, and miscellaneous trees and shrubs, among which are included timber trees. I stated in my Report for the year 1887-88 that although it was not the mission of a Botanic Garden to undertake the work of a Horticultural Establishment, and supply the public with ornamen- tal plants, I thought it right to do as much as possible in that direction, so long as there was no pro- bability of interfering with private enterprise. But the danger of interfering with trade seems remote, and the demands on the part of the pub- lic are positive and are increasing. There has been an annual demand for some 8,000 or 10,000 orna- mental plants, and even more than the Department can supply with its present means. The question may sometimes arise, is the Government right in fostering this demand ; is it a legitimate one,—is some great end served by the necessary expenditure, and the attention to the numberless details that it implies ? Tt appears to me that the question only needs to be stated for all intelligent persons to answer it in the affirmative. Bacon recognizes a love for gardening as an index of a nation’s advance in civiliza- ion, and without doubt it is an important factor in rendering that advance more easy and more cer- tain. He says (Essay 46), “God Almighty first planted a Garden, and indeed it is the purest of hu- man pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man, without which buildings and places are but gross handyworks; and a man shall ever see, that where ages grow to civility and ele- gancy men come to build stately, sooner than to garden finely; as if gardening were the greater per- fection. The plants, cuttings and seeds,—both economic and ornamental,—from Castleton as well as from the other Gardens, are distributed all over the Island by means of the Coastal Steamer, the Railway, and the Post Office. The increase in the variety of cultural products, and the humanizing influence of ornamental plants are matters of appreciation in every part of the country from the mountain to the sea coast. Every person who obtains plants and grows them, from the sugar planter who makes trial of different varieties of cane, to the small settler who grows a nutmeg plant, is making experiments which are of direct benefit to himself and indirectly to his neighbours and to the district. Parochial, or other local associations can do a great deal to help the work by meeting periodically to discuss all matters connected with agriculture. The sympathy felt between those engaged in kin- dred pursuits, the feeling of rivalry aroused to attain better results, the mutual aid obtained by in- terchanging ideas, are all most valuable in the improvement of agriculture. He who undertakes the laborious task of starting such an association in his own district, though he may find few at first to join him, yet by perserverance with even only one or two sympathisers will eventually meet with his reward. Such an association and this Department can render mutual assistance to each other in many ways with results that will be of general benefit to the whole Island. The great importance of Castleton as a Botanic Garden over the other Gardens, may be estimated from the fact that there are some plants such as vanilla, which will only grow naturally there, and that there are others, such as roses, which can only there be successfully propagated. Castleton must therefore always be the great propagating centre. It is scarcely necessary to say anything in Jamaica about the importance generally of Botanic Gardens, for the need for them has been continuously recognized for more than 100 years. The value 6 of those existing in Jamaica, Trinidad, and Demerara, is so evident that lately Botanic Gardens have been started in Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, and St. Kitts, Nevis, amongst the Leeward Islands, under the direction of Mr. C. A. Barber, a Cambridge Botanist ; in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent amongst the Windward Islands ; and still more recently in British Honduras. The same movement is also going on in other parts of the world; for instance, Botanic Gardens have lately been established in Lagos, and the Gold Coast on the west coast of Africa. Botanic Gardens in the Tropics do the work on the plant side, of Agricultural Departments in temperate climates. They are in themselves experimental stations; and are much more efficient in introducing new cultural products, and in distributing plants and imparting useful information than most Agricultural Departments. The whole of the Botanic Gardens in the British Empire are more or less in communication with one another, exchanging seeds, publications, &c., and all look up to the Royal Gardens at Kew as to their head for advice and assistance. Imperial Federation is already in existence as regards the Bota- nic Gardens and their wok. If any special variety of a plant, or any new culture comes into notice, information and plants are sought sometimes directly from the local gardens, sometimes through Kew as the Botanic Gardens’ ‘‘ Clearing House.” The Director of Kew Gardens has at his disposal the ser- vices of experts in every branch of botanical enquiry,and is always most willing to aid Colonial Gardens in every way. Any intricate question that arises in chemistry, in diseases of plants, in insect pests, in the value of products, &c., can be determined by reference to Kew. Colonial Gardens are therefore not isolated, but are branches of an Agricultural Department as wide us the British Empire itself, Mr. E. Campbell is still acting as Superintendent of Castleton. Some portions of the year have been so dry that many plants have suffered and some have died. During the year 145.35 inches of rain fell, which is 35 inches more than the average; but in July there were only 2.09 inches and during March onl 1.92 inches. The heaviest rainfall was in May with 18.17 inches, and in October with 32.84 inches. Some portions of the borders have received a layer of fresh soil and manure. Old plants have been removed and the vacancies filled up. All the borders have had an occasional forking besides fre- quent hoeing. A great deal of pruning has been done, and in some places thinning has been necessary. Portions of the walks have been regravelled where it was absolutely necessary. The various lawns have been attended to, and the plantations of cacao and Liberian coffee have been billed out at intervals. The two large Casuarina trees at the entrance gate have been removed, to make room for the Cohune Palms. Special attention has been paid to nursery work, and a constant supply has been forwarded to Hope Gardens. A new walk has been formed by the river, the former jungle having been cleared away. There will be room in this portion of the grounds for several native economic plants not hitherto grown in the garden. The following are the numbers of plants sold direct from the Garden :— Nutmegs, 991; other economic plants, 958; miscellaneous trees and shrubs, 1,306; roses, 683 ; palms, 328; Total, 4,266. The following plants have been sent to Hope for distribution :— Economic plants, 1,055; miscellaneous trees and shrubs, 4,661; roses, 4,344; palms, 1,840; cro- tons, 662; ferns, 433; Total, 12,495. Thus the whole number of plants distributed from Castleton is 16,761. Seeds to the amount of 93 packets have been collected in the Gardens, and forwarded for growing at Hope, and for distribution to other Botanic Gardens; also 178 cacao pods. For the purpose of training the boys at the Industrial School, Hope, in the curing of cocoa, 4,500 cocoa pods were purchased and forwarded to Hope. This has entailed a good deal of extra work, as the settlers in the neighbourhood are not willing to sell their pods at prices offered, preferring to prepare it in their own manner, and sell it to the Produce Buyer. The Superintendent has several times been out collecting plants for the Gardens and for the Her- barium, and has also dried several specimens of garden plants. The nutmeg and the clove trees have borne heavy crops. The yield of one clove tree was esti- mated at half a bushel. The Liberian coffee is in vigorous health and bears plentifully. The cocoa plantation is not in good soil, and would be all the better for a large quantity of man- ure, if the expenditure were possible. One of the trees known as ebony, (Diospyros discolor, Willd.) has produced fruit from which plants have been propagated. The Mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana, Linn,) produced for the first time a good crop of fruit. The largest tree of Hucalyptus citriodora has made excellent growth, adding 12 feet to its height during the year. Of ornamental trees, Amherstia nobilis, and Mesua ferrea have again flowered profusely, and a small number of seeds were produced, from which plants have been raised. Ficus Vogelii has made good growth, and Wormia Burbidgei is now a large shrub, and flowers profusely. The largest plant of the Cannon Ball tree (Couroupita guianensis) and the Litchi (Nephelium Litchi) have flowered for the first time but neither have matured fruit. The following palms have flowered for the first time :—Caryota Blancoi, Arenga saccharifera, Ptychosperma gracilis, Verschaffeltia splendida, but no seed was formed, Two large specimens of palms have died, namely Rhopalostylis Baueri, and Acantho- riza aculeata,—the latter has been replaced by a small plant, but there are no duplicates of the former. 7 The Superintendent’s house and out-offices have been painted on the outside, and the house now requires painting and papering inside. The number of adult visitors, recorded in the Visitors’ book is 592. The elevation of the Garden is lower than Hope Garden, being 580 feet above sea level, The average rainfall is 110.01 inches, and the average mean temperature; 76.2° F. Hitt GarpDEnN. The Cinchona Plantation was founded by Sir John Peter Grant. From the sale of bark, &c., the receipts have been nearly £17,000 which has more than repaid the expenditure on Cinchona planting. The experiment was of great promise for the Island, andif planting had been taken up 10 or 15 years earlier by private individuals the history of the enterprise in Jamaica would have been very different. Fortunes would have been made by those early in the field before the tremendous fall in the market value of bark,.consequent on the vast extension of the cultivation in India, Ceylon, and Java, However, the plantation involved the formation of a Garden at an elevation, contemplated by the Government in the beginning of the century,—a ‘“ Huropean Garden,” necessary for the full develop- ment of the resources of the Island. The Superintendent at the Hill Garden is Mr. Wm. Harris. The subject of fodder for the hill-country is engaging attention. Guinea grass (Paniewm maximum) is not altogether as successful asin the lowlands. There is need also for experiment on pasture grasses. A grass from Northern India (Pennisetum triflorum ) promises well as a substitute for guinea grass. In the Hill Garden it grows well, attaining a height of 34 to 4 feet ; it sends its roots deep into the soil, and is therefore scarcely affected by drought; while cattle and horses are fond of it. Ap- plication has been made to the Botanic Garden, Saharanpur, for seed for a more extended trial here, as well as in various spots in the Island. The Superintendent of the Saharanpur Gardens has already sent seed of thefollowing grasses :—-Saccharum spontaneum, Pollinia eriopoda, Sorghum halapense, Cenchrus cathar- ticus, Eleusine egyptiaca, Setaria glauca, Panicum flavidum, Panicum sanguinale, Panicum ciliare, Eleu sine flagellifera, Elionurus hirsutus, Andropogon annulatus, and Andropogon pertusus. The following only have grown :—Setaria glauca, Panicum flavidum, Panicum ciliare, Panicum sanguinale, Eleusine Aagellifera, Elionurus hirsutus. Experiments will be made during the next year in other grasses and clovers. In 1887, a few plants of the following trees were planted out in the St. Helen’s field: Pinus Mas- soniana, Cupressus macrocarpa, Thuja sp., and Podocarpus coriaceus. Of these Pinus Massoniana has grown to an average height of 27 feet with a girth of 1 foot 9 inches at one foot from the ground. This tree, the Chinese Pine Tree, is the one which has been so extensively planted in afforestation of the bare hills of Hong Kong. Mr. Chas. Ford, the Superintendent of the Botanical Department, states in a late Report—“ The plantations already made are composed chiefly of the common pine,—a tree which was found to be the best kind to commence the work of afforestation with. It is better suited to the varied conditions under which it had to grow here than other trees yet tried, and its management be- ing simpler than that of many other trees rendered it possible to deal with it in vast numbers,—about half a million trees being added yearly,—with a staff that in the early days consisted of raw coolies only.” Von Mueller says that, “the wood is durable, and, when well seasoned is much employed as material for tea-boxes.” This tree would be a valuable one for forest purposes in Jamaica, where the primary object is to cover denuded surfaces. Oupressus macrocarpa, Californian cypress, averages 28 feet in height witha girth of 2feet. This is one of the fastest growing of all Conifers. It is a beautiful shade tree, and in California, attains a height of 150 feet, and a circumference of 9 feet. Thuja sp. has attained a height of 15 feet. Podocar- pus coriaceus, the Yacca, has grown to a height of 74 feet. The wood is highly prized by Cabinet makers. It does not grow with anything like the rapidity of the Cape Yacca (Podocarpus elongatus). Onion seed of the following kinds from Carter’s were sown the last week of November, 1891, and transplanted into prepared beds in the first week of March, 1892:—Danver’s Yellow, Carter’s Holborn, Queen, Banbury, Tennis Ball, Golden Rossa, Golden Globe, Red Mammoth, White Emperor, Tripoli, gtrasburg. As the soil is very poor, the beds into which they were transplanted, were well manured, and afterwards top-dressed. The plants were strong and healthy, but only the following show signs of bulbing :—Queen, Carter’s Holborn, Golden Rossa, Tripoli, White Emperor, Golden Globe. A large part of the Experimental Garden has been taken up with experiments on peas, and the results are published from time to time in the Bulletin. The experiments are not yet complete. Messrs Jas. Carter & Co., have supplied the seed free of cost, Part of the crop was sold to Messrs Aston Gardner, and part kept as seed for planting again, and for distribution. Strawberry seed obtained from the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sown in October, 1891. The varie- ties were the following :—Royal Hautbois, Countess, White Alpine, Red Alpine, Dr. Hogg, Triomphe d’Orleans, Lucas, and President. The last named did not germinate, but a large number of plants of the rest were raised, and distributed to applicants in various parts of the Island. A bed of each kind has also been plantedinthe Garden. In February of this year seeds of the following kinds were received from Kew:—President, Waterloo, Hautbois, Vicomtesse Héricart du Thury, Crescent Seedling, Sir Charles Napier, and one kind without name. Only a few plants each of the following, however, appeared :—Crescent Seedling, Sir Charles Napier, and Vicomtesse Héricart du Thury. Peach trees to the number of 400 were received from Mr, John B, Beach, Nurseryman, Melbourne, 8 Florida, in March. They were of the following varieties :—Red Ceylon, Reeve’s Mammoth, Bidwell’s Early, Bidwell’s Late, and Angel. Two plants of each kind have been put out in the Garden, and the remainder distributed to applicants in various parts of the Island. The old Peach trees are in a very healthy condition, but all the fruit dropped early, the reason being probably that the trenches were not filled in soon enough after wintering. Compelling fruit trees of a temperate climate to winter, is a process which requires watching in order to acquire experience for complete success. A few fruit trees of various kinds presented by Mrs. Frank were not showing progress, and having examined the roots it was found that they were not penetrating into the bed of clay which forms the subsoil. It was probably on this account that fruit trees have not succeeded here before. They have been transplanted into holes dug 4 feet every way, and filled with good soil. If the trees are kept topped low, say to 5 feet it is possible that even in this poor soil, they may thrive. Fruit Gar- deners in Europe, and especially in Belgium grow very large sized pears and other fruit by keeping the trees cut quite low. The Jamaica Plum (Cyphomandra betacea) is a fruit of great promise for export, as it will keep well for a month, the skin being tough and thick. It is a very pleasant fruit, besides being useful for the liver. A large quantity of seeds has already been distributed, and the plantation is being extended here. It has been found that cuttings produce fruit much sooner than seedlings, —in about 9 months, and that the plants are not so high and are more bushy. Plants raised from cuttings appear therefore to be better adapted to windy situations. The work of propagating has been attended to, and alarge number of plants raised from sees and cuttings. The north-west corner of the Experimental Garden was trenched to a depth of about two feet ; alllarge stones, roots, &c., removed, the ground thoroughly manured, and then laid out in beds— 18 in number—4 feet 6 inches wide, with pathways 2 feet wide between them. Strawberry plants from Kew have been planted in the beds, and the pathways with the grasses from Saharanpur. In the flower garden, the beds and borders have been kept in good order, and throughout the year there has been a good display of annual and other flowering plants. The annuals that have succeeded best are Dianthus, Antirrhinum, Phlox, Petunia, Godetia, Aster, Schizanthus, Zinnia and Silene. The following also made a good show in beds and borders :—Geranium, Gladiolus, Dahlia, Fuchsia, Helio- tropium, Bouvardia. A number of large plants of Jasminum revolutum, Cestrum aurantiacum, Acanthus mollis, Agapan- thus umbellatus, Plumbago capensis, Melaleuca squarrosa, &c. that had become too large, were lifted, and replanted either in the Arboretum, or in the lower flower garden. In the plant house all through the year there was a good show of flowers ; Cineraria, Geranium, Fuchsia, Primula, Freesia, Carnation, Petunia, Hippeastrum, Amaryllis, Orchids, &c. In the Fern house all the ferns were repotted, and the filmy fern cases were replenished, with blocks of fresh plants from the woods. Slugs give great trouble in the houses, and constant watchfulness is necessary to prevent seedlings and tender plants from being destroyed. They are trapped by hundreds by placing cabbage leaves at night on the stages, which attract these pests, aud allow them to be collected easily in the mornings. Large numbers of plants were sent down to two Horticultural Shows, one held in April, 1891, and the other in January, 1892, both held in the Exhibition Building. Those from the Hill Garden that attracted most attention were, Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, Carnations, Heliotropes, Asters and Pe- tunias. The number of plants sold during the year is 786. The roads and fences have been repaired throughout, and some new fencing erected to keep the stock from straying into provision grounds. Mr. Cradwick, while Superintendent, planted out on the steep road-side banks a great number of a Cape Iris (Marica cerulea) to try whether it would bind the soil, and prevent slipping. There has scarcely been time yet to test the experiment satisfactorily. Plants of the Mexican Daisy (Zrigeron mucronatum) were also put out. : ; : The buildings are all in fairly good order, but some repairs will be necessary during the ensuing financial year. ; The elevation of the Gardens is 4,900 feet, the mean temperature 63° F., and the average rainfall 7 inches. aod Horr GarDEns. The whole area at Hope may be conveniently divided for the purpose of reference into 5 portions, ae Ac. Ro. Po. (A.) The area north of the conduit, containing the nursery, sugar canes, and other economic plants, about 72 acres; f 71 3 «38 (B.) The area on the left of the entrance gate, between the conduit and Hope Lane, about 28 acres ; 2¢ 0 19 (C.) The area on the right of the entrance gate, in wood and bush surround- ing 10 acres occupied by Small Settlers, about 38 acres ; ; 38 1 21 (D.) The area on which the Industrial School has been built, abutting on the Camp of Isolation, about 54 acres; La : ae 54 0 8 (E.) Land handed over by the Water Works Commissioners with the buildings about 21 acres; 20 8 16 making a total of about 212 acres ; 212 1 22 — — 9 When it was decided by the Legislative Council in 1886 to make a Botanic Garden at Hope, there were only some 23 acres fairly clean, viz. :— Ac. Ro. Po. Sugar cane experimental ground aa ee Na aa Pinery “ ae eee 0; 1.d4 Economic plants and fruit vr oe 2 0 386 Garden and Nursery 1 2 382 Teak Plantation a Be AO a Guinea grass pasture * wee we 105 2). 0@ Total 23 2 21 —_ About 28 acres (C) have been left in wood, and I do not propose that this portion shall at present be touched. The remainder has been cleared, leaving a few trees here and there; the bush has been billed down over and over again, and besides, about 70 acres were planted in corn, in order that the cultivation of the ground might provide opportunity for a more thorough eradication of weeds. The constant turn- ing over of the ground, whilst hoeing the weeds does the soil good; it also allows the stones to be picked out and the surface to be gradually levelled. This plan is very thorough, and leads to the best results in the shortest time. But it is a very ex- pensive process, and, owing to the want of funds, it had to be abandoned in the early part of the year. Tn consequence of having then a very heavy expenditure and of the necessity of keeping within the vote, there was not sufficient money avilable for the remainder of the year to keep the Garden in decent order. Without an enlarged grant, all that can be done is to proceed very gradually, hoeing, levelling, picking stones, and laying down Bahama grass over small portions at a time, planting out.trees, shrubs, &c., in defined portions of the area,—keeping the original purpose steadily in view, namely, to form a Geographical Garden with patches of economic plants here and there, the intervening spaces being covered with Bahama grass (Cynodon Dactylon.) The portion (B) on the left of the entrance gate was cleared of bush and trees, and planted with Guinea corn, but it is impossible to continue to keep it clean with the present vote. According to my original design it was intended in this area to form collections of economic plants, such as medicinal plants, fibre plants, brought together for comparative study. The Sisal Hemp plantation is to be considered as an undertaking quite apart from the regular work of the garden. It had its origin in the fact that it was impossible to get plants from their native country, Yucatan, or from Bahamas, owing to the prohibition of any export; to the desire of many planters in Jamaica to obtain plants in large and small quantities; and to the willingness of the Govern- ment to aid the industry, and meet the wishes of planters in every possible manner. In the first place, 23,000 plants were imported from Turks Island for a plantation at Hope. These were intended, not for distribution, but to be grown to afford material for experiment with machinery when the leaves are fully ripe,—to determine whether when grown on soil like that of the Liguanea plains, the fibre is of good marketable quality and of fair percentage,—and to supply suckers in abund- ance for future distribution. Very many of these plants were found on arrival to be so young that they had not survived the close packing to which they had been subjected. Mr. Stoddart, who had had experience in Yucatan in the management of Sisal Hemp, and had written a pamphlet on the subject which was published by the Jamaica Government, was engaged for some weeks in starting the plantation. The area (D) on which the Industrial School buildings were erected, was chosen as having the the most suitable soil for planting. It was necessary to cut down trees, dig out the stumps, and several times clear the bush. The whole area had to be strongly fenced, and even so for some time watchmen were on guard night and day to prevent damage being done by stray cattle, trampling down the plants and eating the young tender shoots. Numerous applications having been received for plants, 100,000 were obtained from Messrs. Rea- soner, Bros., from Florida. Delay, however, occurred in forwarding the last portion of the number _ and several planters refused to take the plants which they had already ordered. These where there- fore planted at Hope in nurseries, and some afterwards transferred to the permanent plantation, which consists now of about 47 acres, with 28,000 plants. The transfer of Mr. Cradwick to Hope and Mr. Harris to the Hill Garden, took place at the end of September, 1891, in consequence of the ill-health of the latter. A nursery has been formed a few yards back from the drive. The plants on sale have been ar- ranged there in groups such as trees, shrubs, palms, roses. The paths between the groups have been 10 covered with gravel, so that visitors can walk amongst the plants even after rain. A road six chains long, has been made from the drive to the back of the nursery, to enable carts to remove plants readily for distribution. Four beds for propagation by cuttings have been formed, each 60 feet long. A road has also been made from the nursery into the bush on other side of the conduit so that all the rubbish may be carted out of the garden. The Sisal Hemp Plantation has been cleaned throughout, and the plants are all in good condition, growing freely, and now suckering. Constant attention has to be given to cleaning, as bush must be kept down, and even when the grass is long the suckers develop very slowly. The very small plants in the nursery about 10,000 in number, have been transplanted, and are ready for distribution. The growth of the plants put out has been very satisfactory,—those planted in 1890 then measuring from 6 inches to one foot, have now attained a height of from 3 feet to four feet 6 inches. Any one about to form a plantation, can inspect those at Hope, and receive instruction as to preparing the suckers for the nursery, planting out. proper distances, care of plants, &c. The Pinery has been thrice cleaned and the plants, chiefly Ripley, are strong and healthy. There is, however, not much demand for suckers. The sugar canes have had attention in the way of trashing and weeding, manuring, moulding and irrigating. Another piece of ground has been planted with tops of all the varieties, numbering over forty, under cultivation at these Gardens: as the old plants, having been ratooning for several years, were becoming exhausted. Some of the varieties are highly thought of by Sugar Planters who have tried them, whilst others are not considered worth growing in certain districts. The cocoa trees have been pruned, manured, and otherwise attended to. The poorness of the soil, small rainfall, and consequent hot dry atmosphere at Hope are not favourable conditions for the satisfactory growth of this tree, and except in a few sheltered spots near the gutter which carries the waste water trom the Water Works, its cultivation has not been attended with much success. Nutmegs succeed fairly well at Hope as far as the growth of the tree is concerned, but the nuts produced are very small as compared with those grown at Bath. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) thrives remarkably well, and requires little attention. Bhel fruit (gle marmelos) has produced fruit during the year. This tree is a native of the East Indies, Ceylon, &c. and belongs to the orange family. The fruit is considered nutritious, warm and cathartic. The rind of the unripe fruit possesses astringent properties on which account it is used in India in cases of dyssntery and diarrhea. Other portions of the plant are used for medicinal purposes. The boys from the Industrial School have been at work in the garden, and have been employed in curing cocoa, pruning the trees, &c., under the charge of Mr. McNair. The Cocoa Dryer from St. Vincent has been experimented with, but has proved to be a failure. Thirteen varieties of onion from Messrs. James Carter have been tried. The seed was sown in November, and transplanted at the end of January, but scarcely bulbed at all. Onions evidently re- quire a moister atmosphere than that of the Liguanea plains. The Plant House with glass roof is now given up chiefly to orchids. The upper shelves have been removed, and used to make a stand for growing pot plants, such asferns. Several species of ferns have been planted under the stage. The orchids have all been removed from the various trees on which they had previously been hung, and placed in the orchid house. This will afford them protec- tion from heavy rains, allowing each species to have rest inits proper season. There will also be no danger of any being overlooked and neglected just when they most require attention. Nearly all the Orchids have been repotted by the Superintendent himself, and all have been washed and properly cleaned, and the scale insect which was infesting many, especially the Cattleyas, has been carefully removed. The following orchids have flowered during the year:—Comparettia falcata, Phaius grandifolius, Celogyne flaccida, Broughtonia sanguinea, Oncidium tetrapetalum, Oncidium ampliatum, Oncidium Cebolleta, Epidendrum fragrans, Epidendrum cochleatum, Epidendrum Stamfordianum, Cattleya Gaskel- liana, Stanhopea grandiflora, Odontoglossum Roezlii-album, Dendrobium bigibbum, Dendrobium Pierardii, Rodriguezia secunda. Of other plants which flowered during the year the following may be mentioned :— Bignonia magnifica, Brownea coccinea, Bignonia venusta, Aristolochia elegans, Grevillea robusta, Costus igneus, Several improvements have been made in front of the Orchid House. The crotons in the beds at the side of the drive have been potted, and the beds have been turfed down, Bahama Grass being used. All the tree ferns have been brought together, and with small palms, Dracznas and other ornamental shrubs, have been grouped together under the large Divi Divi tree in front of the Orchid House. The paths have all been covered with fine gravel, and drains have been formed to carry off superfluous water. Tree-ferns require, not only copious waterings, but also that all the surroundings should be kept continually wet in order to provide the moist atmosphere so essential to their well peing; their stems have also been bound thickly with moss which is kept moist. The fernery is now in capital order. ‘The design for the structure was kindly sent to me by my friend, Dr. Trimen, Director in Ceylon, Itis a skeleton house, being made of railway iron, covered with wire netting, In the centre, under the dome, is a rockery seven feet square with a specimen of a tree fern (Cyathea serra) in the middle, its stem five feet high, covered with a curious leafless orchid | 11 (Dendrophylax funalis). The four lateral rockeries are also seven feet square. Rockeries run round the whole of the inside of the walls, and are 129 feet inlength. Several hundreds of ferns have been planted out in the interstices of the rocks. The upright iron posts are covered with the creepers, Thunbergia Harrisii, Aristolochia elegans, Asparagus racemosus, Asparagus faleatus, &e. Creepers ‘are planted along the outside and these have now quite covered the house. They are the following :— Tylophora asthmatica, Stigmaphyllon ciliatum, Bignonia venusta, Hoya carnosa, Argyreia sp. Thunber- gia Harrisii, Thunbergia laurifolia, Asparagus falcatus, Asparagus racemosus, Passiflora quadrangu- laris, Clitoria Ternatea, Antigonon leptopus, Porana paniculata, Aristolochia elegans, Thunbergia alata vars. The stock of ornamental plants in pots has been increased by over 2,000. At the Horticultural Show held in the Exhibition Building 100 cartloads of plants were sent from Hope Gardens alone, the plants consisting of 60 large tree ferns, 30 large palms, about 50 large ornamental shrubs, and the rest small palms, ferns, and flowering plants. In the old Rose-beds 53 young plants have been put in, to fill the vacancies caused by plants dying out. 2 The total length of the roads is three miles, and parts of them have been badly infested with nut grass (Cyperus rotundus) and other weeds causing considerable expense in keeping them clean. Some of the coolie labourers are allowed to have unused portions of the grounds for growing vegetables. They eradicate weeds infesting the soil by their careful, clean cultivation; and they save some expense on the roads by keeping those parts adjoining their plots in thorough order. The gutter which takes the waste water from the Water Works has been cleaned throughout its entire length. The small pond which was made at the lower end of the gutter for the purpose of growing water lilies, is not at present answering its purpose, for when water is sent down the gutter, it fills the pond with rubbish and the water weed, Chara. The buildings require repairs throughout. A cement ground gutter was recommended to carry off water on two sides of the Superintendent’s house, but it has only been made on one side. Gutter- ing and down pipes have been placed to catch the rain water on the roof. The walls of an old build- ‘ing have been roofed over to serve as a shed for buggy, &c. One half of the old boiling house was thoroughly overhauled, floored, and partitioned off into five servants’ rooms. A latrine has also been erected near the nursery for the use of visitors. Three small stalls have been built. The followiug are the numbers of plants sold during the year. :— Nutmegs aa 20,978 Sisal Hemp a 1,339 Pine Suckers se 800 Cola ae 600 Oranges eee 257 Liberian Coffee os 201 Mangoes ove 56 Cocoa ae 54 Cinnamon wea 22 Miscellaneous Fruit and Economic Plants we. 724 Crotons as 2,035 Palms ae 1,578 Roses ’ an 1,418 Ferns ae 301 Orchids 2 90 Miscellaneous Trees and Shrubs aes 2,866 33,319 also sugar canes, about 150 tops. Plants have also been distributed free or in exchange to the number of 1,583. The rainfall has amounted to 55,62 inches during the year; February was a dry month, only 0.88 inches having fallen, and March was even drier with 0.25 inches. The elevation of the garden is 600 feet above sea level. The average mean temperature is 77.4° F., and the average rainfall 52.83 inches. Kine’s Houst GarpDEN AnD Grounps. Since the year 1886-87 the Annual Vote for this Garden has been £390. When I first took charge of the Department, I called attention to the fact that this sum was insufficient for all that had to be done ; that the road and fences had to be maintained, lawns, pastures, grass-piece and grounds kept clean, and moreover the garden required more than ordinary care and attention. During the last two years, the vote has been relieved of the care of the roads, and it appears to me only right that they should continue to be kept up by the Public Works Department, not alone because the expense of their maintenance encroaches on funds which should be devoted to garden purposes, but also because the roads ae used as a publicapproach to King’s House, During the same period special grants have been 12 made for various improvements which I had long been anxious to carry out. The sum of £500 has been voted for the current year for maintenance. Mr. W. J. Thompson is at present Superintendent. The borders in the garden and along the avenue have been in good order throughout the year, except for a few weeks during the long drought. The border on the north side of the garden had become crowded with trees and shrubs, many of which have been removed, leaving the place more open, and giving glimpses of the hills in the distance. The open ground has been planted with Bahama Grass. Behind the border, the fence has been taken up, and moved further back, enclosing a piece of waste ground where a new border has been begun, but work is delayed pending the laying down of more water pipes. At one end of the border, a fernery has been made under the trees for ferns and orchids. The triangle bed where the East Indian Mango Tree was planted by Prince George, contained crotons, which gradually failed, as the mango tree grew; they have therefore been moved, and Bahama Grass planted. The orchids have been carefully attended to, and 38 species and varieties have flowered. A considerable amount of attention and labour has been bestowed on the pot plants, and most of them have been re-potted. These are used for decoration of the house, and have been exhibited at the two Flower Shows during the year. The old Rose Garden has been thoroughly remodelled. The north fence was taken down, and a chain and a half of waste land added. The whole of this ground was on a slope, but it has all been levelled. The cross walks have been dug up and a walk 9 feet broad, has been made down the centre of the garden. The lime trees along the fence had become much overgrown, they have been cut back, and some removed. Three chains of one inch piping have been laid down. Climbers in variety have been planted on the fences round the Arboretum, and are growing well. During the autumn two vine borders were made near the house, and planted with ten vines pre- sented by Mr. Schloss—eight of these have succeeded. The cultivation of the grape vine is one of those petites cultures admirably adopted to the circum- stances of many people of all classes, and to the climatic conditions of several parts of the Island. Mr. Thompson is skilful in this particular branch of Horticulture, and is capable of imparting his knowledge to others. I hope soon to be able to announce that advice and help in this cultivation will be offered freely to all who wish for aid,—this assistance to be given by means of practical de- monstration on living vines. Some time ago I obtained through Kew Gardens a large number of cuttings of vines of the best kinds from the Royal Horticultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick. Dr. Grabham has also kindly presented cuttings of some of the best Madeira Vines. By permission of His Excellency the Gov- ernor, these cuttings have been planted in a portion of King’s House Grounds immediately adjoining the East Lodge. American vines also will be obtained from the United States, and it is intended to experiment with grafting on our native vine (Vitis caribaea). In European vineyards, the vines are grafted on American stocks, and the phylloxera is being combated by this method. The plan proposed is to allow those who are interested in this culture to visit this vinery, and listen to demonstrations by Mr, Thompson on the care of the vine from the time of first putting in a cutting, the proper method of pruning, thinning the branches, &. In order to cause as little in- terruption as possible in the Superintendent’s duties in the garden, a special time will be appointed once a week for demonstrations at which all-who wish may attend. The Pine Ground has been well hoed, ploughed, and manured during the year, and has given a good number of fruit. Twenty-four groo-groo palms (Acrocomia sclerocarpa) have been planted in the pastures, of which 18 are growing, and will prove effective in a few years’ time. Twenty coco-nut palms have been put out in the Arboretum ; and 40 palms of various species in the Palmetum. A large amount of work has been done on the lawns ;—they have been constantly weeded, mown, and rolled, and dressed with good rich soil. The area of one acre laid down last year is look- ing well and is a great improvement. About 40 crotons that were in tubs, have been planted out about the lawns, and have much improved. All the hay-grass in the Arboretum and behind the borders in the drive has been mown; twenty acres of pasture have been cleaned. Several more water cocks are needed in the garden. In some places there is a space of 70 yards between the nearest. Besides giving extra work, twice as much hose is necessary. Several tanks are also much needed and would save a great deal of time. A fire took place in the Rectory Garden adjoining, and entered the grounds by the south east corner. A strong breeze was blowing at the time, and in spite of all efforts, it could not be got under, until it had burnt most of the large pasture, killed several palms, and ficus trees, damaged a number of plants in the border, and burnt several fence posts. The drives have been constantly weeded, and kept in good condition, though there has been a great deal of traffic. oe Seventy-seven chains of fencing with 150 new posts have been repaired, together with six chains of penguin fence along the road-side. ; Mule and cart sheds are needed for protection from weather. The buck-eye mowing machine is rusting away for want of shelter. There should be proper sheds for large tools, clay pots, different kinds of soil, sand, manure, &c. A small glass house is desirable for some species of orchids, and for propagating. ; The elevation is 400 feet above sea level; the average rainfall is 49.20 inches, and the average mean temperature is 78,7° F, — = s — al ¥ De tin ued 18 Kineston Pusiic GARDEN. The following paragraphs are taken from the Report of the Superintendent, Mr. Joseph Harris :— During the year another Ficus lucida has succumbed, but onthe whole, the trees and shrubs are in a healthy state, many of the latter having made good growth. . ; A portion of the walks has been re-gravelled and special attention has been paid to the edges and the condition of the walks generally. The borders and beds have been thoroughly manured throughout, much to the improvement of the smaller shrubs. A large number of plants from the Exhibition Grounds were transferred to this garden, and being of a good size have added to the appearance of the borders in which they have been planted ; in addi- tion to these about 1,000 ornamental plants in bamboo pots have been received from Hope and Cas- tleton Gardens, and numerous vacancies have been filled up with these. A good display of Zinnias has also been made in the beds. y The weather has been exceedingly dry during a portion of the year and copious watering has been necessary. The tank in the centre of the garden has been cleaned, and fresh soil supplied to the aquatic plants. Wire netting has been fixed to the railing all round the garden and has proved an efficient bar- rier to the inroads of goats and fowls. The entire fence has been painted by the Public Works Department. By arrangement with the City Council the Garden has been kept open every night until 9 p.m., and lighted as before with the Electric Light. The Bands of the Kingston Infantry Militia and the West India Regiment have given a regular weekly performance which of course always attracts a large number of inhabitants. The fact of so many people collecting in a small space has somewhat destroyed the beauty of the garden near the Band Stand, especially the green appearance of the grass. The Kiosk erected by the City Council, and for some time rented by a refreshment caterer, has remained closed for a considerable time ; the demand for light refreshments not being so large as was expected. Another work carried out by the City has been the removal of the Fountains hitherto standing outside the garden fence, to a position immediately inside the garden, enclosed with an iron railing and with gates giving access both from the gardens and the streets. The donkey and cart hitherto in use in the garden have been replaced by a mule and spring cart ; with this improved means of removing the very large quantity of rubbish, the garden has been kept tidy and clean. . With a few exceptions, the conduct of visitors to the garden has been good, particularly since a Constable has been told off for duty. The elevation is 60 feet above sea level, average rainfall 37.96 ; and mean temperature 79° F. Batu GarpDzEn. The “Bath of St. Thomas the Apostle” in the Parish of St. Thomas is a remarkable hot medi- cinal spring. It is situated in one of the most interesting and beautiful parts of the country. The rides to Cuna-Cuna Pass, and other places in the mountains; the drives to Port Morant and towards Manchioneal are through charming scenery, and if the virtues of the Bath were more widely known, the little village would deservedly become a health resort for Canada and the States during the winter. The remnant of the old Botanic Garden is still a great attraction, and it is a pity that more money than the vote of £20 cannot be obtained for doing something further than sweeping leaves and keeping up the fence. To make a good gurden, the necessary cost would amount at least to £100 per annum, without taking into account any sum for supervision. Mr. A. H. Groves continues to act as Overseer,—he complains of the inadequacy of the annual rant. i Situation oF Botanic GARDENS IN JAMAICA. After the resignation of Mr. Morris in 1886 consequent on his appointment to the post of Assis- tant Director at Kew, and at a time when the finances of the Island were not very flourishing, there was a proposal to abandon the Gardens at Castleton and Cinchona, which was deliberately rejected by the Legislative Council. As the idea of abandonment occasionally re-appears, it may be useful to state a few considerations that show the value of the Gardens at different elevations. _ First it may be noticed that in 1777, Dr. Thomas Clarke came to the Island “at the particular instance and request of the late Sir Basil Keith, to superintend two Botanic Gardens, then intended to be established in this Island, the one as a European and the other as a tropical Garden,” in addition to the one already in existence at Bath. The spot chosen for the tropical garden not proving suitable, the ‘‘ Assembly of Jamaica co-operating with the benevolent intentions of His Majesty, (to introduce valuable exotivs and productions of the most distant regions to the West Indies), purchased in 1792-93 the magnificent Botanical Garden of Mr. Hinton East” at Gordon Town. Nothing however was done towards making a Huropean Garden till the year 1868 in connection with the plantations of Cinchona. _ Other countries have perceived the necessity for Gardens at different elevations. In Ceylon, which may be more nearly compared with Jamaica than any other Oolony, there are five gardens. The chief garden is at Peradeniya, 4 miles from Kandy and more than 70 by rail from Colombo, at 14 an elevation of 1,540 feet. There is a Hill Garden at Hakgala at an elevation of 5,000 feet. In addition to these gardens there are three others at different elevations and with varying climates. Dr. Trimen, the Director, in a paper read before the British Assotiation, says, “ no other British Colony possesses so complete a system of botanical and experimental gardens as Ceylon; and I may add that their sites have been determined on the principle that each of the climatic districts which I have passed in review should be represented.” In a country that has not the same range of elevations, and consequently of climate, there may not be the same necessity as in Ceylon or Jamaica for many gardens, but in both these Islands there are great differences of climate, and therefore not only a possibility but a necessity for various cultures. First, as regards elevation I lately consulted Mr. Thomas Harrison, late Surveyor General, on the area at different elevations, and he has very kindly taken an immense deal of trouble in contour- ing the whole Island, and then measuring the areas between each contour. The contours were very irregular and crooked, and gave much labour in measuring, but Mr. Harrison thinks the result is fairly accurate. He says, “the total area shows an excess of 14 square miles over the measurements formerly given by me, and published in the Handbook: but those measurements were made 19 years ago, and were prepared from a small map; the present area is obtained from our recent maps and is therefore more correct.” The following is the table :— Elevations of the Island of Jamaica. = 3 es 3 om oO 4 : | ag) Sg) Se se ee tie Sq Py: 3 A S A ‘ q ao Total. Cue eto 43 so 5s" oot Se BOB, | cathe dy aie gn! ine ttee ni naa en AS) S S S S Ss [oy —) So i=) =) = = —Q — ry end 7) ods Kingston iF 64 % re i ize sa 7 St. Andrew ee 59 54 27 174 8 4 166 St. Thomas ae 135 59 35 20 14 il 274 Portland ae 94 go 40 324 ibd 124 285 St. Mary i 110 116 19 4 ma “Fy. 249 St. Ann be 85 307 54 by; Hie ae 476 Trelawny a9 166 135 32 S vos ahs 333 St. James ey 139 90 5 a a: Pe 234 Hanover ose 161 6 ae wee ae sae 167 Westmoreland oe 235 73 ie whe a ate 308 St. Elizabeth ee 335 120 of ee ae aes 462 Manchester os 42 134 126 ae at Me 302 Clarendon is 314 115 45 3 2 A 3 474 St. Catherine oy 336 124 10 s 3 ye! 470 2,2174 | 1,4522 400 74 39 24 4,2074 Judging from elevation alone, inasmuch as about half the total area of the Island is above the contour of 1,000 feet, under which nearly allthe more important agricultural operations have hitherto been carried on, it would appear that those who are engaged in cultural industries above this limit have a right to demand that half the number of gardens should be situated above that contour, in- stead of there being only one as against four below it, besides the remnant of the fine old garden at Bath. In addition to the present Hill Garden, there ought to be one at about the elevation of 2,000 feet to represent what may be termed the zone of oranges; for there are numerous plants like the orange, citron, pistachio, peccan-nut, liquorice, and caper, which cannot advantageously be subjected to ex- perimental cultivation either in the Hill Garden or in any of the lowland gardens. The area between the contour of a 1,000 feet and 3,000 feet amounting to 1,852 square miles has not yet been developed to anything but a very limited extent, except for coffee,—nor has anything been done towards that deve- lopment by means of a garden. Besides elevation, an important element in plant growth is the rainfall. Where the rainfall is copious and constant in the tropics, there vegetation is luxuriant, and consequently such areas should be selected for the sites of the principal botanical gardens. The Garden at Castleton (with 110 inches of rain at 580 feet above the sea), and the Hill Garden at Cinchona (with 105} inches at 4,907 feet) fulfil the requirements of Botanic Gardens in the matter of abundant rainfall, and if another were to be added at some intermediate elevation, the most suitable locality would probably be somewhere in the high lands of the western part of the Island, rather than in the eastern where all the gardens are situated at present. 15 If the number of gardens in the Island were reduced, there ought to be, at any rate, three at these elevations with a heavy annual rainfall. eg) Tt is of course advisable that there should be experimental gardens representing other climatic conditions, one for instance for plants suited to the southern division of Mr. Maxwell Hall’s weather reports with an average ot rainfall of 52} inches, and for such an experimental station the garden ope is admirably situated. P . a design to tah Hope Garden the chief, if not the only Botanic Garden in the Island, has always seemed to have been advanced without any sufficient reason, With the small average rainfall of 52.83 inches, it can never be thoroughly successful as a Botanic Garden, even with abundance of water for irrigation. But when it is found that the water is liable to be withheld in order that the wants may be supplied of a large area like the Liguanea plains including the capital, Kingston, with an ever increasing population; when a drought may necessitate the diverting of the whole of the water to supply the needs of human beings, with the consequence to the garden of the death of num- berless valuable plants, and the destruction of the work of years: then it seems wise to pause, aud to consider whether it is prudent to continue a large annual expenditure on this garden. It is desirable and even necessary to have a garden where plants may be cultivated to represent the dry lowlands such as Sisal Hemp and grapes. But the attempt to make Hope the chief garden must lead to disappointment, and when it is known that it is difficult to propagate even roses in it, it is evident how hopeless is the idea to constitute it the only garden. The Public Garden in Kingston, and the garden and grounds at King’s House, are attached to the Department as a matter of convenience rather than of necessity. And, although the community would in any case pay for their maintenance, yet if their cost of over £1,000 were deducted from the total cost of the Department, the actual expenditure for Botanic Gardens would at once be seen to be considerably less than is generally supposed. Quesstions or Locanity ror HEAD-QUARTERS OF THE DEPARTMENT. The Report adopted by the Legislative Council on 13th October, 1886, provides for the Director a “house at such place as may hereafter be determined on as the best in the common interests of all the Gardens.” It further adds that, “in the proposed continuance of provision of a Director, the Committee has recognized the absolute necessity for keeping up a scientific department for the diffu- sion of information and for the distribution of plants, and is decidedly of opinion that its head-quarters should be within as easy reach as is practicable of all classes and accessible from Kingston, The Com- mittee thinks that all requiroments will be best met at Hope, and is mindful that extensive buildings 6 be necessary, in a residence and office for the Director, in a herbarium, in nurseries, and out- offices.” During the Session of the Legislative Council in March and April, 1892, the following Message from His Excellency the Governor was read :— “Honourable Gentlemen—I beg to remind you that the Select Committee of yonr body whose proposals for the future working of the Botanical Department were adopted by you on the 13th October, 1886, recommended as a part of the scheme for constituting Hope Garden the central estab- lishment of the Department, that buildings should be provided there as a residence and office for the Director. As it appeared to me that the scheme in question was now so far advanced that the Director should take up his residence, I caused Estimates to be prepared of the cost of providing a residence for the Superintendent, so as to leave the present building at Hope in which the Superintendent now lives available for the Director. The estimates and plans of the residence for the Superintendent havo just been received, and I submit for your favourable consideration that the cost, Six Hundred Pounds (£600) be voted for the current financial year, the estimates for which have already been passed.” The sum of £600 was thereafter passed; on the receipt of representations from me His Hixcel- lency was pleased to appoint a Board, consisting of the Director of Public Works, and two medical men to inspect the Superintendent’s house at Hope. They reported unfavourably of the house, both as regards its structure, and its nearness to the Reservoirs, and I was therefore informed that a sum would be placed on the estimates for next year for the erection of another house, I had the honour also to represent to His Excellency that to transfer the head-quarters from Cinchona to Hope, it is necessary first to provide several buildings, as was recognized and insisted upon by the Select Committee, all of which are already provided at Cinchona. The Herbarium is of vital importance in carrying on the work of the Department, as reference is made almost daily to the collection of dried plants.. The building containing it should have a room for the Herbarium-cabinets, microscopes, &c., for the purpose of study, and a room for the assistants for drying plants, changing drying papers, mounting dried plants for the cabinets, &c. The Library and Director’s Office should be in a separate building from his private residence. The Library may be used by the gardeners, and it must be in immediate connection with the Director’s Office for the sake of the references which have constantly tou be made to books. An office for the Clerk is necessary. It should be distinct from the Director’s Office, and be large enough to hold presses for filing correspondence, holding departmental account books and printed papers, stationery, &c. _Quarters for the Clerk and Herbarium-Assistants are absolutely necessary considering the inac- cessibility of Hope Gardens, and the want of accommodation in the neighbourhood. The distance from Kingston is 5 miles, _ The buildings at Cinchona for all the above purposes are rather small, but in the heat of the plains, it would not be possible to use buildings unless constructed of much more ample dimensions. 16 The old great house at Hope is at present used chiefly as store rooms, and in any ease could not be used for quarters or offices on account of its insanitary condition. , With regard to the house occupied by the Director at Cinchona, it would be necessary for him always to have it at his disposal when visiting the Hill Garden. When the department was for a short time under General Mann a small house was built for his accommodation while inspecting the garden, namely the present Superintendent’s house, the Director’s house being then in occupation of Mr. Robt. _ Thompson, the Superintendent. As the question has now arisen of the removal of the head-quarters to Hope from Cinchona where the business of the department has been carried on for so many years, I beg leave to state the conclu- sion at which I have arrived after more than 5 years departmental work. In the first place, in the nature of the case, there does not appear to me to be any necessity for the permanent residence of the Director at the Hope Garden or in the capital, Kingston. In Ceylon with an area nearly 6 times that of Jamaica, the head-quarters of the Botanical Department and the residence of the Director are in the Peradeniya Gardens, more than 70 miles by rail from Colombo, the seat of Government. ; In Java, the Botanic Gardens are at Buitenzorg, 26 miles distant from Batavia. In India, the Director in the Bengal Presidency is stationed at Seebpore, going in the summer to Darjeeling in the hills ; the Director in the north west provinces is stationed at Saharupur with a residence in the hills at Chassoree ; in the Madras Presidency the Director lives at Ootacamund in the Nilgiri Hills. Finally the most important Botanic Garden in the world, Kew, is at some distance from London. The Report of the Committee states the chief functions of the Department to be the “ diffusion of information ” and the “distribution of plants.” ‘he diffusion of information must either be in the way of itinerant lecturing, or by correspondence and by printed papers such as the “Bulletin ;’’ in either case it does not much matter where the Director lives; and in the latter case, a far greater amount of work can be done in the climate of the hills than in the plains. The distribution of plants from the various Gardens (Castleton, Hope, Parade, Cinchona) is carried on by the different Superin- tendents in pursuance of directions by post from the Director’s Office, and can be controlled as effectu- ally from Cinchona as from Hope. The Report further states that the head quarters should be “ within as easy reach as is possible of all classes, and accessible from Kingston.” Now, as a matter of fact, Hope is not accessible by all classes, for it is more than 5 miles from Kingston, there is no railway or tram line, a single buggy costs 8s, and a double buggy 12s. for a drive there and back of three hours. For more than a year, during the time of the Exhibition and prepartion for it, I spent part of every week in Kingston, and my experience was that all the departmental business could be transacted quite as well from Cinchona as in Kingston. Nor has any business in connection with the department during five years rendered my presence in Kingston nocossary, or eufforod by my abseuce, ulthvugh I visited it once or twice a month on the occasions of my periodical visits to inspect the various gardens. There is a daily post, and if any occasion should occur, I can reach Kingston in less than four hours time. I do not consider that it is necessarily an advantage to be able to communicate by word of mouth. One hundred people in different parts of the Island may wish for much the same information about some cultural product. This information, asked for by definite questions in letters, can be given by definite answers in writing or in print, and can be supplied to the hundred probably in as short a time as it would take to talk it over, with the chance of its being soon forgotten, with perhaps only one person out of the hun- dred who could come to Kingston. HERBARIUM. The Herbarium is an essential element in every Agricultural Department, and it was recognized as such in the early days of the Botanical Department in Jamaica, for one of the chief duties assigned to the Island Botanist was “ to collect, class, and describe the native plants of the Island.” If a plant is already known to have an economic value, it is necessary to describe, class, name it, and keep a dried specimen for ready reference. For instance, a planter in the Island supplied a Firm in the United States with a quantity of a certain bark, one of our native drugs. The Firm at first refused payment on the ground that it had not the appearance of the bark wanted Application was made to me to certify the scientific name of the bark sent as deduced from specimens of flower, fruit, and leaf; and on this certificate being forwarded payment was at once made. The Herbarium is the necessary complement to a Botanical Library, and must be added to indefi- nitely. A collection of those plants only that are known to possess useful properties is not by any means sufficient. Those species may be so similar in appearance to closely allied, but worthless species, that it requires careful comparison to enable one to state their distinguishing marks, A complete Herbarium, is required for the study of economic Botany ; and it is indispensable for the sake of reference when a broader view is taken, and students send up plants generally tor determination. Duplicate sets of Jamaica plants are of great value for the purpose of exhange with other West India Islands, and with other Botanical Establishments. A plant may be used for some purpose in one Island, and its economic value may not be known elsewhere. An interchange of plants among the Islands is therefore of importance. The collections of plants had outrun the possibility of coping by the ordinary staff with their classification and arrangement, although representatives of our native plants are very far indeed from being all present in the Herbarium. To remedy this state of things 1 obtained permission to secure the services of Mr. C. Nicholls who had spent some time in the Kew Herbarium, and was about to visit Jamaica, on condition that the small salary of £12 per month offered to him should be paid out of the ordinary vote. ae er 17 Mr. Nicholls worked for five months, from 1st November, 1891, to 3lst March, 1892, with great energy and perseverance, and entirely to my satisfaction. Lvery specimen in the accumulations of plants of more than five years passed through his hands, and was placed in its natural order. Many which before this, had not been represented in the Herbarium cabinets, were added to the collections, many more also were referred to their proper genus or species, and all were placed in order for further work. Mr. Nicholls employed his evenings in working up the microscopic anatomy of the leaf of Sisal Hemp, a subject which is of special importance in estimating the value of machinery for the extraction of the fibre, and he read a paper, giving the results of his investigations, before the Jamaica Institute which will be published in due course. Lisrary. The Library has received several valuable additions. Its importance is great in carrying on the work of the Department. The List of Books obtained during the year is added in the Appendix. Horzt InpustRiAL ScHOooL. This School was founded, and placed on a portion of the Hope Grounds, in order that the boys might have the opportunity of instruction and of practice in general agricultural operations. The School is put under the management of the Hon. T. Capper, and under the general supervi- sion of the Board ot Visitors of the Reformatory Schools. Five or six boys are sent into the gardens for three hours work in the morning, and another set in the afternoon. At other times they are em- ployed in School, or at work round the School-house under a Schoolmaster. A warder looks after them in the Hope Garden. The staff in the garden is barely sufficient for the proper garden work, and it is therefore not possible to give any direct teaching. But provision was made out of the Vote for Instructors for obtaining the services of Mr. McNair to teach the boys how to cultivate and cure cocoa, The result has been most satisfactory. I considered myself fortu- nate in being able to secure the services of Mr. McNair. He was engaged for some time in the de- partment in former years, having charge of the experimental grounds at Hope, and was lately most suecessful in founding a Botanical Station in Lagos. But as he is leaving Jamaica to start a Station in British Honduras, other provision must be made. Instruction in an Agricultural School should combine theoretical explanation with practical work in the garden ; as being the only way to put intelligence into the hand of labour. Theory and practice should be taught by the same instructor both in the field and schoolroom. The office of Instructor is a most important, and at the same time a most difficult one. There are many very different cultures, requiring special modes of treatment in the field, and of preparation in curing, packing, &c., forthe market. ‘The rationale of these requires to be understood. The Instruc- tor should be conversant with theory, and have the somewhat rare faculty of being able to impart his knowledge, and interest others in the work. It would probably be necessary to apply to one of the Agricultural Colleges for an Instructor. He would have himself a great deal to learn of tropical agriculture, but with his scientific training, it would not be difficult to acquire this knowledge. lf it be objected that expenditure for this object is not warranted when there are only perhaps 30 boys, it must be pointed out that the very object of starting the Industrial School was for the special purpose of teaching the boys the principles of agriculture, and if there is no Instructor, the school must prove a failure in that respect. The Instructor would take advantage of various operations going on in the gardens for the pur-. pose of instructing the boys and there would be special cultures to be attended to in their proper - seasons. One such special culture should be cocoa. It is most important that every means should be taken to improve the quality of the Jamaica product, and instruction of the boys at Hope should come in as part of the general scheme. It is proposed to buy cocoa from small settlers, have it cured at Hope, and shipped with the ex- pectation of getting a better price than is obtainable for the ordinary cocoa. The settlers would then be told what their cocoa realized in the market. ‘Lhis process must be continuous; one or two consignments would not exercise any appreciable effect. Cocou might be purchased from each cocoa district throughout the Island in turn, in sufficient quantity to send a consignment. After purchasing from all the districts in succession the round should again be taken up, in order to impress the people by constant repetition. Only a certain quantity can be cured at Hope at one time, and therefore no very immediate results can be anticipated as regards the general improvement of the Island produce. The curing and cultivation of cocoa should always be one of the subjects taught at the Industrial School, first, because it is so important for the Island where the art is not understood to such an ex- tent as curing of coffee, making sugar, &c.; secondly, because it is a subject of practical instruction very well adapted for developing careful and patient attention; thirdly, because there is generally abundance of cocoa to be had as material to work upon. a Other subjects of instruction might be the cultivation of grapes, of pine apples, of Sisal Hemp, of obacco. it several Industrial Schools should at some future time be started in different parts of the coun- try, then each one should take as its main subject such a culture as is most important in its special district according to the zone of vegetation, the orange in one, cocoa in another, coffee, tobacco, vege- tables, grapes, &c., in others, he best boys at each school might be drafted to Hope for general instruction, and after some years ot work would be capable of taking posts as managers, or Instructors, ed ee , oo a af * 18 Forzicn SrupENTs IN[THE GARDENS. Harvard University. In March 1892, the Botanic Gardens of the Harvard University, Massachusetts, t ~ sentatives to collect and study at the Botanical Gardensin Jamaica. Mr, Rudolf Blaschka is onde in making for the University, glass models of flowers, fruit, &c., and their dissections, in order to illustrate the science of Botany. He spent his time here in making accurate coloured drawings of 116 different species ; and Mr. Robert Cameron, the Curator of the Gardens, made a large collection of dried plants of the same, and other plants for their Herbarium. Professor Goodale wrote, on their return, expressing his appreciation of the facilities afforded them for their work, and of the success which they had attained. e Apprentices from Lagos. Mr. Cradwick supplies the following report on Leigh and Dawodu, who were sent by the G ment of Lagos to be trained at Hope Gardens to take charge of Botanic Stations in aie Orn conn try :— “The two apprentices have been working under my own special superintendence. Particular at- tention has been paid by me to them, especially in trying to make them smart and workmanlike, and to prevent them falling into careless, shiftless ways of working, They have paid special otianhues to the raising of economic plants, and the careful methods required in germinating seeds, and in protect- ing young seedlings from the many ills which they are subject to. I am pleased to say that I can now leave either of them in charge of any operation, and know that they will do their best, not onl to carry out my instructions, but to use their judgment in the event of any circumstances ara which it was impossible to foresee. In short, they now understand what I try to impress upon se employee under my charge, that a great deal more depends on their taking an intelligent and thinking interest in their work, than in learning a few rules of thumb, which so often are palmed off for peracid They have entire charge of all the sowing of the seeds, also care of the orchids. They have hed lessons in the curing of cocoa and in the proper planting of it. They have also been taught how to properly prepare a pot for the reception of a plant, and how to put the plant into the pot, technically crocking a pot, a very much more important operation than it is usually thought to be,—and lastly potting a plant. The collecting of seeds is looked atter by them, the proper entering of seeds collected, received and sent away is now understood by them; and also the keeping of the other books necessary in . garden. The meteorological observations are carried out by them. I may here mention that if they are industrious and painstaking, when they return home, the may be piaced in charge of a Botanical Station with perfect confidence.” eats BuLvetTins. Bulletins Nos. 22 to 29, have been published during the year, containing 33 articles, besides in- formation in the annual Report, on cultural industries, either quite new or such as might be great] extended ; on diseases of plants, on soils, and on native plants. y The following are the contents :— No. 22, July 1891.—Report on Fibre Machinery. Coffee leaf disease. Dr. Burck’s method of treatment of the coffee leaf disease in Java. Ferns: Synoptical List: IV, No. 23, Septr. 1891.—Cocoanut disease at Montego Bay. Cocoa: Samples from London Market Potatoes from Canada sown at Uinchona. Cola-nut or Bissy. Ferns: Sy- noptical List: V. ; No. 24, October 1891.—Nutmegs. Hxperiments in the cultivation of Vegetables. Soils. The Man- gosteen. TheJamaica Forget-me-not. Sisal Hemp inthe Bahamas and Florida. No. 25, Nov. 1891.—Ferns: Synoptical List: VI. Curing Nutmegs. Experiments in the culti-« vation of Vegetables. No. 26, Dec. 1891.—Ferns: Synoptical List: VII. Dried Bananas and Plantain Meal. Gin- ger. Phasmide or Stick Insects. Cinnamon. Arrowroot, Bay Rum Nutmegs. : Nos. 27 & 28, Jany. & Feby. 1892.—Report of the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations for : the period ended 31st March, 1891. No. 29, March 1892,—Strawberry Cultivation. Liquorice. Cassava. Vegetables. Bay Rum. Ginger. Ferns: Synoptical List: VILL. The Bulletin is supplied free of cost to residents in the Island and is a most useful agent in the dissemination of information amongst all classes. Testimony is frequently received of its value to people in Jamaica; and it is found useful even by planters in other countries. The following from the Kditor of the Planter’s Monthly, Honolulu, is an example of what is often written ;—«[ appreciate “very much the service which you are rendering to progressive agriculture, in the well prepared ar ‘ticles which appear in the Bulletin which cannot fail to do much good,” 19 CutturAL Exports AND IMPorTs. Annatto. * Quantities Exported. Values. 1892 476,735 lbs. £3,972 15 10 1891 511,800 “ 4,265 0 0 4 Yr. 1890 426,201 « 3,551 13 6 1889 455,874 3,798 19 0 1888 524,429 << 3,583 11 9 1887 363,669 * 6,061 3 0 It is strange that Annatto is not produced to a greater extent. Cattle do not browse on the leaves and it could therefore be easily grown along the fences of pastures. This product would well repay more care in the preparation. Arrowroot. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lbs. Values. 1892 tae 0 - 0 $715 3 : 1891 cs kal Aa 212 2 4 Yr. 1890 Me a4 i 1889 Tha ae eee i 68 1888 27 2 12 388 3 6 1887 13 Od 23 7 4 Arrowroot is a product to be taken up rather by the man of capital than the peasantry, for unless great care and skill are expended on the preparation of the starch, and proper appliances used, the price is scarcely remunerative. There isa notice of this product in Bulletin No. 26. Bananas. Exported. Bunches, Values. 1892 3,508,275 £262,745 12 6 1891 4,847,659 444,368 14 10 4 Yr. 1890 1,554,904 142,532 17 4 1889 2,881,313 252,114 17 9 1888 3,093,393 270,671 17 9 1887 1,460,322 146,082 4 0 It should be noticed that there have been great fluctuations from year to year in the quantity of Bananas exported, and probably the great falling off during last year may be accounted for by tempo- rary pees namely, a large local fruit crop in America, and a small banana crop in the island follow- ing drought. It bse been suggested that the fruit of small bunches, that are unmarketable, might be utilized if made into banana meal, or distilled as spirit. Enquiries are being carried on with regard to both these points, but so far the prospects are not very promising. It is doubtful whether the meal can be made cheaply enough to compete successfully with other products of the same description ; and it ap- pears that the percentage of starch in the unripe fruits is not large enough to allow the banana to supersede corn (maize) in America, or the beet and potatoin Europe for the purpose of distilling spirit. Some notes on dried bananas and meal are given in Bulletin No. 26. ; Bay Rum. Bay Rum is made from the leaves of Pimenta acris, one of the plants known here as wild cin- namon. Notes will be found in Bulletins 26 and 29. As loss may be sustained by using the leaves of the wrong plant, any one thinking of starting this industry is recommended to send specimen leaves, and if possible flowers or seeds also, to the Director for identification. Bitter Wood, Exported. Tons. Owt. Values. 1892 1,120 814 £2,241 8 0 1891 924 1,848 0 0 4,¥r. 1890 10215 205 10 0 1889 649 19 1,299 18 0 1888 218 10 437 0 0 1887 68 17 154 18 3 The export of bitter-wood is increasing so steadily and so fast, that attention should be paid to trees wherever they are growing, and bush cleared from young trees to give them every chance of development. Cassava. Cassava is a cultivation which should be largely taken up by small settlers, and the root utilized, not for one product only, such as starch, as is the custom in some parts, but for the preparation of all the products, meal, starch, tapioca, cakes, cassareep. Notes are given in Bulletin No. 29. * In the Report for 1887 figures were quoted from the Collector General’s Report to show tho value of certain Exports, and their increase or decrease, It may be woll now after a lapse of five years to make a similar review, 20 Cinnamon. Trees of the true cinnamon are found in various parts of the Island, but no attempt has been made to utilize the bark, possibly for want of the knowledge how to prepare the commercial article. Information is supplied in No. 26. This is a product suited to the small settler. Cola or Bissy. Attention is directed in No. 23 to Cola. This is a product which requires no skilled labour, either to grow the tree or to cure the bean, and may be recommended to the settlers. The demand for cola is likely to increase enormously in the future, and it might well be planted out in cocoa plantations. Cocoa. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lbs. Values. 1892 5,485 0 165 £12,349 11 0 1891 6,417 2 24 14,439 17 2 4 Yr. 1890 1,623 3 8 3,653 11 11 1889 5,248 3 19 10,581 16 5 1888 4,750 0 6 10,640 2 5 1887 3,452 3 13 8,314 10 0 While the export for this year is less than that of 1891, there is a steady increase, and quite lately information has been received that the quality is slightly improved. The question of curing properly is one of the most serious to the Island, involving in Mr. Morris’s opinion (see Bulletin No. 23) an annual loss of £20,000 or £30,000. If settlers fermented their cocoa they would get better prices, and would soon plant more trees, and increase the amount as well as the value. Messrs. Wilson Smithett and Co speak of Jamaica cocoa in very disparaging terms. They say :-—‘‘A small proportion of Jamaica cocoa imported here has undergone fermentation to a “ greater or less degree, but the bulk is of very ordinary quality, the only West Indian Cocoa taking “rank below it being St. Domingo from Jeremie, whilst that from Samana in the same Island is “superior to Jamaica. It has, however, all the characteristics of good cocoa—although wanting in ‘size, and if properly harvested, fermented or sweated, and then dried in the sun until the bean be- “comes crisp to the feel, so that the shell is fairly loose, and the interior dry and of an even chocolate “brown not violet brown, when broken, it should command the general attention of trade. Great ‘care should be taken to protect it from rain whilst curing. It must be noted that manufacturers “cannot pay much attention to small parcels, and that to insure a ready sale not much less than a ton ‘weight of even colour and quality should be shipped, the larger the lot the better.” The words “ small parcels” in the preceding statement point to the main difficulty that lies inthe way of improve- ment. If brokers in London will only deal with shipments of at least a ton in weight, merchants in Kingston must mix all the small parcels brought in by the buyers, and cannot discriminate between good and bad curing, for the proportion of good to bad must be, for some time, at any rate, very small and therefore cannot have any great effect in improving the quality of the whole. If the same price is then paid to the people for their cocoa, whether cured or only washed, it is not to be wondered at if they refuse to take trouble that is not paid for. It would appear that the only way out of this dif- ficulty, inasmuch as it is bopeless to expect a combination amongst shippers, is for the government by some means to prevent the shipment of inferior quality, The same remark applies to oranges, logwood, &c, Coco-nuts. Exported. Number. Values. 1892 7,855,656 £26,512 16 9 1891 8,554,618 27,802 10 2 4 Yr. 1890 3,195,238 12,461 8 7 1889 4,831,615 15,219 ll 9 1888 5,909,301 20,682 10 10 1887 2,399,730 8,998 19 9 The export of coco-nuts has been greater during 1891-92 than during any year for the past ten years, in spite of great mortality amongst the trees at Montego Bay. A report was made on this dis- ease, (Bulletin No. 23) but scarcely anything has been done by owners of trees to make use of the re- medies suggested. Coco-nut butter has been manufactured in Europe since 1888. It is of great hygienic and diete- tic value. The process of manufacture has been patented, and no details can be obtained. Coco-nut oil, however, can easily be made, and can be used with great advantage in cooking, and in other ways, in place of cooking-butter, or olive-oil. If the oil is put while still hot into hermetically sealed tins, or into bottles using cotton wool with the stoppers, it ought to keep sweet for an indefinite time, Coffee. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lbs. Values. 1892 86,926 1 20 £336,839 18 0 1891 75,680 0 7 283,800 4 6 Yr. 1890 73,402 3 8 249,569 11 10 1889 84,606 0 8 291,883 6 2 1888 98,965 2 8 321,440 2 8 1887 56,586 3 26 209,145 9 8 4 i: 21 The value this year exceeds that in any year during the last ten years though the amount exported was not as large as in 1888. a Venezuela, Columbia, and Hayti, having declined to enter into reciprocity agreements with the United States in connection with the McKinley Bill, their coffee, exported to the States, amounting in the total to 76,096,700 lbs., becomes subject to a duty of 3 cents per lb. ‘ Shipment of coffee in parchment is strongly recommended to small settlers, who have no mill of their own. They will find it much more economical than to pay, as some of them do, as much as 3s, per bushel for milling. The remarks made by the Collector of Taxes in Trelawny is that, all the cof- fee (which was but an average crop) was badly cured, no care being taken in its preparation at all, which means a great loss of money to the producers and the Island. Corn Imported. Imported. Bushels, Values. 1892 178,357 £26,735 15 6 1891 212,898 31,934 14 0 4 Yr. 1890 71,771 10,765 15 3 1889 108,586 16,287 18 0 1888 90,341 18,068 7 0 1887 83,760 16,752 0 0 Corn cannot be grown here as cheaply as in the States, and therefore the importation will probably inerease as the means of communication between ports and remoter parts of the Island are improved. Ebony, West Indian. Exported. Tons. Cwt. Values. 1892 233 pieces and 241 19 £640 6 6 1891 500 3 1375 8.3 4 Yr. 1890 150 17 Sif, 2 3G 1889 383 2 956 15 0 1888 57 5 143 2 6 1887 46 115 12 6 West Indian Ebony or Coccus Wood is only valuable when it can be supplied in large pieces. Attention should be paid to clearing this wood of the parasites by which it is so liable to be covered. Fustic. Exported. Tons. Cwt. Values. 1892 677 6 £2,031 18 0 1891 950 1 2,612 12 9 4 Yr. 1890 655 380 1,768 10 0 1889 793 8 2,142 3 7 1888 2,463 8 7,390 4 0 1887 4,181 5 12,543 15 0 Ginger. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lbs. Values. 1892 16,273 02 ll £40,681 9 10 1891 10,885 2 21 24,492 15 11 4 Yr. 1890 4,948 0 17 11,1388 6 9 1889 8,952 1 1 18,615 8 9 1888 10,222 0 18 19,462 18 2 1887 9,927 0 17,789 4 6 : ae export of Ginger has taken an immense stride during 1892, and the value per cwt. has also increased. The growing and curing of ginger is an industry admirably suited to small settlers, while the preparation of preserved ginger is one which may well be recommended to the notice of the Women’s Self-Help Society. Hints on ginger are given in Bulletins Nos. 26 and 29. i oa Fibre. _ The cultivation and preparation of Sisal Hemp is one of the most important amongst new indus- tries. Extracts from reports full of details for the practical planter, written by Mr. James M. Roe on the Bahamas Plantations and by Mr. C. R. Dodge, Fibre Expert for the United States, are publish- ed in Bulletin No. 24. It is not a cultivation for the small settler. Not less than 200 acres should form a plantation, and perhaps not less than 500 acres can be worked economically. The plantation should be in such a situation that roads and tramways can be easily made through the whole extent. At Hope, planters can see for themselves all that concerns the practical cultivation. The question of machinery for extracting the fibre is not one that is at present of pressing mo- ment for the island, but enquiries are constantly made by me as to the progress of improvement in ma- chines, and the invention of new processes. A report on the Weicher Machine was given in Bulletin No. 22. Hon. Captain Jackson, Colonial Secretary in the Bahamas, informs me that Albee Smith is improving his machine, that Van Buren’s is very like Kennedy’s, and that much is expected of an in- vention by Forbes,—a process of extraction by steam in closed cylinders. Correspondence is also main- tained on the subject with Mr, 0, R. Dodge. 22 Lancewood Spars. Exported. Numbers. Values. 1892 14,245 £4,273 10 0 1891 26,810 8,043 0 0 4 Yr. 1890 12,034 8,610 4 0 1889 8,062 2,821 14 0 1888 7,921 2,383 15 6 1887 11,486 4,594 8 0 Lancewood should be planted in suitable localities, as there will always be a demand for it for carriage poles, fishing rods, &c. Lignum- Vitae. Exported. Tons. Cwt. Values. 1892 141° 2 £440 18 9 1891 204 13 461 0 6 4 Yr. 1890 207° 2 544 5 10 1889 446 19 1,251 9 2 1888 20 13 6119 0 1887 47 6 118 2 6 Such an ornamental tree as this is, ought to be planted, especially in places subject to drought which it withstands well. Limes. Exported, Barrels. Values. 1892 9134 and 49 boxes £3861, 1576 1891 8024 401 5 0 4 Yr. 1890 84 4 5 0 1889 701 350 10 0 1888 634 317 0 0 1887 1,028} 411 8 0 Some effort should be made to make this fruit more known in England than it is at present. Limes might largely supplant lemons in popular flavour. Lime juice. Exported. Gallons. Values. 1892 116,765 £4,865 4 2 1891 53,884 2,245 3 4 4 Yr. 1890 19,826 826 1 8 1889 77,745 3,239 7 6 1888 85,963 2,865 8 8 1887 96,153 3,205 2 0 This industry might be more flourishing, if the essential oil were extracted from the peel, and a first quality of lime juice made from the drainings of the fruit when cut before being pressed to make the “concentrated” juice. It is said also that the Jamaica concentrated juice is burnt in consequence of the concentration being carried too far, the strength being 90 ozs. of citric acid per gallon instead of the strength obtained in Sicily from 65 to 70 ozs. Liquorice. Liquorice is another plant for the small settler. It will grow where the orange flourishes, in deep rich soil. A notice of it is inserted in Bulletin No. 29. Logwood. Exported. Tons. Cwt. Values. 1892 86,675 7 £303,363 14 6 1891 109,283 6 382,491 11 0 4 Yr. 1890 59,478 15 197,766 16 8 1889 115,454 0 375,225 10 0 1888 100,901 6 353,154 11 0 1887 58,932 16 191,531 12 0 Enquiries are often made as to why the St. Mary’s Logwood is better than that from other parts of the Island, and why Honduras Logwood is the best. the same, and the difference must be ascribed to soil and situation. As far as can be ascertained, the species is 28 Sa el Mangoes. Exported. Number. Values. 1892 258,060 £208 2 6 1891 222,020 158 12 6 4 Yr. 1890 18,3888 19 19. 0 1889 170,988 100 19 6 1888 299,584 258 9/0 1887 98,470 LIG: 462 )0 This export will never be of any great value, unless the fruit is picked by the hand, and packed with care, for the least bruise is fatal, Good mangoes would doubtless fetch a high price in New York. Nutmegs. The attention of planters and small settlers has been directed to the cultivation of Nutmegs and to the large profits to be made in suitable localities. Articles on the subject have appeared in the Bulletins Nos. 24, 25 and 26. It is pleasing to find that this cultivation is being entered upon with spirit and energy, as many as 20,978 plants having been sold by the Department during the year. All the Nutmegs used as seed are most carefully selected on one of the best Estates in Grenada. Great care and attention are given to them at Hope Gardens, and it is satisfactory to learn from the largest grower that they can be obtained cheaper and in better condition from the Department than if he grew them himself. ; Oranges. Exported, Number, Values. 1892 19,386,466 £23,263 15 0 1891 40,725,085 57,015 2 4 4 Yr. 1890 25,711,222 35,995 14 2 1889 35,394,271 51,321 13 10 1888 47,910,177 64,678 14 8 1887 42,391,803 58,288 14 7 The value of this export has never been so low since 1881. Apparently nothing will check the export of inferior fruit, and the consequent loss in the market, unless it be the intervention of the Government. This fruit should always be carefully picked and handled so as to prevent the least bruise ; a knock that would crack an egg, spoils an orange for export. Grading into sizes, and pack- ing in boxes are also matters that require attention. Peas and Beans. Imported. Bushels Values. 1892 5,854 £2,195 10 9 1891 3,711 1,299 2 3 4 Yr. 1890 2,378 861 18 9 1889 5,795 2,172 18 2 1888 6,710 2,684 0 0 1887 7,652 3,060 16 0 These products can only be cultivated ina small way, and the imports will therefore always be arge. Pimento. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lb. Values. 1892 63,729 3 6 £50,983 16 10 1891 90,362 3 11 81,326 11 3 4 Yr. 1890 35,705 2 18 33,920 7 7 1889 46,179 3 21 47,842 8 4 1888 66,559 2 2 44,727 19 9 LESH. 6 65,497 1 20 45,848 4 0 The value of this export is greater than in any year since 1885,except 1890-91. Pine Apples. Exported. Dozens. Values. 1892 10,294 £1,286 15 2 1891 10,527 1,579 3 8 4 Yr. 1890 860 139 16 8 1889 8,293 1,036 11 3 1888 9,812 1,471 16 0 1887 8,289 1,243 8 8 _ , When inferior pines sell in the States in the early Spring at 1s. each, it is surprising that not more is done in extending the area of cultivation here. This fruit would travel well even: to England, if packed so as not to touch, and abuot 20 in a box. Imported. 1892 1891 4 Yr. 1890 1889 1888 1887 24 Rice. Lbs. 11,264,631 6,985,940 4,758,954 7,314,368 9,137,198 7,277,721 Values. £67,650 19 11 41,915 12 9 28,553 14 5 43,886 4 1 54,823 3 8 42,756 12 2 There is no reason why a large quantity of rice should not be raised in the island, as there are large tracts where it will grow. A small quantity of “hill rice” is being obtained from India for ex- periment in the Red Hills. Exported. 1892 1891 4 Yr. 1890 1889 1888 1887 Rum. Gallons. 1,704,919 1,593,584 584,091 1,374,931 1,868,490 2,412,596 Values. £255,737 17 199,198 0 65,710 4 187,493 2 202,419 15 301,374 10 oooooco Altkough the amount is less than in any year from [1882 to 1888, (except in 1886) the actual value is greater than in any of these years except 1882 and 1887. From the fine rains and seasonable weather during three-fourths of the financial year ended 31st March, 1892, agriculture has been fairly prosperous ; and sugar as well as rum would have realized the estimated crops, but for the fact that in some instances sugar was sacrificed for the increase of the rum crop; the price of the latter rendering its production more profitable ; under the circumstances the sugar crop was slightly below the estimate, while the rum crop exceeded it. Sugar. Exported. Cwt. Qr. Lbs. Values. 1892 425,792 2 . 20 £255,475 12 2 1891 377,901 1 5 236,188 6 2 4 Yr. 1890 170,615 2 12 102,369 7 4 1889 323,238 1 1 244,368 2 5 1888 490,480 0 25 288,402 7 9 1887 460,866 3 6 264,537 10 10 Sugar Refined. Imported. Lbs. Values. 1892 223,208 £2,365 8 3 1891 115,628 1,445 7 0 4 Yr. 1890 44,984 562 6 2 1889 86,221 1,077 15 4 1888 90,644 1,133" 4 ® 1887 91,574 1,144 13 6 While the exports of sugar are not declining, there is a great increase in the amount of refined sugar imported, due to the remission of the duty of 2d. per lb. There is a fair chance now for the development of the manufacture of preserves, since refined sugar is so much cheaper,—Ginger, Orange, Marmalade, Guava, &c. Strawberries. Notes on the cultivation of the Strawberry are given in No. 29. This is a fruit which might be grown in large quantities in the Red Hills district. Experiments are being made with several varie- ties sent from Kew. Tea. Imported. Lbs. Values. 1892 36,071 £3,607 2 3 1891 37,697 3,769 15 3 4 Yr. 1890 20,327 2,032 14 6 1889 28,797 2,879 14 0 1888 29,952 2,995 5 6 1887 25,394 2,539 8 6 It has been ascertained that Tea of good quality grows rapidly in the Island. The only draw- back is the want of abundance of cheap labour, The plant might, however, be grown where there is a fair supply of labour, and manufactured for home consumption. Tea plants will be supplied to those who apply for them, eye 26 Tobacco Oigar's, Exported, Lbs. Values. 1892 18,858 £9,429 5 0 1891 10,892 5,446 5 0 4 Yr. 1890 4,193 2,096 10 0 1889 4,479 2,799 138 9 1888 7,008 3,504 0 0 1887 4,252 2,126 0 0 The export of Cigars has increased considerably, and it is understood that it is capable of much greater extension, if the Cigars were pushed by Merchants in Europe. The amount of unmanufactured tobacco exported is very small, being only 990 lbs., of the value of £34 15s. Od. during this year. Vegetables. Articles giving the results of growing varieties of English peas, appear in Nos., 23, 24, 25, 29. The experiments are still being carried on. There would be a ready demand in Kingston for a very large quantity of this vegetable. Onions (see No. 24) do well in certain parts of the Island. Yams. Exported. Ow, " Or.” “bs. Values, 1892 483 2 18 £2538 18 5 1891 687 3 7 343 18 1 4 Yr. 1890 283 2 2 bis 18) 41 1889 6,149 0 16 3,074 11 5 1888 28,194 1 0 11,277 14 0 1887 31,957 3.010 15,978 18 3 Apprrnpix,.—l. List of Recipients of Plants or Seeds distributed free or in exchange from the Botanic Gardens Jamaica :— Plants. Parochial Board, Westmoreland, for Norman Square, Say.-la-Mar; Parochial Board, Trelawny, for Falmouth Park; Parochial Board, St. Thomas, for Cemetery ; Parochial Board, St. Mary, for Vic- toria Park, Port Maria; Constabulary Quarters or Stations at Port Maria, Ocho Rios ; Falmouth, St. Ann’s Bay, Port Antonio; District Prison, Falmouth ; Head Quarter House Grounds; Kingston and Liguanea Water Works ; Superintending Medical Officer for Lepers’ Home, Spanish Town, and Mater- nity Hospital, Kingston ; Major Martin, for Port Royal ; Bishop Gordon, for Convent Industrial School ; Revd. J. Radcliffe, for Collegiate Hall Grounds ; Industrial School, Hope ; Messrs. W. M. Bailey, F.H. Barker, P. H. Baxter, J. J. Bowrey, Dr. Brookes, C. W. Chapman, W. G. Clark, R. M. Cocking, W. Douet, G. Douet, H. P. Deans, M. H. Edwards, H. Fowler, B. 8. Gosset, J. W. Fisher, A. Hopwood, E. E. C. Hosack, L. Isaacs, C. Isaacs, H. Isaacs, A. Kemble, J. LeRay, J. Lannaman, L. F. Mackin- non, G. Massy, Melhado Bros. O. Marescaux, A, A DeMontagnac, P. A. Moodie, Hon. N. Porter, E. G. Orrett, T. Sargood, J. Stephens, A. Stewart, E. Stewart, R. Stewart, W. Wynne, R. Sidgwick, Revds. W. Griffith, E. B. Key, J. Reinke, J. L Ramson, H, Walder; Mrs. Farquharson, Mrs. Heaven, Mrs. Hotchkin, Mrs. James, Mrs. Maclaverty, Mrs. Osmond, Miss Johnscn, Miss Marescaux; Royal Gardens, Kew, Koyal Horticultural Society, England, Government of Fiji Islands, Government of Martinique, Messrs. Jas. Carter & Co., London, and Jas. Veitch & Sons, London. Seeds. Dr. Yates, Admiral Ammen, President Harrison, Colonel Griffith, Colonel Ward, Messrs, H. P. Deans, W. T. James, T. J. Breakspear; Royal Gardens, Kew; Botanic Gardens: Cambridge, Hull, Liverpool, Dublin, Vienna, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow, Oxford, Demerara, Trinidad, Mar- tinique, Montreal, Washington, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town, Grahams Town, Port Elizabeth, King Williamstown, Graef Reinet, Uitenhage, Natal, Mauritius, Calcutta, Mungpoo, Darjeeling, Saharan- pur, Lucknow, Odeypore, Poona, Ootacamund, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bris- bane, Adelaide, Port Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart Town, Tasmania; Wellington, New Zealand, Napier ; Botanical Stations: Barbados, Honduras, Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua, Lagos, Gold Coast, Gambia, Fiji; British Museum ; Messrs. Jas. Oarter & Co., Sutton & Sons, Veitch & Sons, Reasoner Bros., J. B. Beach, Sir F. Von Muéller, Dr. Stubbs, Damman & Co., Krelage & Co.; Ottawa Experi- mental Farms; Agri-Horticultural Society, Madras ; Acclimatization Society, Brisbane. List of Donors of Plants or Seeds to the Botanic Gardens, Jamaica :— Plants. Royal Gardens, Kew; Royal Botanic Gardens, Seebpore, Calcutta ; Agri-Horticultural Society of India, Calcutta; Botanical Station, Barbados; Dr. Henderson, Dr. Grabham ; Mrs. Heaven, Mrs. Maclaverty, Miss Terry Moulton Barrett; Mr. J. B. Beach (Florida) Mr. W. T. James (Bermuda), Messrs. B. Gosset, Krelage & Son (Haarlem), W. W. Wynne. aie 54 ee Seeds. Hon. J. W. Fisher, Messrs. 8. Soutar, J. Stephens, K. Thompson, Mrs. Curran, Mrs. Plaxton, Mrs. Heaven, Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Cundall, Messrs. T. Kemp, R. Stewart, R. Sidgwick, R. K. Tom- linson, R. Holwell, B. S. Gosset, Colonel Griffith, Dr. Plaxton, Rev. H. H. Isaacs, Hon. T. Capper, Horticultural Society, Kingston, Messrs. Jules de Cock (Belgium), Jas. Carter & Co., J. B. Beach (Florida), Messrs. Reasoner Bros. (Florida), Mr. Lindsay Smith (Turks Island), Sir F. Von Mueller; Royal Gardens, Kew; Botanical Gardens: Demerara, Trinidad, Washington, Seebpore, Saharanpur, Ceylon, Hong Kong, Port Darwin, Melbourne ; Botanical Station, Grenada; Dr. Stubbs (Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station); Acclimatization Society, Brisbane. Aprenpix II. Measurements of Trees planted at Hope Gardens. The following are measurements of various species of Eucalyptus trees planted about five years ago, and noted in the Report for 1888-89 :— No. Name. Height, feet. | Girth, inches. 1 | Eucalyptus rostrata hat 50 22 2 3 leucoxylon - 20 5 3 ae viminalis nae 12 3 4 “5 macrocorys ase 5 2 5 “s obliqua abt 10 24 6 a punctata >) 50 22 7 af diversicolor a 15 24 8 A platypus sae 30 12 9 > robusta AS, 53 30 10 E> saligna Ae 16 10 11 ue tereticornis at 60 34 12 a corymbosa A 30 8 13 5 piperita Ake 54 24 14 9 hemastoma Ss 36 10 15 bi pilularis a 59 32 The following are measurements of various trees planted in 1886 :— Cedrela odorata (Cedar) te 32 ft. 24 ins. Achras Sapota (Naseberry) ao 20 ,, S&S Chrysophyllum Cainito (Star Apple) ave 30 ,, ALi}; Simaruba glauca (Bitter Dan) PE 82 ,, 16, Feronia Elephantum (Elephant, or Wood Apple) Ss; 5 5, Sloanea jamaicensis (Greenheart) ays Lich 36 ,, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) ade 12+;3 6 ,, Picrzena excelsa (Bitterwood) ade ed i, 20 ,, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Cinnamon) oes Bis 4, Guaiacum officinale (Lignum Vite) ee 10 ,, 6s Myroxylon Pereirze (Balsam of Peru) bate £O ig; ha Mimusops Elengi (Elengi Tree) ate 1k 4-5, Cananga odorata (Ilang Ilang) 46 ,, 6 The girth measurements are taken three feet from the ground. Naseberry has fruited at 4 years old. Star Apple " 3 = Cocoa es 3 x The other trees named have not yet fruited. Appenp1x III. CATALOGUE OF Books ADDED TO THE LIBRARY. (The Names of Donors are printed in Italics in square brackets.) Aitken, (E). Elementary Text Book of Bo- Batrovr, (Prof. I. B. and others.) Annals of tany. London. 1891. 8vo. Botany. Nos. 18, 19, 20. London and Ox- Artuur, (J. C.) History and Biology of Pear ford. 1891. 8vo. Blight [Extract.] Proc. Philadelphia f : PRA st Pudledolpiin 1886. 8vo._ Brrr, (J. G.) Beitrage zur Morphologie Baker, (J. G.) Handbook of the Brome- und Biologie der Familie der Orchideen liaceee, London. 1889. 8vo. Vienna. 1863. Fol. Bennett, (A. W. and Geo. Murray.) Hand- book of Oryptogamic Botany. London. 1891. 8vo. Boststo, (J.) Is the Eucalyptus a Fever des- troying Tree? Read, 10th August, 1874. (Extract.) 8vo. Branner, (J. C.) Course and growth of the Fibro-Vascular Bundles in Palms. [ Extract. ] Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. XXI. 1884. 8vo. Brirren, (J.) Journal of Botany. Edited by J. London. Apr. 1891 to Mch. 1892. 8vo. Canpoe, (A. de). Laws of Botanical No- menclature. . London. 1868. 8vo. CanpotuE, (A. de and ©, de). Monographize Phanerogamarum. Vol 7. Melastomaces by A Cogniaux. Paris. 1891. 8vo. Curistison, (Sir Robert). The exact measure- ment of Trees . . . [Extract.] Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin. XII, Edinburgh. [1877.] 8vo. Curistison, (Sir Robert). On the exact mea- surementoftrees. . . [Extract.] Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin. Edinburgh. [1878.] 8vo. EnGELMANN, (Dr. George.) Cactacew. (U. States and Mexican Boundary Survey.) [Washington. 1858.] 4to. Eneurr, (A.and K. Prantl). Die Naturlichen Pflanzenfamilien. Vol. II. Leipzig. 1889. 8vo. Firmincer, (Rev. T. A. C.) Manual of Gar- dening for Bengal and Upper India. Third Edition. London, &c. 1874. 8vo. GAERTNER, (J.) De fructibus et seminibus plantarum. 3 Vols. Stuttgardie et Lips. 1788. 1807. 4to. Grirritus, (A. B.). Treatise on Manures . i London. 1889. 8vo. Hansury, (D.) On the species of Garcinia which affords Gamboge in Siam. (Read 7th April, 1864.) [Extract.] Zrans. Linn. Soc. XXIV. London. 4to. Hector, (Sir James.). Phormium tenar asa fibrous plant. 2nd Ed. - New Zealand. 1869. 8vo. Henstow, (Rev. Prof. Geo.) The making of Flowers. London, &. 1891. 8vo. Hooker, (Sir J. D.). Icones Plantarum... . Third Series. Vol. X, Pts. 1, 2,3. Fourth Series. Vol. I. Pts. 1, 2, 3. London. 1890- 91. 8vo. [Bentham Trustees through Kew. | Im Tourn, (E.T). Botany of the Roraima Expedition of 1884. (Extract.) Trans. Linn. Soc. 2nd Ser., Vol. II. London. 1887. 4to. InzenGa, (Prof.) On the cultivation of Sn- mach: . . By Prof. Inzenga. Trans- lated by Col. H. Yule. Read 14th May, 1868. [Extract.] Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin- burgh. 8vo. JouRNAL oF THE RoyaL AGRicuLTURAL So- ciety. Third Series. Vols. I andII. Lon- don. 1890,91. 8vo. Kew,~- Royat Garpens. Bulletin of Miscel- laneous Information. London. April 1891 to March 1892. 8vo ([Kew.] Knicut, (T. A.) Cultivation of the Pine Apple. [Extract.] Read November 6, 1821. Laster, (Thos.) Timber and Timber Trees, London. 1875. 8vo Laurent, (Emile). Les microbes du sol. (Extract.) (1886.] 8vo. 27 | | | Looxyer, (Norman). Nature ; Edited by N. London. April 1891 to March 1892. 8vo. Masters, (Dr. M. T. and Dr. J. H. Gilbert.) Reports . on the influence of various Manures . . (Extract.) (Proc R. Hort, Soc.) London. 1870. 8vo. Masrers, (Dr. M.T.) Gardeners’ Chronicle. London. April 1891, to March 1892. Fol. Morren, (Ed.) Bromeliaces: (Extracts from La Belgique Horticole.) Ghent. 8vo. Outver, (F. W.) On . Flowers of ‘Pleurothallis ornatus’’ (Reprint from “ Nature.”) London. 1887. Parker, (Prof. T. Jeffery). Lessons in Ele- mentary Biology. London. 1891. 8vo. Prirzer, (Dr. Ernst). Grundzuge einer verg- leichenden Morphologie der Orchideen. Hei- delberg. 1882. 4to. Raupu, (T.8.) Icones Carpologice . Leguminose. London. 1849. 4to. Roscor, (Wm.) Monandrian Plants of the order Scitamineae . . . Liverpool. 1828. Fol. RovutiepGE, (Thomas). Bamboo and its treat- ment: cultivation and cropping. Sunder- land. 1879. 8vo. Sacot, (Dr. Paul). De l'état sauvage et des résultats de la culture et de la domestication. Nantes. 1865. 8vo. Sacor, (Dr. Paul.) Manioc. [Cassava.] (Ex- tract.) Bull. de la Soc. bot. de France. Paris. [1872.] 8vo. Sacor, (Dr. Paul.) Les différentes espéces dans le genre Musa (Bananier), leur groupement natural. Courtes indications sur les carac- téres distinctifs de chacune et sur ]’intérét alimentaire ou ornamentale de plusieurs. [Extract]. Journ. de la Soc. Nat. d’ Hor- ticulture de France. Paris. [1888.] 8vo. Sarcent, (C. 8.) Silva of North America, Vol. II. Cambridge, U.S.A. 1891. Fol. Seemann, (B.) Flora of the Isthmus of Pa- nama (in part,) being part III. of the Bo- tany of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald. Lon- don. 1853. 4to. Swarrz, (Olaf). Adnotationes Botanica, quas reliquit 0.8. Edited by J. E. Wikstroem. Holmiz, 1829. 8vo. TRELEASE, (Wm. and others). tanical Garden. First Annual Report. Louis, Mo. 1890. 8vo. TrRELEASE, (Wm. and others.) Missouri Bo- tanical Garden. Second Annual Report. St. Louis, Mo. 1891. 8vo. Vines, (Prof. $8. H.) Lectures on the Physio- Missouri Bo- St. logy of Plants. Cambridge. 1886. 8vo. Warp, (Prot. H. Marshall). Diseases of Plants. London. [1891.] 8vo. Warine, (E. J.) . Bazaar Medicines and Common Medical Plants of India . Fourth Edn. London. 1888. 8vo. Wart, (Dr. Geo. and others.) Dictionary of the Economic Products of India. Vels. IU, IV, and V, D-O. Calcutta. 1889. 8vo. Watson, (W.) Cactus Culture. London. [1889.] 8vo. Watson, (W. and W. Bean.) Orchids: their culture and management . : Lon- don. [1890.] 8vo. ade. 28 Aprenprx IV, METEOROLOGICAL TABLES, CaAsTLETON GARDENS—ELEVATION 580 FEET. Temperature, Degrees Fahrenheit. | Dew Point. | Humidity. ig Pressure, Month, Mens du. eb Peel » gal han Od tan] ace ed ee < ... of oe : 7 a.m.|3 p.m.) Max.| Min. | Range. |7a.m.|3p.m.|7a.m.|3p.m.| 7 7am, | 3 p.m, SiemenannNnA ANG MEDD ee : 1891 April .| 67.1 | 79.. | 81.1 | 66.2 | 14.9 | 65.4 | 73.6 | 93 89 10.80 | 29.54 | 29,64 May .--| 70.0 | 79.4 | 81.2 | 69.5 | 11.7 | 69.1 | 73.3] 97 82 18.77 | 29.66 | 29.65 June e| 71.4 | 82.8 . : . 69 6 | 71.4] 93 68 11.31 | 29.55 | 29.55 July -»-| 72.0 | 84 5 | 86.6 | 71.0 | 15.6 | 70.9 | 76.1] 96 76 209} 29.60] 29.60 August «| 71.1 | 79.3 | 84.5 | 70.8 | 13.7 | 70.2 | 73.4) 97 82 8.96 | 29.59 | 29.59 September | 70.3 | 80.5 | 85.8 | 69.7 | 16.1 | 69 2] 74.6] 96 82 12.71) 29.66 | 29.55 October o-| 71.6 | 79.4 | 83.6 | 70.4 | 13.2 | 64.1 | 73.5 | 97 82 32.71 | 29.61 29 50 November ---| 70.1 | 77.8 | 80.8 | 69 0| 11.8 | 68.2 | 72.2) 94 83 19.80 | 29.56 | 29.55 December .-.| 67.4 | 76.2 | 80.0 | 67 1] 12.9 | 66.3 | 69.2] 96 79 11.10 | 29.62 | 29.61 1892 January - | 65.5 | 79 5 | 79.7 | 64.7 | 15.0 | 63.6 | 74.0] 93 83 8.04 | 29.62] 29.60 February -»-| 63.1 | 76.4 | 80.3 | 61.9 | 18.4 | 61.0 | 65.6 | 93 70 5.01 | 29.57 | 29.59 March .| 65 7 | 79.1 | 82.7 | 64.4 | 18.3 | 64.3 | 70.0] 93 74 1.92 | 29.60| 29.58 Means ---| 68.7 | 79 6 | 82 4 | 67.7 | 14.7 | 66.8 | 72.2 | 95 79 | 148.22 | 29.57 | 29.56 VY Mean ; Total. 75 0 T3°L| 12g ¥'09 T'F9 weoyL ueeyy "[2}0, wee oar eee . . . SS GO°OSIIL'SFS'SLIG'SG] a 6°Sh | 6'FL| OF'SOL | PGS || 98] Ig jO'T9 [G°es [s°z9 [S°Z9 |F*OTI6 Sais‘ 69|0°99|2°09|F8z Szls6z az} *** suvoy e9'3 | g¢ |} ez} 99] » Se°It | z6'F's |90°0 | gH | sez] 96°0 b' Th |H| 98 | 08 |S°6G [0°SE |Z°T9 [O°T9 |e°oTie*zg\e*Z9|L eg|T'selete’ lezer | ** yore 00°S | 2% | G4 | 09 | » OS TL | Z6°S°Ls | 29°S | VSL Ses} BLS b°Sh |H| 28] $8 i9°4g |S°6F [9°19 |T°I9 [Q'Sli6*zGip ogi z9\T'Felsos’ jzTe’ |‘ Areniqog 08°FT| ge | OL | 09 | » SLIT | Ze'T'0s | 9F°9T | S'S] 8'89] QTL 8°FF || 88 | a8 i9'8g |T'ZG |F'Z9 |T°Z9 |L°OT\S‘9g/0' 29S 'Z9|P'9GlZze" jogs" |“ Arenuee ‘S68 09°S2| 9¢ | OL | 49 {ME CT'IT| LS | 06°SSZ | VIF] SFL) 029 ¥°69 A} 69 | 98 |T'LG [6° [0'S9 |9°Z9 |Z'OTIS Saig'ggig*LOIT'Sgiere” lege" | aequieseqy 12°Ss| 2 | 69 | #9 |urd gg |T6"IT’sz | ss} os | @g°9T =| 3'0L | 98} gg le°zo |1'2e |9°S9 |T'S9 [2° |E'T9|8°ggl6°S9|s"o9|FoS: Ieze" | °* IOqUIOAO NT ZI'°Se| GF | ZL] 249] » OIL |I6'OL'Te | “* se J see | LSS | G'SS |" | HE] BB [8'Z9 [2°69 | “* [G°S9 [$'9 |L°Z9lI0'Eg9'F9IF SO]lZbZ° |89%"° | °° 1040400) OS'S | Sb | 9L | GS | We'ep'oT) 16°6' 12 ra eo Pay SP'6 8°9€ |* | 96 | og Ie°g9 Ig 9a me ‘9 |g'g lo’zoletuis99|2"F9lGze" laze: | zequieydeg 00°6 | 46| ZL} 0G} » 08's | 16°8°6S | Sle otf eS 8°29 |" | 06 | 22 [O'FO JE'eG | “* [8°E9 [LST 9gIG°ZLIT"L9/9°FO|0zE" j60s" | ** qsnsny MS 00°6 | 9%| 04/99] » 98's | T6'S'T | 2° 63°F S°90T|" | z@| 82 I6"I9 |s°99 | “* [9°s9 |e°2Ti9°o9ls*zz\9°29|F'S9lpez" leas’ | °° Ajne 09°1z| se | £2 | 09 | » gt°s | 16°9°82 | 09'9 | OIG} G'08| SOIL | 9°99 |* | zg] us ie-zo jo'oo9 | “* |2°T9 |P'oTIg*6gls‘oz\9'99/0°F9Is6r° |eog’ |< oune 22°91 17 | $2 | 29] » OF'S | Te'S'IS | ST°sE | O'OG| G'Z2] 29°2E | T'6T |" | 06| #8 Ie'I9 jo°z¢ | “* |z'T9 |6°s |e't9Ig‘oL9' FOI’ ZolLes"” Ieee" fot sey 60°01] TF | 94 | 09 jurdep’z | 16°H'SZ | GL°SE | 99h | SSL] 9T'S 0°98 |" | 68] 98 ja°6g [6'FS | “* |S°T9 |O'OTI9' LZg]9°29\9 ZOI6"SS|oTZ’ |zTZ" | ° Tady "IT GZ | Ur GZ Re =A ee ee a ee ‘i | a eS | a "16ST 2 Es) eo ola} o a © x 3 ae . BB | Fs 5 z E BE | E. e\selele |e |e |e (BIBI Blslelo |e Se ee ae ® 4 Ee Z : > ® |SiB |B] 8 B B hoes Vee es) P 2 | a] e ° ° 2 = £. : : i i : : bi : 7, |BIElEe| ¢ a Ss ie ae ee a: | ape esi eek. is et 2 Le a Ble nyytOY 5 ° g = 5 a 8 *punoi3 S = 3 a E Jopun 4003 9 4 B 2 See *Aqrpron ‘einye1oduey, ‘pul 1A “‘qulog Mog | ‘sloyuoryey soorseq—-oinyeiodmoy, “eIssol y 5 ; “Laay ‘La 009° NOLLVAaTy . ? a. Sak ee 9071 NOILVATTIQ—3Vag NIVINAOW aoa1g —dV) NUAVHMG NT ‘LIL 106) NOILVATTIG— Naiaavy TIFT ee “panuiquos ‘AT XIGgNaddy 80 AppEnpix IV, continued. — Horr Garpens—Exzvarion 600 Frer. [ Thermometers 7 a.m., Fah. Dry Wet Bulb. | Bulb, | Max. Aneroid Baro- meter 7 a.m 29.20 | 70.2 29.20 | 74,2 29,19 | 77.0 29,21 | 74.9 29.22 | 74.5 September 29.19 | 73.6 October | 29.16 | 79.0 November | 29.19 | 73.6 December 29,24 | 68.8 1892. January 29.23 | 66.4 February ..| 29.21 | 63,7 March 29.21 | 68.7 ———_———— Se | S| LT cr Means See| 29.20 19 7220 31 ApprEnpix IV, continued. Kine’s Hovsr—Etevation 400 Fazer. Temperature. Degrees Fahrenheit. | Dew Point. | Humidity. 4 Pressure. Month. = 7a.m.|3p.m.| Max.| Min. | Range. |7 a.m.|3p.m.|7 a.m. |3 p.m, 4 Tam, | 3 p.m 4 1891 April o| 75.0 | 82.1 | 83.2 | 69.6 | 13.6 | 681) 74.1] 79 78 0.80 . May «| 76,8 | 82.5 | 83.5 | 72.3 | 11.2 | 73.4 | 77.2 | 89 84 5.10 ‘ r 1 June «| 77.5 | 85.6 | 84.3 | 74.6 9.7 | 75.6 | 77.4 | 94 77 4.80 | 29.92 | 29.87 July | 78.4 | 86.7 | 86.2 | 74.2 | 12.0 | 75.0 | 82.4] 89 87 3.00 | 29.95 | 29.90 August | 77.2 | 83.0 aah Loe . | 72.3) 76.3 | 85 78 7.40 | 29 95 | 29.91 September ....| 76.3 | 82.6 | 85.7 | 73.9 | 118 | 71.3 | 74.5 | 85 (i! 4.25 | 29.91 | 29.88 October eos] 70.9 | 81.6 | 83.6 | 72.7 | 10.9 | 71.5 | 77.2 | 86 87 | 11.50 | 29.85 | 29.81 November «| 74.3 | 79.9 | 80.5 | 70.8 9.7 | 69.1 | 78.0 | 84 80 5.40 | 29.87 | 29.82 December ..| 70.9 | 78.9 | 80.8 | 66.9 | 13.9 | 64.6 | 71.3] 81 78 1.50 | 29.95 | 29.91 1892 January .-| 69.9 | 79.5 | 80.9 | 66.9 | 14.0 | 62.8 | 70.4} 78 74 0.80 | 29.96 | 29.92 February e058 60.9) | TOs) | Oke Fe |-64.0: | -17..7 | 68.3.1 69.7 | 88 78 1.75 | 29.96 | 29.95 March --.| 68.4 | 86.5 | 86.6 | 65.0 | 21.6 | 62.4] 70.6 | 81 59 0.10 30.0 | 29.92 Means ...| 73.9 | 82.3 | 84.8 | 70.3 | 18.0 | 69,1 | 74.4 | 8&5 738 46.40 | 29.93 | 29.89 : 5 - YY Means 76.8 Total. 1 99°") 08 | 9°02 | 2°29 ro | w8 | $02 | B99 gs¢ | t8 | 2°99 | 9°29 09°", 18 | "49 | -¥799 6¢ | 88 | 0°89 | 9°¥9 99 + 88 5 S02] 3°69 me 4% | OBL Sl BOs 69 | 08 | FL | ¢70Z 99 | 64 | S32 | 8°69 otk G2 | SOs! side 99.21 92.) 97 Gaol 9"04 $07} 82 [2 Stal Dred 19. = 92 ie 9°09 4] Qr29 2S o SS Sa eas ees ees = g 4 B, $ 8 | 2. : s+ |ud elm, | ‘ade | ‘are, < 5 are =] S “£eqy sod 2 solW—parm =| “Appramy ‘qmiog aq ‘. en ¥ ST 0°9T o'81 LLt L 21 o> 6. =i - O& wii @ Nn co is] re iol re sH ~H tal "esuRiy v'6L “SUvOTL 2th) | ws 8-69 | 8°g8 9°99 | 8°#8 ps9 | 1°98 y69 | T'28 $69 | 1't8 O*F2) | oT'28 yFL | ¥°68 gp, | B16 o°g2 | ¥°06 64 | 2°28 TE: es4 14.0728 61, | $°98 ‘arn | “Xe 9°F8 6°&8 138 0°$8 ‘ud ¢ € pL —_ ——_ — 6° 3L 9°89 $69 “ure *) ‘yloyuoryYT soorseg “ormyeroduay, ‘LAG 09 NOILVAGTY ‘NIGUVH OITA NOLSONIY *panuyuoo ‘AJ XIGNaday Sb6 66 | 766° 63 996°66 | $20°0& $L6°66 | €60°0E 696°6Z | 380° 0€ 816°6Z | 6800S 806°63 | ¥96°62 498° 6% | 026 °6Z 6666 | $16 °63 096°62 | 200°08 096° 62 600° 08 916°6% | $96°62 0£6°63 | 086°66 86°62 | $66 °66 *eInssel gq wee suROyy Wore yy Areniqe,T Arenue pe 1681 Ioqu1eoe(qy K I9qUIIAON j 1990399) requeydeg qsnsny sya oun Ae Tady “HINOFL SS a a a a a a a ee a ee (ne ee SPE ee ee N o. 40. FEBRUARY, 1893. BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAM ATIC A. O.E€NT EN TS. Experiments in the Cultivation of Vegetables—VII. Plants in the Public Gardens. Report on Coffee Leaf Fungi. Report on Infected Sugar Canes. Instruction in the Cultivation of the Grape Vine. Coccidze or Scale Insects.—II. Ferns: Synoptical List.—XV, ie Contributions to the Department. P RI C E—Two-pence. [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] JAMAICA: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, 1898, Se —_ ) - 2 “Aqrpeny . ° N ~~ ° ° ec nN i>) oO a ® ad e ior) of ri . a 8T "4003 UI 14008 | o & oe | oe BS | o8 So =] g2| 8 Bt +e sq f. 2 28 B S : B $ 0° 0° SF Tg O'S? 0°8P 0°8? 0°8P 0°TS o°Ts o°TS 0°8P 0°? 0°8F 0° 8F 0°TS o°TS 0°8? 08% 0° 0° w| ‘oIn} -eroduley, UINUITUL Tg Tg 0°09 9°09 9°69 0°09 0°09 9°09 9°09 9°09 9°69 0°09 0°09 0°09 0°09 9°09 9°09 0°09 0°09 9°09 9°09 SUIMOIS 910M svog o[IyM ornyesr0d -WOT, OdVIOAY UvOT d jo qoquinyy O0T JO odv19AV—pog @ UI sv ‘OSvIOAV—JUL[ @ UO Spog jo Joquinyy ‘sulyUBl[ wor shvq 66°" 18 66°S° OT 36°90 66° 9° 8% 36°S° OT 66°9°08 G6 °9* 1B 66°S 08 G6°9 Lz G6°S 13 63°S° TS ‘dry poog ysurT 00L 06 16 queig wor seg ‘But 66° F'6 66° F°96 66°F 13 66° F'9Z &6°F' 0 66° PF 66° 3% 26°F'S G6 F'0Z 36°F OL 36° PLT ‘odry poss va if 9T ‘o8() O[quy, 105 4g BAL 4g %8 88 gg 68 “‘Buryur[g woaj sheq 86°S'8 &6°F'8 66°F? 66°F'S G6°S'9Z 66° ' TS 66°F 26° LT 66° TS ‘ezIg OT4IPH JO spod 8& |26°S°8T ‘pred gg |36°¢'9 GG |36'S"9 09 |26°S'°T >}> “pred 0g |26°S'°T OF |Z6°S'0Z GE |26°S"S OF |26°3' 0G TY |26°€°S fo ‘prea TP |26°S° 1% GG |66°E°S quelg wor sheq “WOOTE, IAL ‘ “Sur ‘ge ‘ON UlJOT[NG Ur poyst;qnd esoy} Jo uoIenUIzWOD B OIL SaTqV], SULMOTLOF OU, "svag ‘TIA'SATIAVLEOTA AO NOILVAILTONO AHL NI SLNGWIYSd xa | | | | | | ‘Burjyurtg wouay sheq ‘punory oaoge souvivedde 4satq ” ‘26ST ‘Arenuve ul Suyurylg jo oyvq VPOIAUT YST}UO RdOULEy jeAoy ssoourage eiqrourauy s,odiegg “* peppod Soy s.doysig p[etourg 10 Japuo 4 WeoloUTy I90uRApY ns iajeg ong ea WX) O40] 8, WeeTOHT “FSI OY ULV 5 a POFSVCTLNA 8,WOpLVT ste doig ystq yy ‘“* afysep [erowyeg 4, PHOAA OYZFOIOpuoM “ wonrdoyuay = ssoidxg onig ss, PALLET OF JOON 5, tee WaSRIRIYS ** TOPUO AM 91}90T §19},8— — —— "RUOYUIYD ye WMOIS Svag JO souTeAT a — ey i “a= aA = ODO NN AH ° —e x we OO ON 8T 8T “H °M oye DH ODO otf 6 Hh te HH Be OO 16 o - #Z Lg 8g 0°87 ono © + > ws ao wat 8H HH 15 6B HH HY o & 6 66°S° TS 26°S°0Z G6°9° TS 66 9° TE 66°S°9Z 66°9°9% G6°S° LB 26'S" 12 66°S°0T &6' 9°12 36 S°OT 66°9° 16 26° 9° 12 26°S° TE 66° 9° 1E 66°S° 1 66°S° 1 66° 9° 1B 26°S' TS vIT 66°S°F 66°S°S 66°S°F 66°" 93 66°S'°F 66° F' 96 26'S'F 66'S°F 26°23 66°F ° 2S 66°F 83 26°F ' 93 66°F 8S 66°S'°F 66°F 8G 66°F 86 26°F’ 9% 66°F SS 66'P' 8S 9T 48 06°F L 18 |86°F'S 08 (26° FT 18 (26°F 2 48 (26°F L 08 |26°F'T 48 (26°F L £8 |26°F'S 18 (26° 2 G8 |26°F'S 08 |26°F'T 68 60'S 68 co'F's oot 26°F°02 66°E°9 66°§°9 c6'°E"L 66°E'G 66'S °F 66°§°9 19 a9 "Prod 0g gg gg 0g 0g €g 0g bl 66°E'T 26°E°9 66°S°9 66°S°T 66°S°T 66°E °F 66 S°T 66°F ' GS ‘perp |pue ao pyran Aq |poyoieyyy ST 8T G1 or or 18 *8 +8 18 08 66°F L S¢ |Z6'S'9 Cea 69 [26'S'F ze'r' 9 |26'S'F ‘prog : oe¥' gg |Z6'S"9 26'S'Te | 09 |z6'e'T ér 2 3” ” ” FP) ” » ”» ” STS ” P4ES » ” S16 P1ES » ”» ”» ” > ”» 2 » ” ”» » ” ” ”» see eee SMOLIVIY OY} JO sored uy 814[Q SU[d °N qesug T&L usong) Ystpig puelsugq jo uoidueyy Aueqry jo exng O}LINOy -@,J S,00D IO ployporpuny eee see ee see PoAreyr opTo1g ssouer estiung Ape HT qesng ,.Hea »» OFLIMOAL,T 8,WOSHOIy opTpord emordng eydiy ssordurq queqdet a mOsTIM “HD ydeisey9 7, euoydeyay, ssols01g Apanyg ” » §,W0pxe'T » » » » » »”» Aqrusiq §,1031%Q, eourpunqy | 4y ~PLANTS IN THE PUBLIC GARDENS, JAMAICA Pium or TREE Tomato. The Jamaica Plum (Cyphomandra betacea) is an excellent fruit and is said to have a beneficial action upon the liver. It can be eaten as a dessert fruit, cutting in two, and using a spoon, or it can be cooked like an ordinary tomato. The following is a receipt for stewing :—Scald the fruit, and remove the thin outer skin. Put the fruit into an enamelled saucepan with just enough water to cover them. Add sugar to taste, and stew gently for 15 or 20 minutes. Serve up when cold. The Jamaica Plum is exceedingly well adapted for export as the skin is tough, and the fruit will keep perfectly for a month after picking. This is a product which should be taken up for all the higher elevations of Jamaica, as it will probably grow well from 2,000 to 5,000 feet. The plant is anerect shrub. Seedlings will bear fruit in from one to two years,—cuttings in less than a year. It is a native of the Andes, and is met with occasionally in the hills of Jamaica, apparently wild. It has been distributed from the Jamaica Botanic Gardens to the hills of India, Ceylon and Hong Kong. NAPOLEONA. Napoleona tmperialis, is a small tree, native of western tropical Africa. The structure of the flower is interesting. The corolla consists of three rows: the outer is of a rich claret colour with a cream, or apricot coloured margin; it is divided into 5 lobes, each lobe with 6 or 7 ribs spreading from the base like a fan; as it expands, it bends outwards concealing the calyx. The next row is some- what like the “crown” of the passion flower, consisting of a number of whitish threads tipped with pink. The third and innermost row is cup-shaped with the margin bent inwards and divided into numerous pinkish teeth. Within this, come the stamens, about 20 in number, cream-coloured with the points of a pale claret colour. The fruit is soft, somewhat like a pomegranate, the rind contains so much tannin that a kind of ink is made from it in Africa. This ornamental tree can be now supplied from the Public Gardens. CLOVES. The clove, Eugenia caryophyllata, Thunberg, is a tree 30 or 40 feet high when full grown. The cloves of commerce are the unexpanded flower-buds, of which great numbers are produced. The average weight of cloves produced by a tree in Amboyna is 2 or 2}1bs, and as it takes about 5,000 cloves to make a pound, each tree will have 10,000 to 12,000 flowers, and that twice in the year. One of the original trees planted by the French in Mauritius yielded in some years 125 Ibs of spice, and there must have been more than 600,000 flowers on this single tree during the year, a fact says Bory de St. Vincent, “ which would appear incredible, were we not to mention that this beauti- ful tree is at least 40 ft. high, throwing out innumerable branches, some of which falling down on all sides, form a pyramid of verdure.” At the end of the year the tree is covered with its lovely crimson buds, shown off by the back- ground of dark-green leaves. The buds are picked by hand as soon as they turn crimson and before opening. They are then dried in the sun. The form of the dried buds somewhat resembles a nail,—the French call the spice Clow, and the Spanish Clavo, whence the English name Clove. The tree begins to flower at the age of 6 years, yields the largest crops at 12, and does not last longer than 20 years. The spice appears to have come into use in Europe after the Portugese in the year 1511 discovered the Moluccas, where it is a native. When the Datch seized the Spice Islands, they tried to restrict the cultivation, but the French introduced the tree into Maurititus in 1769, and from that island into Cayenne 10 years later. At later periods they planted it in Haiti, Dominica, St. Kitt’s and Martinique, whence it was introduced to St. Vincent. It was first planted in Jamaica in 1769 by Dr. Thomas Clarke, Island Botanist, who obtained it from Port-au-Prince. Cloves have been supplied commercially almost wholly from the island of Zanzibar. But with the abolition of slavery there, the exports will fall off very considerably, and the supply must come from elsewhere. The tree in the Castleton Gardens is now flowering, and there are 500 young seedlings ready for planting, which will be delivered in Kingston at the rate of 2d each. Kancaroo Grass. Kangaroo Grass (Anthistiria ciliata, Linn.) is well known in Australia, and it is also found in the warmer parts of Asia and Africa. It is not recorded from the New World, and it is probable there— fore that it has been accidentally introduced into Jamaica. It was brought to my notice two or three years ago as occurring in Trelawny, and now another correspondent from the same parish makes en- quiries about it. ; un : This grass is recommended as a pasture grass for dry situations as it is perennial, and the long roots penetrate to a great distance in the soil. Itis most nutritious. and horses aad cattle are so fond of it, that in an over-stocked pasture, it is liable to be killed out. Cut when flowering, it makes an excellent hay. Baron von Mueller gives the chemical analysis as follows: —Albumen, 2.05 ; gluten, 4.67 ; starch, 0.69; gum, 1.67; sugar, 3.06. He says that in good seasons and in fair soil it will rise to over man’s height. Seed is only rarely produced, but it is propagated by division of the roots, W.F. — 5 REPORT ON COFFEE LEAF FUNGI. 28th January, 1893. To the Honourable Colonial Secretary. Sir, I have the honour to inform you that I visited Manchester to enquire into statements that were made that coffee shrubs in some places were dying in consequence of being attached by a leaf disease. On enquiry, the Hon. J. P. Clark, and Messrs. Braham and Fitzherbert informed me that the Coffee shrubs on their estates were not suflering from disease. I rode through the Brokenhurst Coffee fields belonging to Mr. Wynne and found that the leaves on most of the shrubs were spotted through the growth of a stalked yellowish fungus quite evident to the naked eye ; and agreeing with the description given of Sti/bum flavidum by Dr. M. C. Cooke, a well known writer on Fungi. This fungus was plentiful not only at Brokenhurst but elsewhere on settlers’ Coffee, and is probably abundant in Manchester. It occurs very rarely in the Blue Moun- tain districts, and there apparently, only at low elevations in damp, shady places. I attribute the extent to which this fungus is spread in Manchester to the partial shade which is found favourable to the growth of Coffee in that district. In the Blue Mountains where the shrubs are exposed to the full sunshine the fungus has not the same opportunity of development. This fungus Sti/bum flavidum does not appear to me to do any great damage to the Coffee, and it would scarcely be worth while to apply any remedy. Another fungal disease which had attacked leaves sent to me from Manchester has the appear- ance of a fine spider’s web on the underside of the leaf, and continued down the stalk to the twig. When the under surface of the leaf is nearly covered, the leaf drops, but continues to hang for some time by the fungus thread. I found this disease in one place only, and was informed that it had been known there for 12 or 13 years, and that during that time it had spread through about half an acre of Coffee on a plantation of five or six acres. From enquiries made, it appeared that the Coffee had been planted somo years ago in ruinate land. Whether care had ever been bestowed on this Coffee field seemed very doubtful, but at the time of my visit, the shrubs showed utter neglect. They had been allowed to grow with five or six trunks from a single root to a height of ten or twelve feet. Wherever in the cavities of the limestone rock a berry had fallen and taken root, it was allowed to grow, so that asarule the shrubs were only three or four feet apart. Orange andother trees were intermingled with the Coffee and all were more or less covered with growths of all kinds ; fungi, lichens, mosses, wild vines, wild pines, parasitic loranthacex, etc. The ground was cumbered with weeds ; and it was surprising that Coffee could grow at all under such unfavourable conditions. The fungus has been identified at Kew by Dr. M. C. Cooke as Pellicularia Koleroga first described by him from Mysore. It has also been noticed in Venezuela. I attribute no importance whatever to this fungus, and think it a pity that alarm should have been caused by the notices published in the newspapers. I may add that Mr. Wynne complains of damage being done to both Coffee and Orange Trees, by slugs eating away the young bark. The slugs have been kept down only by constant hand picking facilitated by intermingling with the Coffee banana plants of which the slugs are very fond. As the Orange Trees are chiefly of spontaneous growth, and young trees are liable to be utterly killed off by the slug, it is possible that after a few years the amount of fruit available will be very seriously diminished. Coffee Planters in Manchester have reason to be alarmed at the increase of the ravages of this pest. A writer in Biedermann’s Centralblatt, 1881, states that the potash manure knownas “ Kainit” has the power of destroying caterpillars, and is harmful to snails. It might be well to try the experiment of applying some to the ground round a few Coffee shrubs. I have &e, W. Fawcett, Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. REPORT ON INFESTED SUGAR CANES. I have examined the sugar-canes and specimens of pests from the Cave Valley Estate, forwarded in accordance with the directions of the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. The following insects, fungus and worm were found on or at the roots of the canes ;— (1.) Diatrea saccharalis, Fabr. Several lepidopterous larvze were found inside a cane not far from the root. The cane had become brown and rotten. These larve are small, yellowish-white, spotless, with red-brown heads. So far as I can see, they are the immature larve of Diatrea saccharalis. (2.) Lachnosterna ? or Ligyrus ? Among the specimens sent in a bottle are a few Scarabezid larvee, and I found one alive at the roots of the cane. Until the adult beetle is reared, it will be impossible to identify the species. ; (3.) Curculionid larva. In a rotten cane-root, apparently of last year’s growth, I found a single larva of some weevil. yellowish-white, the mouth-parts dark. (4.) Telephorid larve and adults. - In the bottle are a larva and adult female of some species of ‘‘ glow-wonm.’’ 3 (5.) Stylopyga antillarum, Brunner. It is about 5 millim. long, plump, purplish with a pale line along the side. The head is. 6 Many specimens of a brown-black cockroach were sent in the bottle, and some few were found still lurking amongst the canes received. The species is very similar to, if not altogether identical with, S. antillarum, which was described last year from a specimen found in St- Vincent. (6.) Dactylopius calceolarie, Maskell. In the sheathing bases of the leaves I found a few specimens of a mealy-bug, which appears to be identical with D. calceolariw. It has been previously found on sugar-cane in Fiji, but is new for Jamaica. (7.) Earthworm. At the roots of the cane two earthworms were found. The largest is over three inches long when alive, colour purplish grey, except the first 22 rings or segments, which are pink. The cheete are in eight longitudinal rows, arranged as regards the distance of the rows from one another, much like those of Plutellus perrieri Benham, or a Wicroscolex. No clitellum is developed, so I suppose the specimens to be immature. (8.) Trullula sacchari, Ellis & Everhart. Inside the dead sheathing bases of the leaves on the smaller stems, I found black spots which prove to be TZ. sacchari. Hitherto the fungus has been found on the culm, but having com- pared the present specimens with part of the original lot, and examined the spores or conidia, I have no doubt as to their identity. Conclusions. It seems probable enough that the Diatrwa is at the bottom of the trouble experienced. This insect, and the remedies for it, are fully discussed in the Botanical Bulletin for April 1892. The living roots did not appear to be seriously attacked, but no doubt the Scarabzid larvee do some damage, nibbling at them. The Curculionid larva, living in the dead roots, is harmless. The Telephorid larva are beneficial creatures, and may attack the Diatrewa caterpillars. (One of this familyis a known enemy of Diatrwa in Louisiana.) The cockroaches probably are attracted by the juice of the rotting canes. The mealy-bug, so far it goes, is harmful, but I do not think it isa serious trouble. The earthworm is of no particular importance. The Trullula, as here seen, seems harmless; and it seems still open to question whether it attacks sound canes, notwithstanding apparent strong evidence to the contrary from Trinidad. T. D. A. CockERELL, Institute of Jamaica, Kingston, Feb. 7, 1893. INSTRUCTION IN THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE. Mr. Thompson of the Botanical Department has given demonstrations on the treatment of mature vines at Collins Green, by permission of 8. L. Schloss, Esq., on the treatment of yonng vines at the vinery close to the East Lodge, Kings House Grounds, by permission of His Excellency the Governors Young vine plants of the best English kinds will be ready for distribution in April. The charge will be 2d. each plant, delivered in Kingston. Mr. Thompson has drawn up the following notes on the present treatment of vines in continuation of those in Bulletin, No. 38, for those who are unable to attend the demonstrations. “All vines which have been kept dry till now, as I recomended in November of last year, should now have the growth of last year’s wood well ripened. The main stem of the vine should be kept as straight as possible. The side shoots on the main stem should be cut back toa plump bud close to the old wood of the main stem. It must be understood that the fruit of this year will be borne on the wood of last year. “After pruning, vines grown on a flat arbour can be left as they are, but vines grown on a trellis should be laid or tied down toa level with the bend in the main stem ; by so doing you give the vine a better chance to break its buds evenly all over the vine, instead of just breaking at the top of the shoot, as is often the case when the vines are simply tied up to the trellis. “‘The roots of the vines should not be watered till about a week after the pruning has been done; then the vines should havea good soaking of water, not a few bucketfuls but a watering equivalent to about six inches of rain, so that the whole of the roots will get well watered. It isof the utmost importance that the vine should have a good soaking for if the water does not reach the end of the young roots then you are preventing the roots from having a chance to grow; and if all the roots are not ina fit condition to grow, you cannot expect the buds of the vine to break well. “Besides the watering at the roots it is of the utmost importance that the vines should be sprinkled. over with a good syringe or the hose. This should be done at least twice a day, and if it can be done several times a day, the buds of the vine will break so much better. The syringing should be stopped as soon as the buds have all broken, and started to grow. After or before watering the vine-borders, the borders should have a few inches of good stable manure put over them. The manure will prevent the sun from absorbing so much of the moisture and help to keep the roots cool. If the copious supply of water is given when the vines are started, they will not need any more water till just as they are showing for flowering, then they should have another soaking like the first. Anyone with young vines which have made growth from six to twelve feet, should prune them now. If they are intended for growing on a trellis, the vine shonld be cut back toa good bud about three feet from the ground. If the vines are intended to be grown as standards out in the field, then cut them back to a good eye about siz inches from the ground; and in both cases allow only one main growth to grow this year.” 7 COCCIDA, OR SCALE INSECTS.—II. By T. D. A. Cocxrrett, F.Z.8S., Curator of the Museum, Institute of Jamaica. It will be my endeavour, in this and subsequent papers, to so describe the West Indian Coccidae ‘that they may be recognised by any-one who is willing to take a little trouble in examining them, without having any particular knowledge of Entomology. For this reason, all technical terms aud microscopical details will be avoided as much as possible; although in certain cases the use of the microscope is absolutely necessary to determine the identity of a species, and therefore microscopical characters must be cited. Strictly Entomological articles, describing the characters of the species in in detail, will be published elsewhere. : ; ad It is proper to state that although all the known West Indian Coccidex will be described in these papers, new species, and even new genera, are frequently being found, rendering any list which might be published incomplete in a short time. For this reason, nobody need be much surprised if he should come across a scale not resembling anything I have described. In the event of such a discovery it “will be necessary to send specimens to the present writer or some other student of Coccide, in order that they may be properly classified. ; Before describing the species, it is desirable to give an account of the 23 genera in which they are included. These are comprised in four sub-families, known as the Monophlebine, Coccine, Lecaniine, and Diaspine. This arrangement is derived from Mr. Ashmead’s generic synopsis (Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 1891), and although it appears to require revision, it may be adopted in the present instance. (1.) Monophlebine. The adult females are active or stationary, segmented, with no scale, but frequently more or less ‘covered with a mealy, cottony or waxy secretion. The antenne have 10 or 11 joints (rarely 9). The males have facetted eyes. (1.) Icerya, Signoret. The adult females have eleven joints to the antennw, a character which should be observed, in order to distinguish them from similar-looking species of the next sub-family, in which the joints are fewer. I. rose, the only species yet observed in Jamaica, is a plump greyish insect, about the size of a half-pea, and more or less covered with mealy secretion. The larva are red. This is found on rose, Amherstia, and other plants. Mrs. Swainson found it in some plenty under thee bark of lignum-vite in Kingston. Another species, J. montserratensis, is found in Montserrat ‘and Trinidad. (II.) Coccine. These resemble the last family a good deal, but the antennez of the adult female have from 6 to 9 joints ; and there is usually a pair of distinct, though sometimes short filaments arising from the hind end of the body. The posterior cleft, which is so noticeable in the next family, is wanting. (2.) Dactylopius, Signoret. The species of this genus are commonly known as “mealy bugs”. The antenne of the adult females have eight (rarely seven) joints. These insects, which abound on various trees and shrubs, are smal], soft, and more or less oval in shape, with the segmentation distinet and the body partly covered with a mealy secretion. Some of the species have a fringe of cottony or mealy appendages all round the body, and a pair of very distinct caudal filaments ; while others lack these ornaments. Two species are common in Kingston ; and alittle pink species may be found inside the cavities of pine apples. A curious new species has been found by Dr. Strachan at the Caicos Is., Bahamas. (3.) Coccus, Linné, This genus comprises the cochineal insect, which may be fouad on Opuntia in the Parade Garden, Kingston. It occurs in masses covered by white secretion, but if this is scraped away with a knife the true cochineal colour will be observed. The antennz of the female have seven joints. (4.) Margarodes, Guilding. Consists of one species, acurious insect found in Antigua andthe Baham- as, living in the ground associated with ants. It has some resemblance to a pearl, and is accordingly known as the “ ground pearl.” The adult female has antennz of seven joints, aud is said to lack a@ rostrum. (III.) Lecaniine. The distinguishing character of this group is the presence of a distinct cleft at the posterior end of the body, above which is a pair of more or less triangular plates. The sub-family, according to Ashmead’s arrangement, includes some very little related genera, which ought not, in my opinion, to be referred to it. These I shall provisionally class below as aberrant genera. (5.) Lecaniwm, Illiger. A genus with many species differing very much in appearance. They have no scale, properly speaking, but the back of the female is so constructed that it represents a scale. The adult females have antenne of from 6 to 8 joints. The shape of these insects is sometimes flat and oval in outline, sometimes high and elongated, like a flat-bottomed boat turned upside down, and ‘sometimes hemispherical. The colour of the flat species may be green or brown, that of the convex ones brown or black. Some are viviparous, others produce eggs. A subgenus, Bernardia, Ashmead, is hemispherical, brown or black, with some indication of ridges, at least in the young, and eight-jointed antenne. It is a member of this subgenus, the “ brown scale,” that is so injurious to creepers and other plants in Kingston. ‘ (6.) Ceroplastes, Gray. Scratch a Ceroplastes, and you have a Lecanium. That is to say, the wax- scales, Ccroplastes, are like the hemispherical brown Lecaniums except that they are covered with a layer of wax. Sometimes this wax forms distinct plates, but in other species this is not the case. Ina 8 new species found by Dr. Strachan at the Island of Grand Turk, the wax is so abundant that that from: the several scales runs together, covering the scales and surrounding the twig on which they grow, almost as the wax of a candle surrounds the wick. (7.) Vinsonia, Signoret. There is only one species, whichis something like a small Ceroplastes, but round the margin are seven waxy rays, making the insect look like a little star. They are fairly common on mango leaves in Jamaica, and are also found on orchids. (8.) Pulvinaria, Targioni-Tozzetti. These, when immature, are just like the flat oval Lecaniums,. but the adult female produces a large cottony sac, in which she lays her eggs. As this sac is produced, she shrivels up, so as to appear like a little dark scale at one end of it. The white cottony ovisacs are very conspicuous; those of P. cupaniw must often have been observed on the leaves of Akee trees in Kingston. : Aberrant genera. : (9.) Orthezia, Bosc. These are curious looking creatures, the females small, broadly oval, with eight-jointed antennz and well-developed legs. They are more or less ornamented with a waxy cover- ing, and produce long white ovisacs which project posteriorly, They havea sort of superficial resem- blance to little spiders. There is a species, O. insignis, found on low plants in gardens in Jamaica, particularly on violets and chrysanthemums. This genus is placed by Maskell in the same sub- division as Dactylopius. (10.) Zachardia, Signoret. This consists of the lac insects, which cover themselves with a hard coating of lac, strong but brittle, melting at a moderately high temperature. There is a speciesin Jamaica, infesting the coco plum, and appearing as subglobular lumps rather smaller than a pea, with a crimson knob on the back. Maskell, in a paper published 1891, refers this genus to the group Brachyscelide. The genus is usually called Carteria but the name was altered on account of preoccupation. (11.) Planchonia, Signoret. Small scales, hardly bigger than the head of a pin, nearly circular and slightly convex. They look like members of the next sub-family, but with a lens it is easily seen that they have a delicate waxy fringe all round the margin, which distinguishes them. P. pustulans is common on twigs of Akee in Kingston, producing a pustular appearance ; P. oncidii is very similar, but bright yellow in colour, it is found on orchids, and was discovered by Dr. Henderson. (12.) Asterolecanium,, Targioni-Tozzetti. These are very much like Planchonia, and have the fringe, but from their more elongated shape they might be taken, on hasty examination, for species of Lecanium. Ofcourse they are really very different from any Lecanium, being enclosed in a true scale, and having a very different structure in many ways’ There is a species, A. bambuse, found on bamboo stems at Moneague ; and also a very small and narrow species, A. palme, found on leaves of cocoanut palm sent by Dr. Sinclair from near Montego Bay. (IV.) Diaspine. These are the true scale-insects, having a scale distinct from the insect itself. They are all small, on the average about the size of a pin’s head, and are found abundantly on a great variety of plants. The scales may be any shape from circular to linear, and flat to hemispherical, and any colour from white to reddish, brown, or black. They have this peculiarity, that the exuvie of the younger stages are retained on the back of the scale. The female scales show the minute shield-shaped transversely ribbed “ first skin,’’ and this is situated either in the middle or to one side of a larger second skin, be- low which is the larger scale proper. In the species of Diaspis, which have white scales, these first and second skins stand out prominently asadark spot. In the subgenus Targionia of Aspidiotus, the exuvie are covered by secretion, so that only a nipple-like prominence is left. The male scales show only the first skin and the scale proper: they are, in several of the genera, totally unlike those of the female in form. Thus, in Diaspis the female scale is oval or rounded ; that of the male cylindrical with parallel sides, and much smaller. (18.) Aspidiotus, Bouché. Very numerous in species. The female scales are circular or slightly oval, flat or convex; the male scales are either like them but smaller, or (as in the case of a species found on orchids) narrow and elongated. When the male scales are elongated, they are not cylindrical, white, with terminal exuviz, like Diaspis. Aspidiotus proper has the female scales white or whitish, and the exuvize uncovered. The subgenus Targionia Signoret (I here use the name in a wider sense than was originally intended) contains species with covered exuvic, and the scales generally dark- coloured. (14..) Diaspis, Costa. The female scales are white, with the exuvie conspicuous from their darker colour; the male scales are small, cylindrical, with terminal exuvie, and a single median keel. A. species of this genus, D. Janatus, is very destructive to Capstcum plants in Kingston. ie (15.) Auwlacaspis, Cockerell. Female scale nearly circular in outline, waxy-white or pale greyish ; male scale like that of Diaspis, but with three strong keels, A. rose is found on roses; A, boisduvalit on cocoanut paim. f F F : (16.) Parlatoria, Signoret. The female scale is brownish, nearly circular, or elongate-oval, with. the exuvis to one side, and the second skin quite large. The male scale is small, elongate, dark in colour, with parallel sides and the exuvie at one end. A species is common in Kingston on leaves of on. ig (17.) Pseudoparlatoria, Cockerell. The only West Indian species is found commonly in Kingston usually on Acalypha. The female scales, which infest the twigs, are blackish, and resemble those of Aspidiotus. ‘The male scales, found more usually along the midribs of the leaves, resemble the female scales of Pariatoria and are pale in colour. ae (18.) Mytilaspis, Signoret. The female scales, as the name indicates, are mussel-shaped, usually brown incolour. The male scales are similar but smaller and narrower. A species of this genus, DM... aitricola, may very often be observed on oranges. 9 (19.) Pinnaspis, Cockerell. The scales are brown or whitish and like Mytilaspis in shape, though rather broader. The distinguishing character is afforded by the second skin, which is very large, and covered by secretion. Species occur in Jamaica on cocoanut palm and bamboo. ~ (20.) Chionaspis, Signoret. The female scale is elongate or broadly mussel-shaped, in nearly all the species white, with darker exuvix. The male scale is white and keeled, like that of Awulacaspis. In one American species the male scale is not keeled, but this should probably be removed from the genus. sls F : : ; (21.) Fiorinia, Targioni-Tozzetti. A species of this genus is found on cocoanut palm. The scale resembles Parlatoria but is more elongate, and the second skin, which is keeled, is so large as to leave nothing but a sort of fringe round the margin to represent the true scale. The first skin is placed at one ond and very evident. ' (22.) Ischnaspis, Douglas. The one species of this genus is common on palms, and may be easily yecognised by its shape, being linear and black in colour. Aberrant genus. (23.) Conchaspis, new genus. I found this on a Madagascan orchid, Angrecum eburneum var virens, at Hope Gardens. The scale is about 1 millim. diameter, white, high conical, very much like the shell Calyptrea chinensis in miniature. The apex is a little to one side of the contre. The insect under the scale is something like a Diaspis superficially, but the structure, examined with a microscope, is very peculiar, and there are legs, which is never the case with adults of Diaspine, so faras yet known, Mr. L. O. Howard kindly gave me his opinion about it as follows :— “Your Conchaspis does not seem to belong to the Diaspine. The characters of the iast segment as well as the presence of antenne and legs would place it in the Coccinw, and possibly in the Acan- thococcini, in which it would form a new genus. The scale resembles that of Znglisia although the anal characters remove it from the Lecaniine, the antennw being apparently five-jointed.”” (in litt., Aug. 6, 1892.) The species will be described as Conchaspis angreci. Jan. 12, 1898. FERNS : SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XV. Synoptical List, with Descriptions of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of Jamaica, by G. S. Jenman, Superin tendent Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin, No. 38.) Genus XIV. Pellea. Link. Sori terminal on the veins, at first round and distinct, but soon becoming confluent, linear and continuous, surrounding the margin; involucres continuous, membranous or coriaceous, plain or un- dulate ; fronds generally small, veins free. This genus differs chiefly from the preceding by the less divided fronds, the confluent sori making a continuous line around the margin as in Pteris; the ends of the veins, which are the receptacles, being distinct, and not transversely connected as in the latter genus. 1. P. geraniefolia, Fée.—Rootstock upright, fibrous, scaly ; stipites tufted, channelled, slender, naked or the base slightly scaly, polished dark brown ; fronds chartaceons, naked, bright green, sub- deltoid, palmatifid, subtripartite, 2-4 in. each way, upper part simply pinnatifid, rachis and costce ob- scure above, prominent beneath but evanesent, polished blackish; 1-2 or 3 central pinne lobed or pin- natifid, narrowed at the base and decurrent, lowest pair much the largest, with the lower side the deeper and freely developed with subentire lobed or pinnatifid basal pinnule that vary from 4-1? in. 1. and 2-6 li. w. ; final segments connected at the base, acutely pointed, 2-3 li. 1. 14-2 li. w. ; veins free, forked, evident in fresh fronds, rather obscure in dry : sori at first distinct, at length confluent forming a con- tinuous marginal line, which barely falls short of the very tips of the segments ; involucres continuous, narrow, membranous, undulate, turned back and concealed eventually by the matured sori. —Pteris geranitfolia, Radd. Hook. Icon. Pl. t. 915. Pteris concolor, Langs & Fisch. Ic. Fil. t. 21. Infrequent or rare; gathered by Sloane in 1688 ‘‘ between the town of Savanna and Twomile Wood,”’ and rediscovered in 1877 at the old mines, between Hope and Gordon Town, St. Andrew. A widely spread species over the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world, and long constantly referred to Pteris owing to the confluence of the sori and obscurity of venation in dried specimens. It has a general resemblance to Ptevis pedata, but is distinguished by the more copiously lobed parts, free veins, and, at first, punctiform sori. The barren fronds are small with rounded lobes, and short slen- der stipites. Genus XV. Plagiogyria, Kunze. Sori terminal on the forked horseshoe-shaped thickened ends of the veins, laterally confluent, forming a linear, continuous marginal band; involucres continuous, involute and connivent over the sori and cost, ultimately open; sterile and fertile fronds distinct, pinnz of the latter contracted; veins free ; stipites dilated, fleshy and triquetrous at the base, possessing spongy glands. In the fertile fronds the veins are forked from the base, the branches diverging, and at their apices they are again shortly forked with a pair of soriferous venules, which together are horseshoe- shaped. ‘The sori are at first roundish, but from their contiguity are early confluent, and form a con- tinuous line, which at maturity fills the space between the margin and coste. Occasionally a vein- branch occurs not again branched at the soriferous summit mixed with those that are, and in some instances the fertile venules seem to form a nearly complete circle by convergence. These particulars show that the genus is well founded, and. in spite of habit and apparent superficial affinity, belongs undoubtedly to this tribe, to which Moore ascribed it in his Indew Filicum, rather than to the next to which it is generally referred and merged in Lomaria. EO ——— ai ae Sea! oe 10 1. P. biserrata, Mett.—Rootstock upright, short immersed; stipites ceespitose, dilated and trique- trous near the base, but narrowed again at the axis, 3-9 in. l.; barren fronds papyraceous, dark clear green, naked, 14-14 ft. 1. 4-6 in. w. lanceolate, fully pinnate at the rather reduced base, pinnatifid to the narrow wing of the rachis above, the apex acuminate and lobate-serrate; pinne very numerous, contiguous or rather apart, horizontal, 24-3 in. 1. 4 in. w. with a rounded open sinus between, dentate- serrate, the teeth deeper, sharper and bidentate at the finely acuminate point; veins oblique, forked from the middle or base, or some simple, pellucid; fertile fronds on longer stipites, the pinne linear, the lower free at the base, those above adnate but notched on the inferior side, 2-24 in. 1. 14 li. w.— Lomaridium, Pres), Lomaria semicordata, Baker. Frequent at about 7,000 ft. alt. on the forest-clad slopes of the higher peaks of the Blue Mountain range. The fronds rather resemble some of the conditions of Acrostichum sorbifolium and Pteris longifolia. Discovered in 1874 in Jamaica and not known elsewhere in the West Indies but widely spread on the continent from Mexico to Peru. Genus XVI. Lonchitis, Linn.* Sori confined to the sinuses and hollows of the lobes, or more or less continuous around the mar- Bin; rae ie linear, transverse with the apices of the veins ; involucres membranous; veins areola- ted or free. This genus differs only from Pferis by the sori originating in and being continuous around, the sinuses and hollows of the lobes, instead of being interrupted there, as in that genus. But while af- fecting those situations most it often forms a sinous band around the lobes, more or less continuous from the base to the apex of the pinne. L. aurita, Linn.—Rootstock erect; stipites caospitose, strong erect, 1 - 2 ft. 1. freely clothed with a pale spreading soft pubescense ; fronds 14 - 2 ft. 1 or more, $ - 11 ft w., simply pinnate with a pin- natifid apex, or bipinnatifid at the base, herbaceo—chartaceous, copiously pellucid dotted, light green pilose as are the rachis and costz ; pinnz spreading, sessile or shortly petiolate, a span or more L,, simply lobed, or pinnatifid, the basal pair branched; pinnule sessile lobes rounded or acute, veins prominent beneath, copiously and angularly areolated ; sori lunate, in the sinuses only or extending to the hollows of the sides of the lobes, involucres pale, membranous.— Plum. Fil. t. 17. Rare ; gathered in 1880 by Nock on the flat above Morce’s Gap, below John Crow Peak, in the forest, between 5,000 - 6,000 ft. alt. In the specimens in question the pinne are simply lobed, as shown in Plumier’s figure, upon which the species was founded, Plumier gathered his plant in Martinique, and it is remarkable that 200 years should have elapsed before its rediscovery in the West Indies, and that it should have again dissappeared with the single plant then found, though care- ful search in the same locality has been made for it. Whether regarded as conspecific with L. pubes- cens, Wild, which as a rule is larger and more compound, or not the Linnean name has priority. The different character of the vestiture, position of the sori and reticulated venation distinguish it at sight from Pteris Jaciniata the only other species having resemblance to it. Genus XVII. Pteris, Linn. Sori marginal, linear, continuous, rarely oblong, inserted on a special linear receptacle; involucres the same shape as the sori, attached by the outer edge, inflexed, free along the inner, a rudimentary interior valve in rare cases present also, veins free, or united; fronds varying from subentire to de- compound, This genus, which is confined with one or two exceptions to the tropical and warm temperate regions, is represented in Jamaica at all altitudes, from the lowest to the very highest, about half the species being strictly forest denizens, the rest growing in more or less exposed situations, some being communal, particularly the bracken (P. aquilina) which covers an enormous area of the country. a. Fronds pinnato-palmate. 1. P. pedata, Linn. aa. Fronds uniformly once pinnate. b. Veins free. 2. P. longifolia, Linn. bb. Veins united. 3. P. grandifolia, Linn. aaa. Fronds once pinnate above, lower pinnz forked. 4. P. cretica, Linn. (See also small states of P mutilata.) aaaa. Fronds mainly bipinnatifid, but usually having the basal pair of pinnz branched on the un- derside at the base. b, Lowest vein of each segment springing from the costa. 5. P. mutilata, Linn. 6. P. Swartziana, Agardh. bb, Lowest vein springing like the rest in each segment from the midrib. 7. P. longipinnula, Wallich. 8. P. quadriaurita, Retz. —_ ee * Onychiwm, Kaulf. which comes in beside this genus, has not been found in the British West Indian Islands, but as it is represented, in Cuba it may also be in Jamaica. The fronds are a span or two long, multifidly divided, with small linear, bifid or trifid sharp segments, free veins, short sori on a transverse filiform receptacle which combines the ends of the veins, the edges of the opposite involucres meeting, giving the leaf segments a podlike appearance. 0. strictwm, Kunze, so far only known from Cuba, has a small erect or oblique rootstock, fronds tufted, 1-2 spans long including the stipites which are } # the whole length; blade elongato-deltoid, finely cut (resembling in outline and cutting the more finely cut forms of Aspleniwm fragrans and the sori shorter than the leaf segments, the points of which extend beyond, 11 bbb. Midribs of tho segments connected by a shallow costal arch, other veins free. 9. P. biaurita, Linn. aaaaa. Fronds tri-or quadripinnatifid. b. Veins areolated. 10. P. podophylla, Swartz. a ll. P. aculeata, Swartz. 12. P. Kunseana, Agardh. 13. P. bulbifera, Jenm. 14. P. gigantea, Willd. bb. Veins free. 15. P. laciniata, Willd. aaaaaa. Fronds tripinnate. b. Veins free. 16. P. heterophylla, Linn. bb. Veins free or casually united. 17. P. incisa, Thunb. aaaaaaa. Fronds quadripinnate ; veins free. b. Involucres simple. 18. P. deflexa, Link. bb. Involucres double. 19. P. aquilina, Linn. 20. P. viscosa, Moore. 1. P. pedata, Linn.—Rootstock small, fibrous, scaly; stipites tufted, slender, wiry, polished blackish, 2-6 in. 1, furfuraceous or naked at maturity ; fronds subdeltoid, tripartite, 3-5 in. each way, subcoriaceous, dark green above, pale beneath, naked or the ribs slightly furfuraceous ; central portion larger, and equilateral, deeply pinnatifid below the entire lanceolate-acuminate apex, the lowest pair of its segments entire or pinnatifid and decurrent ; lateral portions furcate from near the base, the divisions nearly equal or the superior larger, divaricating, subentire or more or less pinnatifid on one or both sides ; rachis and costz inconspicuous on the upper side, beneath prominent but evanescent outwards, dark coloured and polished ; veins forming a fine net work, without free branches, obscure in dry fronds; sori continuous along the margins.—Plum. t. 152. Doryopteris, J. Smith. Frequent under banks in open and shady situations in the mid-region of the principal mountain ranges, from 3,000 to 4,500 ft. alt. The smaller, less divided, fronds, which are uniform, in some plants, but may often be gathered with the larger, more divided, from the same rootstock, are often in herbaria ascribed to P. pa/mata, Linn., a species similar but more coriaceous, and somewhat less divided in the fronds, found on the mainland. Sec also the nute tu Pcliwa yeraniefolia. 2. P. longifolia, Linn.—Stipites tufted, spreading, from a few inches to lor 2 ft. 1. nearly naked or more or less freely villose, scaly; arising from a stout, shortly repent rootstock ; fronds 1 - 3 ft. 1. 4 - 14 ft. w. simply pinnate, stiff dark green, striated, the base generally much reduced, the apex termi- nating abruptly in a linear segment ; rachis channelled, and with coste glabrous or villose; pinnz very numerous, spreading horizontally, linear, 4 - 8 in. ]. 2 - 6 li. w. cordate or more or less auricled at the sessile base, acuminate or blunt-pointed, the barren margins crenate-serrate ; veins close, spread- ing, once or twice forked; sori continuous along both margins,—Sloane, t. 34. ; Plum. t. 69 and 70 ; Eat. Fer. N. Am. pl. 78. P. Vittata, Linn. Common on banks and in dry woods up to 4,000ft. alt. Very variable in size of fronds, width of pinne and vestiture. In the narrower forms the inflexed involucres nearly touch the midrib, while in the broader there is a more or less open space between; the pinne of barren fronds in all being broader than those of the fertile. At the higher elevations it is more hispid or villose than in the low. The summits of the veins in barren fronds are thickened, and often covered with minute calcareous scales, There is a remarkable multifid freely lobed and incised state, and another with the apex fas- ciated, spreading fringe-like. The Linnean names are founded on the larger and smaller states. 3. P. grandifolia, Linn.— Rootstock stout, free-creeping, densely coated with brownish scales ; stipites apart, strong, erect, scaly at the base, 2-4 ft. 1. not channelled; fronds stiff, 3-6 ft. 1. 13-23 ft. w. simply pinnate, sub- coriaceous, naked, the rachis strong, channelled, straw-coloured or brown; pinnz entire, numerous, about 2 in. apart, $-1} ft. 1. 1-14 in. br., sessile and subrounded or rather cuneate at the base, the lower ones shorter on the inferior side, terminal like the lateral ; veins very close, spreading at a wide angle from the midrib, simple or forked and parallel within the marginal network; sori in a marginal band, extending from the base to the finely serrated tapering point.—Plum. t.105. Hook. Sp. Fil. Vol. 2 t. 113 B. Heterophiebium, Fée. Common among the lower hills on roadsides, banks, and more or less open places. The upper dark green surface israther silky looking. Both in this andthe preceding the sporangia are carly mixed with scales. Sir Henry Barkly gathered a form with sinuated and branched pinna. P. domini- censis, Baker of Dominica differs by having the veins wholly areolated. The habit resembles that of Davwaillia saccoloma. P. vittata, Schk, from Cuba has mostly free veins. 4, P. cretica, Linn.—Stipites 1-2 ft. 1. numerous, slender, erect, naked, stramineous, channelled, arising from a shortly creeping rootstock ; fronds }-1 ft. l., nearly as w., light green, naked, chartaceous, composed of a long terminal pinne and 2-3 pairs of distant similar, linear-ligulate, and acuminate erecto-spreading lateral ones, the upper pair of which are close to the base of the terminal and shortly decurrent on the slender, channelled, straw coloured rachis, the middle pair sessile, subcuneate at the base but not decurrent, the lowest pair forked from near the base, the membrane on the lower side below the fork being absent, 4-9 in, 1, about 4 in, w, those of the barren fronds rather wider and spiny: 12 lose-serrate; veins close, spreading nearly at right angles, simpled and forked; sori continuous in 4 marginal band, falling short of the sharply serrated apex.—Hat. Fer. N. Am. pl. 64. Infrequent on the banks of streams between 4,000-5,000 ft. alt; gathered below Belle Vue, of the Government Cinchona Plantation. The discovery in Jamaica, in the region mentioned, by Nock, some sixteen or sevetteen years ago, made the West Indies a new habitat for this widely distributed species. It is remarkable for its fine, loug, narrow, very tapering pinne, and slender straw-coloured vascular parts. a CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT. iy LipRary. Treasury of Botany, 2 vols. [Kew.] Hooker and Arnott’s British Flora, [Kew.] Gray’s Structural and Systematic Botany. [Kew.| Lindley’s Introduction to Botany. Vols.1 &2. [Kew.] Smithsonian Report, 1889. [Kew.] Annual Reports of Forest Department, Madras, 1888-89. [Kew.] Catalogue of contributions from India to the London Exhibition of 1862. [Kew.] Contributions from the U. 8. National Herbarium. Vol, I, No. IV; Vol. If, No. I. [Kew.] Wattle Bark. Report of Board of Enquiry. Melbourne. 1878. [Kew.] A Visit to the West Indies :—A. H. Hitchcock. [Kew.] Bulletin Royal Gardens, Kew, No. 72. December 1892. [Kew.]} Ditto Appendix ITI., 1892. [Kew. Bulletin Dept. of Agriculture, Canada. No.16. Nov. 1892. [Kew.] Report on Tea Culture in Assam for 1891. [Kew.] Report on Govt. Agri-Horti-Gardens, Lahore for 1891-92. [Kew.] Reports of Public Parks and Gardens, Cape Colony. For 1891-92. [Kew,] Odd numbers of the Transactions of the Jamaica Society of Arts. [Kew.] Diplomatic and Consular Reports. [Hon. Colonial Secretary. ] . Index to Diplomtic and Consular Reports. [Hon. Colonial Secretary.] The International Customs Journal. [Hon. Colonial Secretary. } Bulletins, Nos. 5—19. 1890-92. [Dept. of Agricnlture, Brisbane. | A Bibliography of Australian Economic Botany, Part I. [Govt. Botanist, Sydney.] Proc. of the Ninth Annual Convention of the Assoc. of Agricultural Chemists, 1892. [Sec. of Agriculture.] Proceedings and Journal of Agri-Horti-Society of India. July—September 1892. [Secretary.] Proceedings of Agri-Horti-Society of Madras. July—September 1892. [Secretary. ] Proceedings and Transactions of Nova Scotia Institute of Science. Second Series, Vol. I. Part I. [Secretary.] Times of Ceylon, Nos. 43—50, Oct., Nov. and Decr. 1892. [Editor.] Botanical Gazette, Nos. 11 &12. Nov. & Dec., 1892. [Editor.] Agricultural Gazette of N ew South Wales. Vol. III. Part 9, September 1892, and Index to Vol. II. [Editor.] Agricultnral Record of Trinidad, May 1891, [Mr. C. W. Meaden.] Barbados Agricultural Gazette and Planters Journal, No. 12, December 1892. [Editor.] Florida Despatch, Farmer and Fruit Grower, Nos. 40—61. November & December 1892, [Editor.] Planters Monthly, Sept. 1892. [Hditor.] The Sugar Cane, Nos. 281, 282. Dec. 1892, & Jany. 1893, [Editor.] Chemist and Druggist, Nos. 656—663, Nov. & Dec. 1892. [Editor. | West Indian & Commercial Advertiser, December 1892. [Editor.] Torrey Botanical Club, December 1892. [Secretary. ] Annual Progress Report of State Forest Administration New South Wales, for 1891, [Director General.] Annual Report of the Gardens at Oodeypore for 1891-92. [Superintendent.] Annual Report on Botanical Station at Aburi to 30th June, 1892. [Curator.] Annual Report of Botanic Gardens, Lucknow, to 3lst March, 1892. [Superintendent.] Annual Report of Botanic Gardens, Saharanpur, and Mussooree to 31st March, 1892. [Superintendent. } Report of the Viticultural Work, 1887—1889. [University of California.] Reports of Experiments on Methods of Fermentation, [Do.] Distribution of Seeds and Plants. [ Do.| Root Knots on Fruit Trees and Vines, [Do.] SEEDS. From Royal Gardens, Kew :— Gaultberia perplexa, G. fragrantissima, Acacia melanoxylon, A verticillata, A. pycnantha, A. armata, A. lophantha, A. acanthocarpa, Gahnia erythrocarpa, Bellendenia montana, Capparis Mitchelli, Ciesalpinia echinata, Rhodamnia trinervis, Gomphocarpus arborescens, Cordyline australis, Billardiera longiflora fructu albo, Tecoma australis, Alyxia- buxifolia, Anigozanthus Manglesii, Maba natalensis, Schizophragma hydrangoides, Veronica Derwentia, Leptocarpha rivularis, Stapelia gigantea, Plectranthus glaucocalyx, Eucalyptus punctata, Atriplex halmoides, Andropogon sp., Mel- hania erythroxylon, Cephalostachyum capitatum, Blue Kennedya, Anthistiria avenacea, Bucklandia populnea, Helichry- sum rosmarifolium, Cordyline indivisa, Rhododendron spp. Nos. 3, 5, 10, 11, 12,15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 3337, and Rhododen- dron Delavayi, R. campanulatum, R. Falconeri, R. barbatum, R. decorum, R, hybridum, R. glaucum, R. Dalhousiz, RB. camphylocarpun, R. Hodgsoni, R. cinnabarinum, R. Wightii, Dichrostachys sp. From Harvard University :— f ) Silene stylosa, Calendula regalis, Helianthus rigidus, Coreopsis cardiminifolia, Tagetes africana, Maurandia Bar- clayana, Phytolacea decandra, Coreopsis auriculata, C. lanceolata, C. delphinifolia, C. senifolia, Dimorphotheca pluvialis, Chrysanthemum segetum, C. coronarium, Calendula officinalis, (meteor), Anchusa angustifolia, Iberis coronaria, Bidens atrosanguinea, Petunia nyctaginiflora, Phlox Drummondii, Zinnia elegans, Digitalis ochrolueca, Gypsophylla acutifolia, Silphium perfoliatum, Veronica caucasica, Scutellaria macrantha, Scrophularia alata, Pardanthus chinensis, Lobelia cardinalis, Scrophularia latifolia, Pentstemon pulchella, Statice latifolia, Parthenium integrifolium, Rudbeckia bicolor, R. grandifolia, Actinomeris helianthoides, Verbena hybrida, Godetia bijou, Scabiosa_ nana fi. pl., 8. isetensis, Didiscus coeruleus, Ageratum mexicanum, Salpiglossis croceum, Tagetes patula, vars, Gladiolus Lemoine’s, hybrids, Heuchera san- guinea, Pentstemon diffusus, Heliopsis secabra, Anemone decapitata, Alyssum saxatile, A, argenteum, Clematis ochroleuca, Grindelia hirsutula, Aster puniceus, Pycnanthemum montanum, Heuchera hispida, Ruellia ciliosa, Saponaria officinalis, Digitatis gloxinoides, Cimicifuga racemosa, dissecta, Hibiscus militaris, Gaillardia aristata, Pentstemon Digitalis, Ptelea trifoliata, Statice speciosa, Plantago Cynops, Silene caucasica, S. nutans, Scrophularia nodosa, Erigeron pulchellus, Phy- tostegia virginica, Arabis alpina, Pelekia speciosa, Eryngium giganteum, E. rigidum, Digitalis purpurea, Dianthus lati- folium, Aletroemeria aurea, Salvia pratensis, Sonchus palustris, Eupatoriumfpurpureum, Silphium asperrimum, Lychnis chalcedonica, Gaillardia picta, Plantago major, atropurpurea, Helianthus lactiflorus, Celsia Arcturus, Pentstemon bar- patus, Verbascum Blattaria, —-_ —_— Ce 7 ; . am | Oouncil Paper No. 40 of 1804. BOTANIC GARDENS. Report of the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, for the year 1893. Laid before the Legislative Council on the 19th March, 1894. Last Annual Report, Council Paper No. 43/1898. Registered No. of Correspondence relating to the subject—M. P. No. 1893/1894. TRINIDAD : PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PORT-OF-SPAIN. 1894. BOTANIC GARDENS. Report of the Superintendent of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Trinidad, for the year 1898. Council Paper No. 40 of 1894. M. P. No. 1393/1894. RoyaL Botanic GARDENS, March 30, 1894. SIR, I beg to forward herewith my seventh Annual Report on the Royal Botanic Gardens and their work. The year under review ends December 31st, 1893. I have again to record that the year’s work has been a difficult one. The incle- ment weather which prevailed in 1892 continued for the greater part of the year 1893, and the rainfall as recorded at the gardens exceeded that of 1892 by 1:35 inches ; 1892, 91:14 inches; 1893, 92.49 inches. The establishment suffered severely from the damage occasioned by the heavy downpours, and roads, drains, borders and beds have needed constant attention, vegetation suffered generally and plants of a tender character had to be frequently replaced, in all parts of the garden. ESTABLISHMENT. The staff of the gardens remains the same as last year. The Superintendent was absent on leave for three months commencing on April 26th during which period Mr. W. E. Broadway acted as Superintendent. Mr. Broadway was absent on fourteen days’ vacation leave in September and ten days on Medical certificate in November. METEOROLOGY. The usual observations have been duly made at the Gardens, and the record of the Island rainfall has been continued. We have lost some observers, but new Stations having been added to these already existing, and our total number of observers in the Island is now ninety-nine. The annual returns are appended to this report. The barometric observations taken in this office have on several occasions proved of service to the shipping interest in Port-of-Spain, as we were able to give timely warning of disturbed weather which enabled suitable precautions to be taken by “flat” owners and Captains of vessels in port. Our means of making the barometric variations known to shippers is however inadequate for the purpose, and it is hoped that during 1894 a system of signals may be devised which will prove of greater service. Inqui- ries have been received from Cuba asking that intelligence of any disturbance may be communicated to them during the hurricane season, for it is well known that the storms which do so much damage further North, take their rise near the Equator, and that in Trinidad, we are from our geographical position able to make the first note of barometric variations common tw such disturbances. Trinidad, as a rule, is not affected to any serious extent, but loss is occasionally caused to “flat” owners by these storms. It is well known that weather, which amounts only toa “strung blow” with us, may develope as it travels North into the much dreaded hurricane or cyclone, and a great service could be rendered by giving telegraphic communication of any serious barometric variation, to Stations at the Northern Islands during the season when such storms are known to be of frequent occurrence. Towards the eud of the year, I had the advantage of being able, through the kindness of His Excellency the Governor, to take an automatic record of the tempera- ture at the Gardens office by the use of Daniel’s Recording Thermometer. These records are of a very interesting character, but have not been taken for a sufficient length of time to enable any accurate deductions to be made. The instrument is clock-shaped and records on a circular diagram the rise and fall of temperature at all times during the day and night for each day of the week; each diagram containing a seven days’ record. The instrument also answers as a clock and calendar, telling the time, the day and the date. 3 HERBARIUM. Steady progress has been made with the Herbarium during the year and about 2,500 specimens of the Flora have been added. Among the latter a new species of Orchid which has been named at Kew as Zpidendrum Hartii n. sp. Rolfe. This was collected many years ago by Dr. Cruger, but to this time had remained without name. No consignment was sent to Kew for determination during the year, but our work has been to arrange the orders so that a complete sequence may be sent during the coming year, consisting of those which stand most injneed of being authoritatively determined at Kew. The most numerous orders are now in readiness and will be despatched at an early date. We have to thank the authorities at the Royal Gardens, Kew, for the unfailing courtesy they extend to us in the determination of garden and indigenous plants, and we have this year in addition to thank them for the important work of determining the fungus of the cane disease, the exposition of which has been treated in a masterly manner by Mr. Massee, with full illustrations in the Annals of Botany, December, 1893. In this work credit is given to our office as the first to call attention to the evil. Now that the character of the disease is known, it opens up the way for our cultivators to adopt successful means for its extermination. The name of the fungus is Trichosporeee Sacchari, Mass. A disease of the Cocoa tree has also been determined by the same authorities as being caused by a fungus called Fusariwm album Sacc, and I am glad to record their opinion that “no serious harm is likely to follow,” as the plant is not a true parasite, but merely affects the places where the trees have suffered injury to the stem or branches. CORRESPONDENCE. Colonial, foreign and local correspondence has been maintained, and the register shows a considerable increase on last year’s number of communications sent out. The issue of a catalogue of the plants cultivated, has resulted in numerous applications for seed and plants from all parts of the world, which, added to our issue of circulars accounts for the increase. DECORATIVE WORK. Plants were loaned out on seventeen different occasions (Public Balls and other entertainments), the total number used being 1,305, which is slightly less than the number for last year, the major portion of these were large plants in tubs. The supply of decorative plants and flowers required for the residence of His Excellency the Governor has been fully maintained. FLOWER GARDEN. Many of the beds containing shrubby flowering plants were renewed during the year and two or three beds of roses of the best imported kinds have been planted. Besides the usual routine work, we have had to remove several overgrown and unsightly trees, which have been replaced by plants of suitable character. A constant war has to be carried on in the Flower Garden, and indeed in all other sections, against the “Parasol Ant,” Ccodoma cephalotes, and probably two other species and each nest is exterminated as soon as seen. From the proximity of adjoining woodlands, I fear we cannot hope to be ever free from this destructive pest, to destroy which, means considerable expenditure of labour annually. The material which grows in the nests of these ants has now been determined as as the mycelium and conidia of one of the forms of fungus which develope large toadstools or mushrooms as an ultimate result, and is thought to be identical with a species observed by A. Miller in Brazil as being cultivated by South American ants. I have had the opportunity of making observations on the Parasol or Sauba ant in Nicaragua on the same ground as Belt studied them, but only a single species, Cicodoma cephalotes, which is the largest of this family was observed. In Trinidad we probably have three species, all growing the fungus in the nests, and all more or less destructive to vegetation. PE Pe = + 4 The following Orchids flowered with us during the year 1893 :— Epidendrum elongatum, Jacq. Dendrobium formosum, Roxb. var. giganteum. - Stamfordianum, Baden. o moschatum, Wallich. Schomburgkivi, Lindl. 5 Parishii, Kehb, f. ¥ ciliare, L. - sauvissimum, Rehb., f. nS nocturnum, L. rf nobile, Lindl. sf sthenopetalum, Hook. i Farmeri, Poxt. Ee variegatum, Hook. 53 Aphrodite, Rehb., f. fe cochleatum, L. t anosmum, Lindl. * atropurpureum, Willd. ie bigibbum, Lindl. “ fragrans, Swartz. Ceologyne flaccida, Lindl. a patens, sw. sec., Lindl. Mazillaria, (four species.) > jamaicense, Lindl, Aspasia variegata, Vindl, if Hartii, Rolfe, n. sp. Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, Rehb., f. A rigidum, Jacq. Bs Harrisianum, Rehb., f. 3 raniferum, Lindl. Peristeria pendula, Hook. Oncidium. Papilio, Lindl. af elata, Hook. 7 ampliatum, Lindl. Coryanthes, sps. citrinum, Lindl. Broughtonia sanguinea, R. Br. ae Lanceanum, Lindl. Miltonia spectabilis, Lindl. us luridum, Lindl. Oatasetum tridentatum (its various forms. ) . Sprucei, Lindl. ~ Bunmgerothit. A pulchellum, Hook. Polystachya luteola, Hook. 3 Kramerianum, Kehb. f. Stanhopea grandiflora, Lindl. ne hematochilum, Lindl. Aérides sauvissimum, Lindl. »» altissimum, Sw. Camaridium ochroleucum, Lindl. = triquetrum, R. Br. Zygopetalum cochleare, Lindl. Brassia caudata, Lindl. Saccolabium guttatum, Lindl. » maculata, R. Br. x giganteum, Lindl. Gongora atropurpurea, Hook. Dichea graminea, » maculata, Lindl. Loelia anceps, Lindl. », (white form) Hook. Brassavola cuccullata, R. Br. Cattleya Skinneri, Baten, var. parviflora, Hook. Cirrhopetalum O' Brienianum. s, Gaskelliana, Rechb., f. Rhynchostylis retusa. 3, a@methystoglossa, Linden et Rchb., f. Cygnoches loddigesii, Lindl. 3, mossic, Hook. Calanthe vestita, Lindl. », superba, Lindl. iranthes micrantha, G. Rehb. Lockhartia acuta, Rehb. Trichocentrum iridifolium, Sodd. A elegans, Hook. Bulbophyllum pachyrrhachis, Gr. Vanda tricolor, Lindl. Bletia shepherdii, Hook. Phalenopsis amabilis, Lindl. Hexadesmia fusiformis, Gr. a cornu-cervi, Blume et Rehb., f. Ponera prolifera, G, Rehb. 3 grandiflora, Lindl. Hexisea reflexa, G. Rehb. As sumatrana, Korth. Stenia pallida, Lindl. i Schilleriana, Rehb., f. Cyrtopodium cristatum, Lindl. 35 violacea, T & B. 55 3 Grise. Stelis ophioglossoides, Sw. Notylia punctata, Lindl. Diacrium (Epidendrum) bicornutum, Benth. Cryptarrhena pallidiflora, G. Rehb. Schomburgkia undulata, Lindl. Ornithocephalus gladiatus, Hook. Rodriguezia, secunda, Kunth. ep Cruegri, G. Rehb. Pleurothallis discoidea, Lindl. Trizenxis falcata, Lindl. se lepanthiformis, G. Rehb. Bifrenaria aurantiaca, Kth. Pogonia surinamensis, Lindl. Angraecum Scottianum, Rehb. f. Epistephium parviflorum, Lindl. = sesquipedale, Thouars. Vanilla planifolia, Andr. Dendrobium aggregatum, Roxb. 3, pheenantha, Rehb. f. Jonopsis utricularioides, Lindl. an Pierardii, Roxb. 3 grandifolia, Lindl. Jimbriatum oculatum, Hook. Prescottia, sps. 3 densiflorum, Wallich. Spiranthes Hostmanni, G. Rehb. Ap Jenkinsii, Wallich. Spiranthes orchioides. 5 formosum, Roxb. As will be seen, many of these are of Botanical interest only and do not form part of the decorative collection. A part of the collection of the late Mr. J. Cun- ningham has been added to our stock during the year, having been acquired by purchase with the consent of His Excellency the Governor. ROADS, WALKS AND DRAINS. The main drive has been gravelled during the year, the work being carried on conjointly between ourselves and the Public Works Department, the former finding the material and the gardens the labour and supervision. In the same way a large new drain was built to assist in carrying off the surface water from the main drive. This was a difficult operation, as in some places it had to be laid at a depth of eight feet from the surface. It works well and relieves the drive of storm water. This work was carried out under the immediate direction and supervision of the Superintendent. A surface drain was also made across the back road which prevents the overflow in the main drain near Guard House, which formerly did considerable damage at each heavy fall of rain. All the garden drains have been carefully overhauled, and repaired where necessary. A new piece of drain was put in between the garden’s office and Government House, relieving the Palm avenue of a considerable amount of flood waters which formerly used to accumulate near the front of the Governor’s residence. The permanent paving of the large ravine has been considerably improved and two large side drains near the cemetery have been led thereto. The storm 5 waters which these now carry, used to do considerable damage to the nutmeg trees and especially to our large mangosteen tree. At the end of the ravine, near the Giant Bamboo, abutments have been put to the stone bridge, for greater safety of carriages coming to the nurseries. It is much improved in appearance. VISITORS. The number of visitors who registered at the garden’s office is less than last year by 53 than for 1892, but this may probably be accounted for by the fact that the residence of the Governor was unoccupied for a portion of the year, His Excellency being on leave, and the building undergoing repair. There was a large attendance of visitors, however, who did not register. Prominent among the names of the list are those of Mr. J. E. Haynes, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Major Mason, Chicago. Commodore Beaumont. Dr. and Mrs. Blandford. J. J. Quelch, Esq. Baron Eggers. Marquisof Hamilton. The Karl and Countess of Harewood. Judge Bell of Ontario. Mr. Henshaw of Staten Island. Sir Benjamin Stone, F.L.S., and Colonel Howard Vincent, M.P. A great attraction has been the electric eel, Gymnotus electricus, especially to the officers and men of the various merchant and war-ships which have visited Port- of-Spain. We have now had this animal over three years. It was fed on worms and small fish.* NURSERIES. I have again to report a successful year of nursery work. The stock on hand has been fully maintained. The distribution of orange plants was not so large as had been expected, notwithstanding their being advertised at the low rate of 25c. per 100. The distribution for the year stands as follows :— DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS AND SEEDS, 1893. Table I. Where Distributed. Plants. | Seeds. To places outside the Island ... +e 6,089 411 packages. To places outside the Island ... ate a 11,500 ) countable Locally ... . Pe a 15,598 350} seeds. Total Distribution see 21,687 11,850 and 441 packages. The detail of our receipts is seen in Table II. It should be observed that the receipts are naturally much less than the distributions. This arises owing to Table I. including all our plant sales as well as plants distributed free of charge, and exchanges. Table II. includes merely receipts from exchanges and the few purchases that are annually made. PLANTS AND SEEDS RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE. Table II. Plants. Seeds. 490 262 Packages. Among our exchanges during 1893 we received a valuable collection of East Indian Orchids suitable for our warm damp climate. These were obtained for a con- signment of Oncidiwm ampliatum or the “Yellow Bee” as it is locally called. We also obtained new varieties of Hucharis in exchange for ordinary tubers. From the Royal Gardens, Kew, we received the usual annual consignment. The value of the contributions to our garden from this establishment cannot be too highly estimated, for the year seldom passes without plants of interesting and useful char- acter being received from them for trial in our climate. Plants, it may be mentioned, which it would be almost impossible to procure anywhere else but at a public estab- lishment, part of whose time is devoted to the task of searching for and supplying useful plants to Colonial Gardens. Among the plants sent in 1893 is one labelled “Coffee, sp. Sierra Leone,” raised from seeds collected by Mr. Scott Elliott in Africa when on the delimitation committee of the Anglo-French Frontier in 1892. * Tam sorry to say that it died on 22nd February, 1894. 6 In appendices are published the details of Plants and Seeds distributed and received. The Catalogue of plants cultivated was published early in 1893 and has, as before stated under correspondence, brought us enquiries for plants from Kew and from many other gardens in all parts of the world; and I am every mail receiving applications for copies from parties interested in Tropical cultures. The value of a. Catalogue of this kind to such an institution as the Royal Botanic Gardens is therefore plainly shewn. BULLETIN. The Bulletin of the Royal Botanic Gardens has been continued, the numbers issued were: No. 17, containing classified lists of plants or Catalogue, April; No 18, containing articles on the Rubber industry and Cane diseases and Pests in Trinidad ; No. 19, September, consists of a report on “Cocoa” in Nicaragua, giving the details of the introduction of Theobroma pentagona or “Alligator Cocoa.” Theobroma Cacao or “Nicaraguan Criollo.” Theobroma bicolor or “Pastaste”’ Cocoa. The “Tiger Cocoa” of Veragua ; and Theobroma augustifolia “Monkey Cacao,” “Cocao Meco” or “Cocoa Mono” of Nicaragua. No. 20, December, contains articles on an experiment with Cocna seeds, the Cola Nut, Cane diseases and extract, Circular notes, Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and Cacao disease. These Bulletins are now, by the kind permission of His Excellency Sir F. N. Broome, K.C.M.G., issued at intervals. The series have been much in demand as affording current information of a practical character, of interest to planters and agriculturists in general. They also form a medium of exchange for obtaining similar information of what is being done in other parts of the world, as recorded by similar publications, and I have to thank many correspondents for regular exchanges, ECONOMIC SECTION. To record the work of this Section would simply mean for the greater part a repetition of the notes in former year’s reports, but the Section has been carefully continued in accordance with the ascertained wants of cultivators. I, however, men- tion a few items. CALATHEA ALLOUYA has yielded under good cultivation a fine crop of tubers much larger in size than any hitherto seen, and nearly twice the size of the tuber as ordinarily seen in the markets. Supplies of this were successfully sent to numerous Botanic Gardens, and information has been received in several instances that the plants are thriving well. MARANTA ARUNDINACEA.—From tubers obtained direct from Bermuda, we have manufactured a small quantity of starch or arrowroot. This is certainly a finer sample than any previously grown and fully proves the constant need there is for change of plants and seeds from one district to another, as the quality of the product and the yield is much better from the imported plants. Lrmons.—Our plants of these raised from seed of imported Sicily Lemons grow fruit of large size, and of excellent quality, but they are not much sought after, as the “Lime” is in most cases preferred. CiTRoNs.— We have proved that Citrons can be grown of a fair size and of a good quality, but there appears to be no demand. PrpeR NigruM.—One of our plants this year produced good fruit. At the Convict Depot a nice crop was harvested which has been reported as of excellent quality by the London brokers, a report being obtained through the favor of the Director, Royal Gardens, Kew (see Kew Bulletin for March, 1894). This culture is reported on fully in our Garden Bulletin, No. 21, and Kew Bulletin for February, 1894. Uncaria GAMBIR.—Plants which we reported last year as doing very poorly have taken a turn for the better, and one plant especially is growing freely and hopes are entertained that it may now be acclimatized. VANILLA.—Our cultivation of the species mentioned last year has been continued with a view to testing which is most suitable for extended cultivation in Trinidad. Cacao.—The system of drying Cacao artificially by hot water, which was intro- duced at the local Exhibition of 1890 by a model made at our Gardens, has gained much approval during the three years which have since elapsed, and two or three large sets of apparatus are at work and others are now being put up on several of our largest estates. I note in Ceylon papers a discussion on the confusion existing as to the word “Cacao” and “Cocoa.” So far as Trinidad is concerned this has but little interest. The tree is “Cacao” to Spanish speaking people, and “Cocoa” to the English, and those engaged in trade know what is meant by the use of different words for the same article, and it is probably impossible to devise a system of naming which would be universally adopted by commercial firms and the public in different parts of the world. I append a short extract from the Ceylon Observer for the information of our planters. > | b. — ~~ =~ a a 7 COCOA (OR CACAO)—COCA—COCO—COCOANUT., (From the Ceylon Observer of June 28, 1893.) “FOUR WORDS IN COMMON USE.” Probably no four words in common use have become more tangled and confused in the minds of learned and unlearned than cacao, coca, coco, and cocoa. Dr. Eugene Murray Aaron points out that even critics themselves stumble in attempts to clear away the confusion, and he mentions that the four distinct products to which the names belong—the first and last of great importance—are commonly mixed under the one term cocoa, These products are :— 1. Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao), the chocolate berry tree. This is an evergreen growing from 15 to 45 feet, a native of tropical America, but now become wild in Africa. 1t bears pointed pods, each of which contains a number of the nutritive seeds. From the seeds are derived ‘‘ cacao nibs,” ‘‘ chocolate” (the most important substance), ‘‘cacao” (erroneously called cocoa in English countries), ‘‘broma,” ** cacao shells,” and ‘‘cacao butter.” 2. Coca (Erythroxylon Coca), the coca leaf bush. This shrub is found in the Andes, and is famed for the extraordinary stimulating properties of its leaves, which are known as “spadic” as well as ‘‘coca,” and contain two alkaloids—cocain and hygrin. 3. Coco (Colocasia esculentum, et al.), the coco roots. The name is properly applied only to the tubers of several allied species of plants, which furnish a starch-laden food in tropical countries. 4. Cocoa (Cocos nucifera), the'cocoanut palm, which yields the well-known hard-shelled fruit, together with valuable fibre.—Strazts paper. [No distinction is made between the product of the chocolate plant, namely ‘‘cocoa” and the palm fruit in the above, so far as spelling goes. As it is impossible to get Mincing Lane to give up the use of “ ”? ag) ALBRECHT SeEITz, Esq. Messrs. J. Vertcu & Sons M. Russet Corzs, Esq. . CapraIn CARR... Secy. AGRICULTURE I. Rann, Esq. Per Mrs. JAMEs Dr. H. A. NicHoLts A. C. Banorort, Esq. Marquis or HAMILTON ... on Messrs. Parke, Davis & Co. = Hon. W. Low... G. S. Davis, Esq. 8. L. Mzap, Esa. a M. Buysman, Esa. a oe Secty. Dept. AGRICULTURE, WASHINGTON Socrere ANONYME J. R. Bovett, Esq. Senorz A. ARGUELLO oe ow Srcty. PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY = Miss WILLINGTON GERMAN OFFICERS — SEWELL, Esa. SENOR SOKOLOWSKI on o- Messrs. Huan, Low & Co. Captain SEMINI A. F, Hernaman, Esq. J. 8. Greenrper, Esq... A C. Kewricu Giezons, Esq. J. O’Brien, Esq. Rev. Farser BERTRAND ... om Rev. Ricwarp... a oe J. W. Gituespiz, Esq. .. ae CAPTAIN PowLEs a io Kew. Ceylon. Jamaica. Calcutta. 8. Australia. Hong Kong. Mauritius. British Guiana. Dominica, St. Vincent. Grenada, - St. Lucia. Antigua. Tobago. England. England. Bermuda. ‘Queensland. Brazil. Bermuda, Dominica. Jamaica, England. U. §. A. Tobago. USA: LOPES ey Holland. U.S. A. Brussels. Barbados. Granada, Nicaragua. England. Tobago. Warship ‘‘Stosch.” England. Colon. England. Barbados. Barbados, Barbados. Barbados, England, France, (For Barbados.) Santa Barbara, U.S. A. R. M. 8. Company. ; ‘'_ 4 z ; APPENDIX II. Plants and Seeds were received from correspondents according to the following List, which forms annually a permanent record of introductions made, and is also an acknowledgment to our correspondents in the various Institutions which favour us with exchanges, and present similar returns :— NAME. NAME. From Royal Gardens, Kew. Cephalostachyum capitatum Stapelia gigantea Melhania erythroxylon Macrozamia spiralis Raphia vinifera Piper guineense (Ashantee Pepper) Bambusa siamensis Dictyospermum fibrosum Andropogon schcenanthus Acanthacez (Sierra Leone) Alsodeia subintegrifolia Amorphophallus sp. (Gambia) Aristolochia Gigas Sturtevantii Aroidz (Niger Territory) Bassia Parkii Bauhinia natalensis Burbidgea nitida Cassia sp. (Sierra Leone) Coffea arabica var. mexicana Coffea sp. (Sierra Leone) Erythroxylon Coca. (true Ceylon) Fordia cauliflora Godwinia Gigas Rhynchospora aurea Strychnos sp. (W. Trop. Africa) Tacsonia sanguinea Vanilla sp. Macassar yields Vanilloes of com- Alstonia verticillatus {merce. Aristolochia labiosa Aristolochia tricaudata Bauhinia sp. (Sierra Leone) Cameensia maxima Cassipourea sp. (Natal) Cesalpinia sp. (Sierra Leone) Caryota Rumphiana Cherimoyer (Anona sp. Andes) Chrysophyllum sp. (Sierra Leone) Cordia monoica Cycas Seemanni Dermatobotrys Saundersiz Elewodendron orientale Gardenia sp. (Sierra Leone) Gardenia sp. (N. Queensland) Legume (Natal) Legume (Zululand) Legume (Rio de Janeiro) Nephrosperma Van Houtteana Pandanus sp. (Sierra Leone) “* Runner, coloured flowers” (Brisbane) Sarcocephalus cordatus ‘* Plant from Sierra Leone” ‘** Small tree, Sierra Leone” Strobilanthes cuspidatus Strobilanthes gossypinus Dillenia sp. (Sierra Leone) Kigelia sp. Roupellia sp. (Sierra Leone) Tlex paraguayensis Doryanthes Guilfoyleii From Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. Cacao ‘‘ Red” Areca glandiformis From Botanic Gardens, Saharanpur. Pennisetum triflorum Ficus foveolata Catalpa Kcempferi Anogeissus acuminata Anogeissus latifolia. Lagerstremia regina. Wendlandia puberula. Sterculia elata. Heftage madablota. From Botanic Gardens, Saharanpur. Continued. Butea frondosa. Peach ‘*‘ Roem”. Ipomeea rubro ccerulea. Ehretia serrata. Beaumontia grandiflora. Phenix humile. Dillenia indica. Amaryllis, Hybrid. From Botanic Garden, Calcutta. Pheenix rupicola. Wallichia disticha. Bambusa siamensis. Pheenix paludosa. From Botanic Garden, Singapore. Vateria sp. Gnetum edule. Hoppea sp. Xerosperma sp. Livistona chinensis. Areca sp. Ochrosia borbonica, Dracena gracilis. Aristolochia Roxburghiana. Semecarpus Anacardium. Caryota urens. Verschaffeltia splendida. Sinesanthrus fibrosus. From Botanic Garden, Hong Kong. Macadamia ternifolia. Biota orientalis. Neevesia thyrsoidea. Doryanthes Palmeri. Viburnum odoratissimum. Lagerstreemia subcosta. Clematis Meyeniana. Coffea bengalensis. Pinus sinensis. Camellia reticulata. Cesalpinia vernalis. Hedychium coronarium. Cesalpinia Nuga. From Botanic Garden, Bombay. Crotalaria sp. From Botanic Garden, Bangalore. Soymeda febrifuga. Poinciana elata. From Botanic Garden, Adelaide. Hakea pandanicarpa. Eucalyptus grandifolia. Polyalthea Holtzeana. Eucalyptus cornuta. Eucalyptus pyriformis fy leucoxylon 5 rostrata Es Lehmanni 5 corynocalyx “8 calophylla ne gomphocephala 5 miniata AF gigantea Vitis acitosa Eleocarpus australe Acacia aculeaticarpa »» drepanocarpa 5, sentis _e APPENDIX II.- Continued. NAME. From Botanic Garden, Adelaide,—Con. Acacia Simsii 5, auriculeformis », longifolia » cyanophylla Adansonia Gregorii Pithecolobium pruniosum Spondias Solandii Alina eymosa Eleocarpus cyaneus Aliphitonia excelsa Cesalpinia Tara Fuenela rhomboidea Tristania conferta Heptapleurum venulosum Melaleuca symphyocarpa PS Preistana leiostochya ae hypericifolia Cochlospermum Fraseri Pittosporum bicolor Melaleuca genistifolia Hakea auriculata Callistemon brachyandros “1 salignus Ganophyllum falcatum Metrosideros paradoxa Hakea cucullata Myrosporum Cunninghamii Nephelium Cucocarpum Brachychiton diversifolium Hemicyclia sepiaria Agonis flexuosa Brachychiton paradoxum Cassia Brewsterii Callistemon rigidus me speciosus Callistris verrucosa Casuarina stricta i. humilis Cupania semiglauca Doryanthes Palmeri Dysoxylum Schultzei Frenela intratropica Eleodendron tomentosum Syncarpia laurifolia Helicia australasica Grevillea Chrysodendrum Ap heliosperma 5 mimosoides 59 robusta Gardenia megasperma Rhus rhodanthema Zanthoxylum parviflorum Nephelium tomentosum Sterculia aurifolia », heterophylla From Botanic Garden, Melbourne. Macadamia ternifolia Morinda jasminoides Sterculia diversifolia Syncarpia laurifolia Sypoum glandulosum Telopea speciosissima. Pittosporum rhombifolium, Grevillea robusta. Tecoma australis. Doryanthes Palmeri. Owenia venosa. Eustrephus latifolius, Amnobium alatum. Notelcea longifolia. Sterculia acerifolia. Angophora lanceolata. = subvelutina. Acacia juniperina, oA decurrens. a cyanophylla. Myrsine variabils. Stenocarpus salignus. Callistemon pheeniceus. Hymenosporum flavum. Name. From Botanic Garden, Melbourne,—Con. Kennedya rubricunda. Casuarina suberosa. Acacia salicina. Cordyline Beueri. From Botanic Garden, Natal. Watsonia densiflora. ” 99 alba. Celtis Kraussiana. Gomphocarpus sp. Anona senegalensis. Cordyla africana. Scaevola Lobelia. Calodendrum capensis. Agapanthus umbellatus var. albus. Dais cotinifolia. Apodytes dimidiata. Clerodendron glabrum. Morua iridioides. Gomphocarpus physocarpus. Combretim erythrophyllum. Tephussia Kraussiana. grandiflora. Oncoba Kraussiana. Gloriosa virescens. Turcea obtusifolia Dissotis incana. Zanthoxylon capense. Limnanthemum Thunbergianum. Strelitzia augusta. From Botanic Gardens, Jamaica. Amyris Plumieri. Samadora indica. From Botanic Gardens, Grenada. Ptychosperma alba. Cycas media, Cola acuminata. Sobralia macrantha. Catostemma fragrans. Roses, assorted. Eucalyptus, sp. Cryptomera elegans. Cyphomandra Betacea. Cryptomera japonica. Cupressus funebris. Croton (var). Acacia sp. Dictyosperma alba. Ceropegia Sandersoni. From Botanic Gardens, St. Vincent. Catostemma fragans. Caryota urens. From Botanic Gardens, Antigua. Livistona subglobosa. Thrinax sp. From Botanic Gardens, British Guiana. Euterpe sp. near utilis. Guadua angustifolia, Kth. Borassus flabelliformis. From Messrs. Parke, Davis& Co., U.S.A. Serenoa serulata. From J. B. Beach, Esqre., U.S.A. Roses, assorted. From Messrs. Haage & Schmidt, Germany. Cupressus pyramidalis. Biota orientalis. Cupressus funebris. uM APPENDIX II.—Continued. NAME. NAME. From aa Hag: agge & Schmidt, Germany .— Continued. Cupressus guadalupensis. Casuarina equisetifolia. Chomecyparis Lawsoniana. Cedrus Deodara. Biota elegantissima. Casuarina quadrivalvis. Chamecyparis pisifera. a squarrosa. plumosa. Junipera Bermudiana. From the Secretary Agri-Horticultural Society, Madras. Strychnos Nux vomica. From J. Campbell, Esqr., Jamaica. Yams. From Messrs. Wright, Layman & Co., London, England. Casia Absus (?) From Dr. Nicholls, Dominica. Tous les mois. From — Rand, Esqr., Para, Brazil. Cacao. From M. Buysman, Esqr., Holland. Herminiera elaphroxylon. From Dr. Henderson, Jamaica. Pimenta officinalis. From Messrs. Thos. Christy & Co., London, England. Polygonum sachalinense. Menthol. From Messrs. Hugh, Low & Co., Lon- on, ngland. Cypripedium Harrisianum. An Sedenii. yr) venustum. Fe Volonteanum. AA Lawrencianum. aA javanicum. * Curtisii. » bellatulum. rs Lawsonianum. Dendrobium Pierardii. yy Wardianum. a Crassinode. < Phalenopsis Schroderianum. Ae Dearei. ss albo sanguineum. Pp formosum giganteum. a Findleyanum. ss thyrsiflorum. Brymerianum. Ceelogyne pandurata. Vanda ccerulea. >, Amesiana, Brides Fieldingii. >» expansum Leonix. Angrecum sesquipidale. >, articulatum. » ¢citratum. Saccolabium Blumei. Vanda Kimballiana. Phalzenopsis rosea. FP) Schilleriana. or amabilis. aS grandiflora. “ Luddemaniana. From Botanic Gardens, Rio Janeiro, Brazil. Indigofera cassivides. Areca madagascariensis, Indigofera Anil. Sabal princeps. Daubentonia supetiana. Carapa guianensis. Oreodoxa oleracea. Latania borbonica. Enterpe oleracea. Pandanus utilis. Attalea speciosa. Elis guineensis. Coffea liberica. Veronia macrophylla. Uncearia sp. Herminiera elaphroxylon. Sesbania paulensis. Pinanga Kuhlii. Acacia leucocephala. Crotolaria semperflorens. From Queensland. Rubus flavus ‘‘ Indian Raspberry.” From Dr. M. M. Child, U.S.A. Phyllocactus multiflora. A americana. i sp. Cereus McDonaldi. Rhipsalis paradoxa. Cereus speciossimus. Phyllocactus Folli. A rosea grandiflora. 55 Feastii. 3 bicolor. Aramanthimus. Echinopsis Eggersii. Stapelia sp. Cereus Dr. Regel. Geranium, Lady Compton. Adlumia cirrhosa. From H. W. Dihm, Esqr., U. S. T. Nurseries, inidad. Areca alba. Amaryllis. Pandanus utilis. Caryota sobolifera. Pheenix (3 or 4 kinds). From L. Libert, Hsqr., Trinidad. Sabal glaucesens. From J. C. Lewis, Esqr., Trinidad. Fruit trees :— No. 1, albis, yellow. ;, 2, Fruita de conda. », 38, yellow, Bell apple. From C. W. Meaden, Esqr., Trinidad. Cacao pods. Erythrina umbrosa. From E. Masson, Hsqr., Trinidad. Cacao pods, From EH. Waterman, Trinidad. Panax Victoria. From Ranghasammy, Trinidad. Areca Catechu. From R. Spooner, Esar., Trinidad. Chrysanthemums, From George Vahl, Esqr., Trinidad. Vegetable seeds (various. ) From His oe EA Justice Nathan, rinida Orchids. From J. Bailey, Esqr., Trinidad. Panax Victoria. Coleus. From Mr. Francis, Trinidad. Crotons. 12 APPENDIX I. METEOROLOGICAL RESULTS, TRINIDAD ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, FOR TH YEAR 18938. Station 1380 feet above Sea-level. : ae BAROMETER. THERMOMETERS. B 5 e| 2 REDUCED go. 1e5 Bx inineal Dry & Wer Buss. FE 2 8 E. a 3 J on om . 2 MONTH. 5A 153 z ae ee 7 am.|3 P.M 7 no Sie Pee ae M. -M. A.M. 3 P.M. = Fi Ba .|E6 g bls - ~ I 5S |H2SHEa) 2 3 | ala. Ss aee £ i 8 jag g | goa) 8 | ‘gq |o| & | m | & Ber.) Bar./ D. | W. | D: | W. | 3 | 8 [SRRieoo) 29) 2 fe | “5 s|s 5 A |B le | oe fee In. In. ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ) In. ° January .-.| 29°973) 29°890) 69:30} 67-66| 81-45| 73°80] 85°80] 65°51|114-41| 6225/E.&N.| 78° |-673| 3-43 | 66-38] 68-60 February ...| 29°994) 29:947) 70:00] 68-48] 82-66] 73:81| 86:07] 67:11|114-00| 62-00|E.&N.| 75: |-672| 1-85 | 67-31] 67-89 March _ ...|30°016/ 29-965) 69:16] 67:46| 84°70] 74:12| 87-51] 65-16| 123-67] 60-67] E. | 72: |-650| 0-19| 66-14] 67-25, 69°62) 71-67 May .+-| 29°988) 29°938) 75°13 | 74°86| 81-93] 76-10] 88-10} 70-20/111-70| 67-20) E. | 78. |-759| 11-35|70-41| 72-20 June e+.| 30°013| 29°957) 76°75 | 74°93] 82°34] 76-44| 89°18] 69- | 110-00] 65:89] E. | 80: |-812| 10-19] 73-67|72-48 July «».| 29°993) 29-944) 74°67) 73:54| 81:96] 77:13] 87-55] 69:27 | 104-89] 64-81] E, | 84-5 |-826] 13-28] 72-73/73-90 August —...| 30°092) 29°946 74:26] 73°16| 83:96] 81:12) 88:44] 69°79] ... “os E. | 87° |-887| 16-32 | 72-36) 79-25 September...| 29°994) 29-930] 76:27 | '74°86| 82-70| 78-86] 89°33] 70°33] 167-33] 70°03} E. | 86- | -866] 11-73| 73-86| 76-29 October os.) 29°912) 29°845) 75-03 73:06] 74°53 74:00} 83-48] 78:12] 89°70] 70-48|163°61| 69°12|E.&.N| 84 |-840| 5°47 November...| 29:944| 29-880) 74:20 April --| 29999) 29-946) 71:96 | 70°62| 81-46] 75°63| 88-93] 67-53] 118-00] 63-00] E. | 84 |-759| 3-61 73:00 | 82:93] 79-06| 87-96] 69°53 | 163-00, 68°00) N. | 82° |-798| 7-84/7213 73:13 69°75) 70° YS SC Ss SCE |S S| | |) | oO ere eee | Mr “athe 29-987 | 29°922| 73°34] 71-98] 82-49] 76-27 | 87-44] 68:58 |131°87| 65-52)E.&N.| 80°75 |-772| 7-70) 70°61/72-19 December ...| 29°936| 29°882 73°35] 71:28 | 82-31] 75:13] 86°72] 69-06] 160-00] 68°89} N. | 785 |-733| 7-23 for year. SY --- S + -- Mean daily 5 height of {po-64 inches. etiam art 78:01 pia } oa . Barometer P > ; 89-F1T } eT. b9'SL a) L-§8 69-9 79-8 ~ ae &%- a Bro eae peer Sere aye Sos | 2 = “| Sto | 80 68 | 8p 6-21 oot | 99.6 | ober i 91-28 TF-8 ei 2G-P oY wae TF IT as OF-2 oe ran a #9: : : : TL: : Y : G 6 Geto! ocr a A ree | eee Aye beens GI | 9-8 96-T |": N | 86% BIL | Z me “ LT | 09% 9@T | (: q4S5L [ILE g—evurtrede a 0Z:08 LE-8T £6-E TEL 9 28-31 FIT LE-6 eee ates 89-1 (: 7 ( 0°9) 0448 . Ivpoy — vurit d N LF ea 6g r q 2-6 T 0g: SL ELT OL-2 tee E16 W'd) 09 W ePpuoojoyn—' Wwdeyy| “ad ** CV am 00-LOI 08:2 or, 9 86-8 Shot | oh #8: obama a heres lop —smrrred ae Z 11-9 sr | 29-8 3-8 ¢ €0-8T C16 v GF. 86-6 (-N) 0: om Weq—eun edeyy| ‘a= I? eS 78-09 | § 28-6 eh-9 9-8 | 9F 69-2 es 6-9 T | sag PET | (Ca ISH [VA Tol d—eutsede - | 9 [<>] ey s $E-Z6L 6-9 €9-L ZE-S OF 98-6 ‘SI €8-9T ate S31 e ce. Lae M) ‘485 OT[TA orug—eurtred N ‘qos - a ee SL-6I | 6 89-% 9 | SLOT G8 | 96 cert | ¢ se wb | ost |(- (au) 01048; Seco atte oe 6§ epee ee 94-01 LB | 06-9 816 | 20. O4-TT ‘9 | 16-01 16 | 822 : I pial Pigs eel ad re taedeyy| *a * 88 r 3S ee os | zs. | a0 28-1 peal Gps | cea exltcad BE-9 PE) Bs eH Auows Sur Eede Ny 98 ~ So A C8-TOL $6-0T 96 Gg c a GIT 6-0 OL? 6 06:3 G 02:3 ae esno l1eyeleg—ue N ane cE ore eas T9-ST g 70-21 94 PL sa POL | 99-28 1G 03-3 98-6 H 4s0y—pro ae aed 43 iz ee 9ST | 88-21 | SF. 90-4 IL | 18-81 Sila ness doa’ Wace Sue ionuig eortog esni0yy | * ge 9 (|e eel ree rat | a9 | oo | sett | oe ST aeety rs | 05) | ot | oy é ee oe re Fi = 88 | 166 89-01 | 8 * GIT | 66-2 6-6 92-9 OL-F By: a es q@Sq oo1n0ss qo ug, 8 62 = oe 9¢-9T bee ale GG ae vee TO-8t | IIT eF-0 Q ze 99-1 We egies eee eaie Be inn : oF ‘a qe oO ¢9. 8 6F-01 8FT 63-E L8-S oF. &L-0L AD 08-6 58-0 OL-0 ; om a) pleysiojog— unduiny, zh 82 t igs |) @ 88-8 Te-¢ “IT 68 92-9 tee 3: FO-k ce.g |" 0 yodog qora seuenSeq = ce eee cee are: | aeere| Wet pal, Bem ee eee 08 | 998 |" quqsqy ooWeIOA con aensumency tees 4 : ; , TS-01 OF: LZ : 1940810 g — eyo} ° 19 Za a 99-29 48-9 10-9 96-6 68.9 13-1 93-6 ZL 61 66-T Ghee | u0 q—seuens 9 8 20 98-6 QF-0 G | gO. 99-6 yeIg 20 useqg} * 0g Ja <> ZL-GG 00-01 00-9 20-§ 99 c0-8 82-6 a G6-9 9-3 16 6F-1 wes eqeisiyy yd 1Tog—o.1vA 9 Gg Ry Zi & Ge.) L&-9 - 98-3 v 61-9 06-9 Ge 02-0T 08-3 oe 06-T Pe O7V SH jULSE Wy ydosor 49— S| 2 ¢ aL = jc 8-F9 ze.9 80-6 0 OLF 6:8 G1-¢ G0-g 68 69.6 ‘0 90-T 19-@ |*** 07egY8 14vyg od1[0og— q §,U09}xv[D G te TM c8-18 6 x oP-6 8-6 6-9 06-9 18-P ov 19-8 G6-T co 10-3 see | BT [9ISH “ d UMOT, seou 8 al pee 9-9 68:3 SL: 40-7 0T-9 83-3 Md : 96 49 —opur Ng} ‘9 9L / see $0- ; 6 68-4 0s: ; 96-6 In) 9 g 7 99-81 oT 13-9 a v GP-S 96-FT 9T-OT GGG led 06-T vd & 08:2 aes o9e48 AGL SHEEN 8 2S = geen | 999 | o2Tt = es | goor| der | w96 Oot | Tho 8 a eo dae tein Peace ee = eos . L6 ees . 19: 4 OT-0 b 02-2 _ (: ! TLV TL 19— wee a z ~ 2 Pi Nak rd io ee 3 B6 | aa 169 | 8 ea ma) ‘e1qma male’ Gh 28 | ¢ 88-21 8 02: 81-01 : SOF | 09-9 €-0 F sh mall eh moe nlOQ—so = ¢-6 68-E 8 61 TS-2 : : CG.0 LZ g 1}¥4Q 9dr[O Spe) ea i MPR RIT 2 + Bess +1 ~esiteteaedl Ime, i 3 ' t "> pe + itd lens bale / A eine CL ae 1a Marcu, 1898. BULLETIN BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAMAICA. CON Te NTs: Cocoa Curing in Ceylon. Cocoa Cured at Hope.—II. Instruction in the Cultivation of the Grape Vine.—III. Alfalfa or Lucerne. Improved Bee-Keeping for Small Settlers. Ferns : Synoptical List.—XVI. Contributions to the Department. P RI C E—Twopence. [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] JAMAICA: te GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, 1893. | @£ oe pest eae, | ‘ i he al —— ——— — COCOA CURING IN CEYLON. The following information received from Dr. Trimen, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, will no doubt be of great interest to Planters in Jamaica. “ “ You ask about Cocoa curing. We always carefully wash off with repeated ablutions every par- ticle of mucilage from the seeds. No doubt this lessens weight, but much improves the sample and I think one of the principal reasons for the generally high price Ceylon cocoa fetches in London is the clean bright look of the bean. Another and perhaps more important thing is thorough drying. On es- tates this is always done by a current of hot air drawn by a fan through a small house, the seeds being spread out in layers on trays and turned over several times. No Planter here would allow a speck of mould to be seen on a Cocoa bean. I gave a description of the ordinary style of drying house for Cocoa to Sir W. Robinson of Trinidad a few years ago and he printed it in the “Agricultural Record” of that Colony for 1890. TI enclose a leaflet which is distributed with Cocoa seed to the native villagers.” Description oF Ceyion Cocoa Drying Hovse. “The house is about twice as long as broad, built of brick, and is provided with double doors, but with the exception of the openirg for the ingress and egress af the hot air, is hermetically sealed. The interior is fitted with a number of upright frames into which slide, one above the other, the trays upon which the beans are spread ; these should be made of narrow pieces of split bamboo, not of wire or coir- matting. The heating apparatus is outside in contact with one end of the building, and consists of a large stove standing in a short tunnel which opens into the house. At the other end of the building, also out- side,is a powerful fan, fitted in another short tunnel; this is worked by hand (three or four coolies need- ed)and by itsr apid revolutions draws the air through the house. By passing over and round the stove the air is dried and heated; that which passes out is hot and damp. The flue of the stove passes under the floor of the house and contributes to warm it. A drying house of this sort is very simple and its cost only about 120 rupees; it does its work perfectly, and nothing more elaborate or costly is required. “Tt is found desirable here to dry Cocoa as slowly as possible, provided the risk of mould be avoided - This appears in the interior of the beans in twelve hours and on their outside in about twenty-four in wet weather if they are left cold, but by passing them rapidly through the hot air house, so as to have them hot when taken out, it is found that they will remain for a night or so in the store without injury. “As the annual average number of rainy days inCeylon is from 80 in dry districts, to 328 in the wet, and Cocoa is grown only in the moist regions of the Island we may assume that at least four-fifths of the Cocoa exported from that Colony is dried artificially. The rainfall in the best Cocoa Districts of Trinidad appears to average between 80 and 100 inches. The total yield as before stated is 12,500 cwt. representing an enormous crop and an immense number of people dependent upon it.” “ Instructions To Native Cultivators oF THE Cacao or CuHocoLatE Trez, 1884. “1. Localities, soil, climate, &c.—Cacao is a completely tropical plant, and its cultivation should not | be attempted above 2,500 feet, and only in warm situations well sheltered from wind. Flat ground is better than sloping. The climate must be moist, but a well-marked dry season, if not too long, is no disadvantage. The soil should be deep and well drained; good forest soii is, of course, best, but that of native gardens is generally very suitable. “2. Planting.—The seeds must be sown as soon as possible after they are gathered, as they quickly spoil for germination after becoming dry. Germination commences soon and proceeds very rapidly, and the young plants are very impatient of being transplanted, unless with the adoption of such pre- '? cautions as will prevent any injury to the roots. Arrangements must, therefore, be made either for growing the seeds in a nursery in such a manner as to allow at least a foot between each seedling, so that they may subsequently be taken up with the earth about their roots, or for sowing them singly in bamboo or other pots or for putting two or three seeds in each place it is intended a tree shall occupy, afterwards allowing only the strongest seedling of these to remain. The last plan is the best for native cultivators. In plantations the trees should stand at from 10 to 15 feet apart, according to the richness of the soil, 12 feet being a good average distance. “3. Qultivation.—It is necesary to shade the seedling plants when young: this is effected by branches fastened in the ground of any tree which retains its withered leaves—as cinnamon, mora, &ec. There is no occasion to provide any permanent shade in most parts of Ceylon, but shelter from wind is of great importance. Plenty of light and afree ventilation of air are essential for the produc- tion of good and abundant crops. ‘lhe ground under the trees must be kept perfectly free from weeds, and may be littered with decaying leaves and other vegetable matter. Manure is very beneficial. The trees should be kept from growing higher than 10 or 12 feet, and the primary branches be en- couraged to assume a horizontal direction; redundant shoots from these or from the trunk must be inched off when young. The principal trunk and branches should be kept very clean, and great care should be taken that the small and delicate flowers are not rubbed off or injured. “4, Gathering.—A first crop may be expected on good soil inthe third year. The fruit must be quite ripe before it is gathered; this is known by the rind having a yellowish colour when cut into. ay ‘he pods should be cut off cleanly with a knife, and not too closely to the stem.. They can be easily ni ; split by a blow from a wooden mallet, and the seeds and pulp are then taken out and put into baskets to be carried to the curing place. “5, Curing.—The seeds should be heaped together to “sweat.’? This may be done in pits of boxes, or better on a platform covered with coir matting; the seeds should be covered over with 3 matting, gunny bags, or a tarpaulin. Every other day they must be thoroughly turned over until the process of fermentation has gone far enough, which will be in seven, eight or nine days; on the pro- per duration of this depends the goodness of the sample. The mucilage and pulp round the seeds is now ready to be washed off, and this washing requires several repetitions with plenty of water. As soon as clean they should be at once spread out on mats in the sun to dry, avoiding, however, the extreme heat of the day, and in about three days they will be fit for the market. In wet weather the drying must be done by artificial heat in the house. ‘‘ When well dried the “ beans” should be perfectly clean, with a thin pale cinnamon-brown skin, of one colour all through, and entirely free from damp or mouldiness. Henry Trimen, Director, R. B. G. COCOA CURED AT THE HOPE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.—II. Account sales of 3 brls. Cocoa received ex S. 8. “ Don” from Kingston, Jamaica and sold by the undersigned for account of the Jamaica Government through Messrs. Lascelles DeMercado & Oo., Kingston, Jamaica, T.G. 3 Barrels Cocoa K: 42 7 Tons 2 4 Dit. 6 2 10 3 3 25 @ 66/6 per ewt. iss! B13) 4-18 Discount 24 o/o ces ove 06 7 1217 8 CHARGES, Freight @ 50/ & 5 o/o K: an LO £2" 20 Wharf Charges 6/. Disct. 9d. Stamp 3d. 0 5 6 Insurance on £15 and Stamp Re 0 2 6 Printing and advertising 1/. Fire Insurance 3d. Oneiess Brokerage Bf 0 2 8 1 311 1} 113 «9 Commission 2} o/o on £12 17 8 ae 0 6 5 Nett proceeds due 11th February, 1893 oes LL. fin E. & O, E. London 17th January, 1893. K, A. Depass & Co. INSTRUCTION IN THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE.—III. — Puantinc Youne VINES. Vines can be planted at any time of the year, but they will do much better if planted any time before May ; as they get more light and warmer nights than if planted at the end of the year. Vines will grow in almost any kind of soil, but a good sandy loam suits them best. The Vine must be planted so as to be exposed to the morning sun; if they can have the sun shining on them all day, so much the better; but vines must have sun from early morn to past mid- day to do any good. To give the vine an advantage, a hole about 6 ft. square and 18 inches deep should be dug, and if the soil is of a stiff nature one-fifth of sand, one-fifth of burnt rubbishand a load of short stable manure should be well mixed up with the soil. Ifthe soil. be very dry it should be watered so as to make it a little moist ; when well mixed together the hole should be filled up with the soil. It is not advisable to plant vines in ground that has not been dug out or trenched to a depth of 18 in. At the same time, if anyone is going to plant a large number of vines, and the soil is favourable, the ground can be well dug 12 in. deep and a good supply of stable manure forked in at the same time. If the soil has been dug and filled in again, as I advised in the first instance, then the soil should be allowed to settle for at least a week before planting the vine; in the latter instance the vine can be planted as soon as the ground is dug. A dull day should be chosen for planting out the vines, if a dull day is not to be had, then the vines should be planted out in the evening. Every morning they should be covered over with something to keep the sun off for a few days till the vines have taken hold. When the vines are being planted out, care must be taken to see that the roots are laid straight out from the centre ; also that the base of the new growth just touches the soil, so that roots can form - from this part. As soon as the vines are planted, the ground should have a copious supply of water ; to wash the soil well in between the roots. After the first watering if done thoroughly the vines will not need watering again for about 14 days. After that the vines should never be allowed to want for water till the end of September, by which time the vines should have made good growth. From Sep- tember to January the vines should be kept without water to allow the cane to ripen. When the vines are first established, a strong stick should be fixed for the vine to run up. The first season’s growth should be concentrated into one main stem, so that as fast as the laterals and tendrils grow they should be pinched off. 4 DIsBUDDING AND STOPPING VINES. As soon as the vine begins to send out its shoots, care must be taken to have all buds rubbed off | which are not required. As soon as the shoots get about three inches long they should show fruit if . there is going to be any on the first growths. Most eyes that break will give off two or thre growths. At the first disbudding, if there are three growths, the weakest one at each eye can be rubbed off ; but | if there are only two growths and of about the same strength, then care should be taken to rub the one | off the furthest from the old wood, so as to avoid forming along spur. After all but the best growths have been rubbed off at each eye, care must be taken not to let any more growths spring from the base of the first side growths. Donot allow the growths too close together ; ten inches from one growth to another will be a good distance. It will be prudent not to thin the last extra growths off till it is seen what fruit there is ; if there are no signs of fruit when the growths are about six inches long, it may be taken that there will not be any unless it comes on the laterals, as is often the case with black grapes. As soon as the disbudding is all over, the side shoots of the Vine will soon have made about eighteen inches of growth. At this stage all growths except the leaders should be stopped at the end of the growth by having the point pinched out. The growths with fruit on can have the point pinched off at the third leaf past the bunch; those side growths without any fruit on must be pinched back to about the same distance. Soon after the points of the lateral have been pinched off, sub-laterals will begin to show ; these must be allowed to grow till they have made five or six leaves; then they must . be pinched back to one leaf ; as fast as they keep growing the process must be repeated. It is not wise to allow fruit to remain on the leading growths, soif there is any, it should be pinched off at once. Unless the Vine is a good age, has a good main trunk, and is in good condition, it should not be allowed to carry all the bunches that come on; ten good bunches are better than thirty bad ones, and there is nothing that will ruin Vines so much as over-cropping. The leading growths should not be stopped until the vine has been growing about four months, then it can be stopped by having the point pinched out, this will cause the trunk of the vine to thicken. All the laterals must be kept of the leading growths. As the Vine gets covered with foliage the Vine should get a great deal more water than it received during the first few weeks ; the soil must never be allowed to get anythingllike dry. When the Vine is coming into flower, it should have a good watering to carry it over that period, after that, it should receive a copious supply of water every week till the fruit begins to colour ; at this period water should be kept from it for a few weeks. ALFALFA OR LUCERNE. (Mepicago sativa, Linn.) This plant is cultivated in many semi-tropical and tropical countries as a fodder-plant. It is nearly allied to the clovers, and has a tre-foil leaf, purple flowers, and a pod of a double spiral. It is well worthy of a trial in Jamaica as a forage plant. In India, according to Dr. Watt’s “‘ Economic Products of India,” the seed is sown broadcast on ground well broken up and manured. Lime is the best manure. The amount of seed required is from 30 to 50lbs. to an acre. It comes to perfection in about 6 weeks, and from 4 to 8 crops can be | cut in the year. On good soil the yield is 10,000lbs. to 15,000lbs. to the acre for one cutting. Seed is generally procured from the third crop. One sowing is said to last from 2 to 10 years according to soil and manure. Where there is no rain, it is irrigated five times each crop, or every time it droops. The crop should be cut before flowering. In Cuba, it is said to be grown as Guinea grass is in Ja- maica. Reports from the United States are favourable to its value as a forage plant. The Colorado Agricultural Colleg? reports “alfalfa an entire success. If the lands is kept well irrigated two crops can be taken the first season, yielding three and four tons to the acre. The second season three cut- tings can be made, yielding 7 tons per acre. This year the second crop grew 42 inches in thirty days, so thick and heavy one could not walk through it. When once well rooted it appears to be an impos- sibility to kill it. Ploughing it under, like Clover, only makes it grow better. After having been ploughed under and the land sowed to oats, 3 tons of Alfalfa per acre were cut after 42 bushels of oats per acre had been harvested. Wheat, corn, and potatoes are raised with excellent success after ploughing it under, and without interfering with the stand of Alfalfa the next year. Of the Clovers, Altalfa will always head the list in this region. In some respects it is unequalled, as it has unrivalled vigour of stem and root, the latter qualification enabling it to survive our seasons of scantiest water supply which the grasses will not do as a general rule.” In Louisiana, Alfalfa does well on dry, goodland. The soilin northern Missouri is reported as not adapted toit, but inthe southern partitis a success. In South Carolina, Alfalfa is thoroughly adapted to the soil and climate, and is considered most valuable. It is reported also as well suited to west Florida. In Kansas it withstands the drought, and proves a valuable forage plant. To those who will undertake to experiment with Alfalfa, sufficient seed (3 lbs.) will be supplied free to plant a square chain. If any consider it desirable to make a larger sowing, more seed will be obtained at cost price. Applications should be sent at once to Director of Public Gardens, Gordon Town P.O., in order that seed may be obtained from abroad. IMPROVED BEE-KEEPING FOR SMALL SETTLERS. (a) The methods adopted by our peasantry with regard to the management of bees, and the pro- duction of honey, are of so crude and unscientific a nature, and are indeed based rather more upon superstition than on a knowledge of the babits of bees ; that unless such bee-keepers can be persuaded 5 to adopt a more modern and scientific system the industry of bee-keeping in Jamaica will stfll in general remain stagnant, and all but un-remunerative, as it has been for years past. 6) The common plan for removing the honey from the hive is quite barbarous; the bees are made to leave the hive by the use of smoke. Many of them get singed and burnt by the careless way in which the smoke is applied, and the flavour of the honey is spoiled ; the combs are then scooped out, without regard to the different grades of honey which a hive always contains. These combs are then placed upon a sieve and chopped up ; the product being caught in a receptacle below. (c) The honey thus obtained is a mixture of bee bread,—or pollen—the juices of young bees (or larve) and exuviw and excreta,—which if known of by the general public, they would be more careful to ascertain from what source they get their honey. Indeed I have been informed from good au- thority, that a shipment of honey of this kind was once made from here, and on arrival at its destin- ation it was found to be of such bad quality that it was sold to a firm of blacking manufacturers at the rate of 6d per gallon. The bees thus deprived of all their honey combs are again returned to the empty hive to get onas best they may. (d) A much better plan would be to make several holes in the top of the hive and place upon it another box of somewhat smaller dimensions, in the roof of which there has been previously fixed a piece of comb as an attraction for the bees to ascend. As the hive increases in wealth and population and the {honey season advances the bees will soon turn their attention to the upper box or “super” and as their instincts always lead them tostore their honey in the upper part of the hive it will be speedily filled with dainty white combs which will contain the most beautiful honey. It will be seen that by this arrangement not alone is the store-house kept separate from the nursery, or lower box, with its pollen, brood-foods, and larvz and exuviw which are always associated with the honey when the nursery and larder are not separate ; but on the improved plan the honey can be removed without disturbing the hive proper, and if the “super” be again prepared as mentioned above and replaced, the operation may be performed two or three times during the honey season, and perhaps at each removal as much as a gallon of good honey will be obtained, making, say three gallons in all, worth 2/6 or 3/ per gallon. One stock will therefore yield between 7/6 and 9/. (e) If this be compared with the usual method, the fable about the goose and the golden eggs may. be applied, for by the old plan we got, say, half as much honey, and that of a very inferior quality, and at the same time stand a chance of losing our bees by depriving them of all their honey at one time. (7.) Of course the results obtained by the above improved method are not to be compared with those of a still more complicated and indeed highly scientific plan, known as the movable comb hive system, where as much as 1 ewt. of honey per hive is not atallinfrequently obtained. But as this plan would require a rather more lengthy explanation than space at command will permit, and as at the same time the method and apparatus would be somewhat beyond the means of the general Jamai- can peasant Bee-keeper,—it may as well be left out of view—for the present at least. (g) Not alone is the present system of management open to vast improvement; but the type of bee itself may also be improved. For instance, suppose we have six hives of bees, tho results from each may be very different ; at the beginning of the honey season we place upon each a “ super”, two of our six stocks start ahead with a will, and fill their “supers” as fast as they are replaced, the other four perhaps refuse to enter, or after all only partially fill their “supers,” then they may each swarm two or three times thus furnishing us with an increase from which we hope to have great results in the future ; but our apiary has not been increased with a type of bee whose instincts lead them to amass honey, far in excess of their needs, but with a type whose nature impels them to start new colonies, and thus this type will be strongly impressed upon the bee life of the future in our apiary. The peculiarity will be reversed with the two good stocks which on account of constantly being deprived of their storage honey, have had no encouragement to swarm, and as the object of bee-keeping is to get honey and not swarms, the Bee-keeper should endeavour to restrict the multiplication of undesira- ble and small strains, and seek the slower increase of those which give the best honey results. (h.) This may be perhaps one cause of the unremunerativeness of our native Jamaican bees as compared with the imported strains, which I and other more advanced Bee-keepers have obtained from other countries (America, England and Italy) where bees have been carefully kept for genera- tions. (s.) It may be well to mention that bees play a great part in the production of crops. Nature seems to have placed honey in the flowers, not so much for supplying food for bees and other insects but that fertilisation of plants may be accomplished. i The bee in flying from flower to flower gets dusted with pollen from the anthers or male organs of blossoms, and in this way it is conveyed to the stigmas, or female organs. It is interesting to note that when a bee starts on a foraging tour she confines herself to one description of flowers, for per- haps if this were not so the mixture of different pollens might interfere with their proper actions of fertilisation. (j.) It will therefore be seen from this action of bees on plants that the agriculturist owes as much to the “little busy-bee,’’ as he does to his own skill and experience in tilling the soil and in choosing his seeds, H. 8. (Junior.) FERNS : SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XVI. Synoptical List, with Descriptions of the Ferns and Fern Allies of Jamaica, by G. 8. Jenman, Superin- tendent Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin, No. 40.) 5. Pteris mutilata, Linn.—Rootstock small, fibrous, clothed with dark blackish scales; stipites tufted, very slender, channelled, 2-8 in. 1, naked ; fronds thin, light green, pellucid, naked, 3 in. toa span |, half or two-thirds as w. at the base, the upper part simply pinnate, with a linear-oblong ter- 6 minal segment, and several usually shorter spreading lateral ones, the lower one or more pair of which are again similarly pinnate, the ends rounded and the points apiculate, 4-$ in. 1. }in. w. the margins even or crenulate, and cartilaginous edged; rachis slender, pale, narrowly winged in the upper part; veins open, dichotomously forked ; sori marginal, falling a little short of both apex and base ; barren fronds with shorter stipites and broader segments.—Hook. Sp. Fil. Vol. 2 t. 131 A. Var. P. concinna, Hew. Stipites 1-14 ft. 1.; fronds 3-1 ft. 1. 5-8 in. w. bi-tripinnate, formed of a terminal pinnez and 2-4 similar, but usually narrower and shorter, lateral ones 2-6 in. 1. and 1-1} in. w. the lowest pair of which are branched at the base and petiolate, all slightly echinate on the cost above: final segments $-1} in. 1. 2-3 li. w. decurrent on the inferior side, a notch on the superior, the point blunt, often slightly apiculate, the sinuses more or less obliquely open ; veins forked, the lowest pair springing from the coste.—Plum. Fil. t. 51. Plentiful on calcareous rocks and banks at 2,000-4,000 ft, alt. in dry woods; gathered by Mrs. Seed Roberts above Prospect, St. Andrew. It possibly attains a larger size than I have described. The variety concinna, first described by Heward in 1838, (Mag. Nat. His. new series, p. 435), is com- mon about Christiana, Manchester. It looks very different at first sight, and shows a tendency to- wards Swartziana, the pinne being similarly notched and decurrent at the base, with the lowest vein springing from the costz, but the smaller fronds gradually pass into the type. 6. P. Swartziana, Agardh.—Stipites caespitose, 14-2 ft. 1. glossy light or dark brown, channelled slightly scaly at the base, arising erect from an oblique or upright rootstock; fronds bi-tripinnate, 1-2 ft. 1.21 ft. w. thinly chartaceous, naked, light or dark green, composed of a long terminal pinna and few or several similar opposite erecto-spreading sub-distant lateral ones, 5-.0in. 1. 1-1 in. w. sessile, or the lowest pair which are once forked at the base, very shortly petiolate, terminating in a narrow linear acuminate sharply serrated segment; 4-14 in. 1. the slender coste echinate on the upper side ; final segments oblique, linear oblong, bluntish, broadened and rather decurrent at the base, the narrow cuneate sinus obliquely cut through the centre; veins simple, or forked from the middle, the lowest pair from the base, and springing from the costa in the shortly decurrent mem- brane ; sori of contiguous segments separated by the incision of the sinus, and falling more or less short of the serrated apex.— Hook and Grev. Icon. Fil. t. 142. P. biaurita, Swartz. Infrequent in damp mountain forests at 2,000-3,000 feet alt. in the eastern parishes. A strictly forest plant, not very common, distinguished from its allies by the more slender stipes, rachis, &c., the simple or forked from the middle, viens, serrated segments, the oblively inscised sinus, and the lowest pair of veins springing from the costa instead of the midrib from which the rest spring, and thinner and more pellucid texture. 7. P. longipinnula, Wallach—Rootstock erect, the nascent fronds bud-like and coated with small appressed gray scales; stipites erect, channelled, naked or with a few of the bud-scales at the base, straw-coloured, 2-3 ft. 1. ; fronds bi-tripinnate, 2-4 ft.1., 14-3 ft. w., pale green, naked char- taceous, with a terminal pinna and 6-12 opposite or sub-opposite distant spreading lateral ones, 3-1} ft. 1., 2-8 in. wi., spinulose on the cost above, the lower petiolate, the lowest pair once forked at the base, terminating in a caudate segment, and cut down almost to the cost into linear-oblong entire segments, rounded at the point, straight or slightly falcate, 1-14 in. 1., } in. br., cartilaginous edged, the sinuses sharp or rounded; veins close, spreading, forked; sori falling short of both apex and base.—Hook. Sp. Fil., vol. 2 t. 184. Common in the moist forest on the banks of St. George’s Spring, Chesterfield, St. Mary. In the form and other characters of the fronds it is absolutely identical with the Indian and Malayan plant of the name and differs from quadriaurita by the sori falling short of the base as well as the top of the segments, its ampler size, different colour, and chiefly in the character of the rootstock. 8. P. quadriaurita, Retz.—Stipes ceespitose, 1.24 ft. 1. slightly scaly and occasionally rather as- erous at the base, channelled, pale or dark glossy brown, arising erect from am upright rootstock ; fronds 14-2 ft. 1. 2-4 ft. w. bi-tripinnate, chartaceous, light or dark green, rachis and costz coloured like the stipes, with a terminal pinnw and several similar pairs of spreading or erecto-spreading lateral ones, which are 6-8 in. 1. 14-2 in. w. rather widest at the usually sessile base; final segments lenear- oblong, straight or subfalcate, obtuse, $-1 in. 1. 2-3 li. br. and a longer straight terminal one, the _sinuses acute or rounded ; veins close, forked, all springing from the rib; sori falling short usually of the apices, which are not serrated.—Hook. Sp Fil. vol. 2. t. 134. B. Var. P felosma, J. Sm.—Fronds as large and parts as broad, but stipites, rachis, &c., more slender, texture thinner, segments close, with no open space between, costa with larger echinz on the upper side.—P. asperula J. Sm. Var. P. nemoralis, Hook.—Fronds much smaller, pinne more numerous, 38-5 in. |. 4-3 in. w. branches to the lowest pair 1-2. Var. B. affiuentus, Jenm.—Fronds 2-3 ft. 1. 1-2 ft. w. on stipites 2-4 ft. 1. ; pinnee throughout fully pinnatifid, the lowest 2-3 pairs with 2-3 branches similar to the lateral pinne on their under sides. Common in one form or another throughout the country from sea level up to 6,000 ft. alt. in- habiting chiefly open or half shaded situations and waysides. The colour of the stems, &c., varies from a light straw to dark chestnut. The first variety is a weaker, but not smaller plant, with closer segments, and emits while fresh a strong feline smell. The last is found at the higher ranges, has numerous pinne, marked by the 2-3 lower ones on each side having 2-3 deflexed branches each. The second, a mountain form too, is only marked by its smaller size, numerous pinnae, firm texture and compact habit. 9. P. biaurita, Lin.—Rootstock upright; stipites caspitose, erect, 14-24 ft. 1. naked or slightl scaly, channelled, bark-brown or light-green ; fronds erect, bi-tripinnate, 14-24 ft 1. 3-1} ft. w. make chartaceous light green; pinne in 6-15 opposite, sessile, erecto-spreading pairs, with a similar termi- nal one, the lowest pair onee forked on the lower base, 6-9 in. 1. 14-24 in, w. deeply pinnatifid through. ‘a =— a . 7 out, terminating in a caudate point; segments linear-oblong, straight or subfalcate, 1-14 in. 1, 2.1. w- blunt, an open rounded sinus between ; veins pellucid, close, spreading at a wide angle, all forked ex- cept those springing from the narrow transverse eostal arch which spans from rib to rib of the seg. ments ; sori falling little short of the apex.— Campteria, Presl., Plum. t. 15, (venation not shown). Var. subpinnatifida.—Fronds smaller, paler; pinne irregularly lobed, or lobate-sinuate; veins occasionally united beyond the costal arcs. Frequent among brushwood and grass in half-open places among the lower hills. Not nearly so common, but closely resembling quadriaurita, the pinne less deeply pinnatifid, sinuses more open and rounded, and clearly distinguished by the curved veins which uniformly connect the bases of the ribs of the ultimate segments. 10. P. podophylla, Swartz.—Rootstock, erect, 6-8 in. thick, the crown scaly ; stipites 4-8 ft. 1. cespitose, stout, erect, 14 in. thick, faintly channelled, the base muricate, and clothed with linear acuminate dark scales; fronds pedatiform, spreading horizontally, 3-4 ft. each way, subcoriaceous naked, dark glossy green; primary divisions three, the central not branched again from the base, and, longest, 2-4 ft. 1. $-14 ft. w. lateral divisions usually four-times branched, the branching occurring outwardly in succession, each branch shorter than the preceding and all oblong in shape; pinne very numerous, approximate, spreading nearly at right angles, a similar terminal one, 6-9 in. 1. 14 in. w. the inferior reduced, sessile, passing gradually at the apex into a serrato-entire, acuminate point; within this cut deeply into short, broadly subacute, faleate segments 4-$ in. 1. 4 in. w. with an acute or rounded sinus between, the costez above spinulose; vein-meshes 1-3 seriate, with or without free exterior branches, the transverse costal areole very shallow, reaching from rib to rib; sori continuous from the sinus, falling short of the finely spinulose-serrate apex.—Hook. Gard. Ferns, t. 55. Lito- brochia, Presl. Common in wet situations in open and half open places from 4,000-6,000 ft. alt. The fronds spread sub-horizontally, and the gradual shortening of the exterior branches gives them a somewhat circular outline. The pinn are a uniform width from the base outwards, and narrower than in any of the local allies. The petioles are only muricate at the base, the upper parts being quite smooth. This and gigantea are among the noblest plants in the fern flora. 11, P aculeata, Swartz.—Stipites 14-2 ft. 1. stramineous, slightly scaly at the base, freely beset throughout with short prickles ; fronds ample, naked, thin and pellucid, pale green, tripinnate below, _ 8-4 ft. each way, tripartite, the lateral divisions greatly developed on the lower side, 14-2 ft. 1, 1 ft. or more w. petiolate, the inferior pinnule largest ; pinnz of the central division equilateral, contiguous, longest 1-1} ft. 1. 24-3 in. w. deeply pinnatifid and passing gradually into the serrate acuminate apex, the lower petiolate, the upper sessile, terminal pinnae similar to the lateral ; final segments contig- uous 14-2 in. 1. 4-5 li. w, broadest and connected at the base, the sinuses sharp or rounded, serrate, especially in the acuminate outer part, but not spinulose-toothed ; rachis and cost stramineous the former distinctly muricate below ; veins fine, costal areole narrow, extending completely from rib to rib, a single row between this and the sinus, areola of the segments 1-2 serial with copious free cla- vate exterior branches; sori falling short of the dentate point of the segments.—Litobrochia, Presl. Plum. Fil. t. 5. Infrequent ; gathered on Mount Diablo, 2000 ft. alt. the only locality from which I have seen the true plant. It is distinguished by the freely prickly stipites, costal areolw reaching uniformly from base to base of the ribs of-the final segments, pale straw colour, thinner texture, and deeper ser- ration than of its allies. I have not seen the rootstock. There is much confusion in herbaria and books in regard to this species, and indeed to the whole group, but to one who has had a field and forest acquaintance with them each is sufficiently distinct, even in minor characters, as to be readily recognized by herbarium specimens alone, which unavoidably do not show the chief characters of such large plants. 12. P. Kunzeana, Agardh.—Rootstock woody, stout, decumbent, shortly repent, the extending end densely clothed with narrow ferrugineous scales ; stipites tufted, strong, erect, 14-3 ft. 1. green or brown, the scales of the rootstock ascending the base, smooth and faintly channelled; fronds ample, tripartite, tripinnate, deltoid, about 2 ft. 1. 24 ft. w., glabrous, dark glossy green above, pale beneath, subcoriaceous ; central division larger, equilateral, otherwise similar to the lateral which are distant by the naked rachis and deeper on the interior side; pinne 6-10 toa side, with a similar terminal one, 8.1] ft. 1, 14-3 in. w., the acuminate spinulose-serrate apex forming a segment 1-2 in, 1. within this _ deeply pinnatifid into broadish, spinulose-serrate subfalcate, acute, segments, ?-1} in. l. 4-4 in. w.; rachis channelled, light green, costules spinulose on the upper side at the base of the final ribs ; vein- meshes 1-2 or 8 seriate, the exterior branches free, and asingle line of long narrow costal areoles that span from rib to rib or not ; sori short of the top of the segments ; involucres silvery.— Hook. Sp. Fil. vol. 2.t. 189. Litobrochia, Pres], Common in moist woods among the lower hills, ascending to about 2,000 ft. alt. Grisebach in his flora mistakingly united it with podophylia, It is darker and stiffer than the preceding and not so lax as the next, possessing, as well, several other minor individual features in _ thetronds, ‘he nature and vyestiture of the rootstock however clearly distinguish it. Sloane was its first discoverer. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT. Liprary. Golonial and Consular Reports. [Hon Colonial Secretaty.] Kow Bulletin No. 73, January, and Appendix I., 1893, ‘Che Export of Cape Fruit. [Kow:] Plantas novas cultivadas no Jardim Botanico do Rio de Janeiro, [Director, Bot, Gard.] Bulletin, Colonial Museum, Haarlem, Feb, and Sept., 1892 and Jan., 1893, [Hditor. ] oN 8 Transactions for 1892. Schedule of Prizes for 1893. [Massachusetts Hort. Soc.] Agri. Gazette of New South Wales, November and December, 1892. [Dept. of Agri. New South Wales. Contributions from the Bot. Laboratory of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, No. 1. [Professor Henry Primble.] Bulletin, Nos. 18 and 19. [Louisana Bureau of Agri.] Planters Monthly,jHonolulu. January, 1893. [Editor.] Agri. Record, Trinidad. November, 1892. [Editor.] Barbados Agri, Gazette and Planters’ Journal, February, 1893. [Secretary.] West Indian and Commercial Advertiser, February, 1893. [Editor.] Sugar Cane, February, 1893. [Editor, Chemist and Druggist, January and February, 1893, Nos. 664-669. [Editor,] Farmer and Fruit Grower, Florida Despatch, January, 1893, No, 1-3. [Editor.] Times of Ceylon, December, 1892, January, 1893, Nos. 61 & 62,1, 2,3. [Hditor.] Botanical Gazette, January and February, 1893. [Editors.] Torrey Botanical Club, Bulletin, January and February, 1893, Nos. 1&2. [Editors.] Bape of Reed of Agri., Washington for 1888-91. Pro. of ninth annual Convention of Agri. Chemists, [Hon. . M, Rusk. ] Report of St. Vincent Bot. Station, Oct.-Dec., 1892. [Curator.] SEEDS. From Botanical Station, St. Vincent :— Catostemma fragrans, From Rev. EL. B. Key :— Portlandia grandiflora, From Botanic Garden, British Guiana :— ‘ Euterpe edulis. From Botanic Gardens, Saharanpur :— Dendrocalamus Hamiltoni, Bambusa tulda, Salvadora persica, Arundinaria spatheflora, var aristata. From Botanic Gardens, Trinidad:— Cycas circinalis. From Botanic Gardens, Calcutta :— Phoenix rupicola, Wallichia disticha. From Botanic Gardens, Hong Kong :— Viburnum odoratissimum, Biota orientalis, Cesalpinia nuga, Czsalpinia vernalis, Lagerstroemia subcostata, Doryanthes Palmieri, Reevesia thyrsoides, Coffea bengalensis, From Forest Department, New South Wales :— Eucalyptus rostrata, E. leptophleba, E. pilularis, E. corymbosa, E. melliodora, E. hemiphloia, E. corynocalyx. From Mrs. Allwood :— Mignonette. From Rev. E. B. Key :— 1 Caladium argyrites, 3 Cacti, 1 Hichornia. From Dr. Henderson :— 11 Lycaste spp., 10 Odontoglossum spp., 2 Cypripedium caudatum, var roseum. From Mr. A. DeMontagnac :— 4 Epidendrum bicornutum, 1Catasetum tridentatum, 1 Rodriquezia secunda, 4 Bromeliads, 3 other plants. From Mr. G.S. Jenman, Demerara :— Sugar Cane seedlings. From Mr. J. T. Palache :— 34 Hippeastrum Johnsonii, 7 cs aulicum platypetalum. 17 £ “ crimson and green.” “e Empress of India. 3 Sprekelia formosississima. From Mrs. Heaven :— 6 roots white Tigridia. 1 © Antholyza cethiopica. PLANTS. — are = Aprit, 1898. BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, voA MA TOA. COON Tt PN T's: Distribution of Grape Vine Plants. Early Oranges. Ferns: Synoptical List.—XVII. P RI C E—Two-pence. [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] JAMAICA: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, 1893. DISTRIBUTION OF GRAPE VINE PLANTS. A number of cuttings of the best English Grapes were last year received from the Royal Horti- cultural Society’s Gardens at Chiswick, through the kindness of the authorities at Kew. These have been grown by Mr. W. J. Thompson of the Botanical Department inthe King’s House grounds by permission of His Excellency the Governor, and rooted plants are ready now for distribution. Application should be made at once to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P. O., stating the number of plants required. The price is 2d. each plant, delivered in King- ston, Special arrangements will be made with those requiring 50 or more. The following descriptions of the grapes are from a valuable work on the subject, “ Vines and Vine Culture” by Mr. Barron, who has charge of the Chiswick Gardens. AicantE:—Fruit quite black, with a thick bloom, large, of a true ovate shape; flesh squashy ; flavour somewhat earthy, unless well ripened; skin thick and leathery bunches large, averaging from 2lbs. to 6lbs. in weight, very broadly shouldered, conical and regular, closely set; stalk very stout; Late. Very handsome, and easily cultivated. Brack HamBurGH, oR FRANKENTHAL :—Fruit deep bluish-black, covered with a fine bloom, large, roundish-ovate ; flesh firm, yet tender, juicy, and with a pleasant, rich flavour; bunches medium, ovate with broad shoulders, compact. A mid-season Sweetwater. This is the chief Grape in culti- vation in England. Brack Monvuxgxka :—Fruit purplish-red, small, long-ovate, or in shape like an acorn; flesh firm, tender, seedless, very sweet and pleasant to the taste ; branches very large, long-tapering. A distinct Sweetwater variety, of Indian origin. Gros Cotman :—Fruit, black, with a thick bloom, large, round; flesh thick, coarse, with a poor watery flavour; bunches medium, broadly shouldered, well set. An extremely handsome and excel- lent keeping, late, vinous Grape. Muscat or ALEXANDRIA :—Fruit greenish-yellow, golden when highly ripened, large, long-ovate ; flesh firm, juicy, sweet and rich, with a high Muscat flavour, bunches large, long-tapering. A very handsome and excellent, late Grape. Raisin DE CaLaBrRE :—Fruit white, medium-sized, round; flesh firm, and possessing little fla- vour ; branches long-tapering. A late, vinous Grape, which keeps well. Roya Ascot :—Fruit purplish-black, large, ovate ; flesh very firm with a strong, piquant, plum- like flavour; bunches small, short, compact, well set. A mid-season vinous Grape. Royat, Muscapine:—Fruit greenish-white, small, round; flesh firm, juicy, sweet, and exceed- ingly pleasant ; bunches small, long-tapering, compact, well set. A good, open air, early Sweetwater Grape, also known as White Chasselas, TREBBIANO :—Fruit greenish-white, changing to pale amber when fully ripe, large, ovate; flesh firm, sweetly flavoured, but not rich; bunches very large (one example weighing 264lbs. has been grown) broadly shouldered, well set. A late, vinous Grape. Wuitek Frontienan :—Fruit greenish-white, small, round ; flesh firm, yet juicy, and very richly flavoured ; bunches medium, long-cylindrical, well set. A mid-season Muscat Grape. EARLY ORANGES. The following is a copy of correspondence in regard to the steps suggested to be taken to accele- ratethe production of early crops of Oranges in this island. 2 4 ie : The suggestions are, (1) choice of site: shallow, rocky sub-soil, light soil, warm position on side of hill, adequate amount of rain; (2) manuring; (3) pruning to allow of free play of sun and air ; (4) budding trom early varieties ; (5) seedlings from early varieties. pce ih All these suggestions are well worthy of trial, and I may add, (6) irrigation, where possible from the termination of the crop to the time when the fruits are forming. ; Personally I agree with Mr. Bunyard, who proposes No. (5) and says :—‘ I cannot suggest any “ plan except evolution 7.¢., selecting the earliest fruits from the earliest trees, and continuing the “ process through many generations.” : ; The following note from a lecture which I delivered last February states my views on the subject of budding in Jamaica :—* Mr. Cradwick, the Superintendent at Hope Gardens, has lately been suc- cessful to some extent in budding oranges on a lime stock by cutting down the branches of the bushes, and budding when they began to make a fresh start. The precaution should be taken of budding as the rains come on. If this method can be carried out, we shall be in a position to grow oranges of any particular size, flavour, &c. But the caution is necessary that they will have to be thoroughly cultivated as they are in Florida. : “ But another point in the physiology of plants has here to be taken into account, and that is the effect of cross-fertilisation. The pollen of flowers is conveyed by insects from plant to plant, and Darwin has shown that in nature, and as a rule, plants benefit by cross-fertilisation. The ovary fer- tilised by pollen from another flower rather than its own, yields more seeds and these produce larger and stronger plants. Generally pollen is only operative when carried to flowers belonging to the game species, but I think there is no doubt that in the different species of Citrus, the fruit itself is affected by pollen of different species, and still more by different varieties of the same species, The : : flower of a good orange tree, perhaps, will be fertilised by pollen from inferior varioties or from a Seville orange, and the result may be that not only the seed but the whole fruit may be affected, so that we shall have a fruit which is neither a good sweet orange nor a good Seville, and seeds which will grow up into trees yielding fruit of some intermediate character. “T do not think that a thoroughly good orange will have any but thoroughly good seeds, but if cross-fertilisation with an inferior variety has taken place, then the fruit will tell the tale, and warn us against the seed. Now, if this be true, that cross-fertilisation affects the fruit, how can we ever expect to have good fruit for export so long as there is such an abundance of inferior trees? There is no use whatever in going to all the expense and trouble of budding the best varieties, unless first “some pains be taken to extirpate the worthless varieties, and secondly it is determined to thoroughly cultivate them.” The climatic conditions are so much against the operation of budding that, in my opinion, it will not be found worth while ever to adopt it in the island. But there is a mode of grafting, viz., inarch- ing, which has been practised with great success for years in the Gardens, and thousands of these grafted oranges have been distributed. Appended to the correspondence from Kew is a letter from Mr. Geo. Syme to the ‘Gleaner’? newspaper in March, 1884, describing this method as practised in Castleton Gardens, where Mr. Syme was at that time Superintendent. There is no evidence that any attempt has been made to adopt this plan by any of the orange growers in the island, 4 Royal Gardens, Kew, 14th February, 1893. IR, I am desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to inform you that an application has been received at Kew from the Director of Gardens and Plantations at Jamaica, for information in regard to the steps to be taken to accelerate the production of early crops of oranges, and thus improve the value of an important industry in the Island. 2. The subject is one in which the Governor, Sir Henry Blake, is deeply interested, and there are good grounds for believing that if the wishes of his Excellency could be carried out, Jamaica would occupy a very advantageous position as regards its oranges inthe markets of the United States and Canada. It would in fact come first into these markets and anticipate by a month or so the orange crops of Florida and California. 3. There is no doubt about the desirability of the object to be sought. The difficulty is to suggest _some simple and practicable means whereby it can be attained. Kew has taken some trouble in the matter and the result of inquiry, on this side, is contained in the enclosures which I have the honour to forward with this letter. 4. The opinion of two of the most successful growers of fruit trees in this country—-Messrs. Rivers and Bunyard, tends to show that a careful selection of the site for orange cultivation is of great im- portance. Warm sheltered spots are essential. The trees should be highly cultivated, and the branches somewhat severely thinned to allow plenty of light and air to penetrate into them. Under these cir- cumstances “ budded trees” are likely to be more easily controlled than seedling trees as the buds could be selected from the earliest fruiting sorts already existing in the Island. Further budded trees on fully matured stocks come into bearing in two years so that little time is lost in the procees. 5. Actual experiment can alone decide the best stock to use for budding purposes. In Florida and in the Mediterranean region the sour or Seville orange is generally used. Mr. Rivers on the other hand prefers the lemon stock. Both these might be tried as also the Pumelo or Shaddock stocks. The budding of oranges in Jamaica has hardly been practised at all. Itis a simple process and its in- fluence in improving the quality and production of oranges cannot be over-estimated. 6. There are several very early sorts of oranges known, and it might be desirable to introduce some of these for trial in the Island. Mr. Rivers speaks of one called the “ Egg orange” (although it is round) which ripens about three weeks in advance of the ordinary St. Michael’s orange. If a few plants of this were obtained it might be budded on to stocks in Jamaica and probably prove very useful. 7. Another early orange is described in the extract taken from Mr. Moore’s work on “ Orange Culture in Florida” as the ‘‘ Thornless Bell’’ or the ‘September Orange.” This is not so good as the ordinary Florida fruit but it possesses several good points: (1) it is best when it is gathered before it yellows on the tree, (2) it cures with a skin as thin as the Sicily oranges, and (3) it possesses early ripening qualities and a wonderfully prolific nature. 8. It may also be possible to utilize very late oranges. The object should be to supply the north- ern markets at all times when oranges are in special demand and to confine the production or at least the shipments as much as possible within those limits. The capabilities of orange production in Jamaica are exceptionally favourable, and provided, the subject were dealt with in a skilful and enter- prising manner the value of the industry could be enormously increased. Iam, &e., D. Morris, Edward Wingfield, Hsq., C.B. Colonial Office, 8S. W. Royal Gardens, Kew, 4th January, 1893, Dear Mr. Bunyarp, I wish to ask you for information for the Government of Jamaica in regard to orange culture. The point is one of general application to fruit trees, so it is not necessary for you to know anything specially of the treatment of orange trees. The Jamaica Government is wishful to set to work to try and pro- cure very early crops of fruit so as to forestall the Florida oranges. Jamaica is much further south than Florida but the distance of Jamaica from the Northern markets almost cancels its advantages as 4 regards climate. If, however, the growers of Jamaica oranges could hasten the ripening of their crop by a month or so they would obtain very substantial advantages. We may assume that they already plant their oranges in suitable soil and in warm and sheltered valleys. The question is: Whether it be possible by selecting a hotter soil, say on limestone; by judicious pruning ; by the use of certain manures ; by grafting from known early trees on to certain stocks; by propagating by seed from early trees or by any other method to secure earlier crops of fruit? You have had so wide an experience in regard to fruit trees and the controlling influence brought to bear upon them in this country that your opinion would have a special interest in the present inquiry. If you could find time to favour us with an ex- pression of your views we should he very glad. Very sincerely yours, D. Morris. George Bunyard, Esq. won Mr. G. Bunyard to Royal Gardens, Kew. The Old Nursaries, Maidstone, January 6th, 1893. Dear Mr. Morris, I have thought over the forwarding of ripening in Jamaica oranges. I cannot suggest any likely plan except “evolution,” ¢.e., selecting the earliest fruits from the earliest trees and continuing the pro- cess through many generations. In this country we use glass and walls to bring on crops, neither are of avail there, and the only way I can see at all likely is by planting on shallow, rocky sub-soils, or by paving the base of the trees, taking advantage of the warmest spots, and by severe thinning of the trees to allow a free play of sun and air, digging in stones 6 to 8 inches over (as is done with Figs here) would also help a little. T am, ete., GrorcEe Bunyarp. Mr. T. F. Rivers to Royal Gardens, Kew. Sawbridgeworth, January 7, 1893. Dear Mr. Morais, I have one orange which ripens in my house about three weeks in advance of the ordinary St. Michael’s, this is called the Egg Orange, but it is not the Maltese Egg. It was sent here with other varieties from St. Michaels and is one of the best sorts that I have. It is early, fertile, always good but not egg-like, as it is generally round. When Professor Emory M. Smith came here last summer he told me that one of the most profitable in some orchards in California, was named the “ Rivers late Orange.” I have no recollection of having sent this orange, but it is quite true that I have a late orange which ripens with me in April and May, about three months after the ordinary oranges. This orange might do very well in Jamaica, as it would, by its tardiness, rather anticipate the orange season. Do you think the orange likes limestone ? I use the lemon as a stock. I could not say whether any stock would produce precocity. Raising seedlings is uncertain and would take many years. Out of a thousand seedlings one or two might differ in precocity. I should think the choice of a site would be the most important nee ae . F. Rivers. Mr. T. Hanbury, F-L.8., to Royal Gardens, Kew. La Mortola, Vertimiglia, Italy, 18th January, 1893. Dear Mr. Morris, In reply to your note of the 9th instant, I would say, I fear my experience and the information I can give is worth but little as regards oranges. I have a fair quantity here and a large quantity at Alassio, but they all seem to ripen about the same time, viz.: the middle of December, but are sweeter and better for hanging a month later on the trees. We are on the nummulitic limestone, a warm position on the steep sides of a hill, but the orange trees like a lighter soil with more moisture and do better on the plain at Alassio, that place produc- ing the best flavoured oranges on the Riviera. ‘ : In my opinion it is a great point to get a nearly pipless orange with a very thin skin and hardly any pith between the flesh and the skin, such oranges are produced at Sewtow in China, and it would be worth while for the Jamaica people to get seeds or even young trees from thence. An excellent artificial manure, especially prepared for orange trees and largely used in Florida, is sold by Mr. G. B. Forrester, 169 Front Street, New York. Ihave imported it on two or three occasions. I am making further enquiries and shall not fail to address you if I can get any information worth sending. , The common remark of English frequenting this coast is “how poor the oranges are,” in m garden I have some good kinds. It is best to graft the Bigaradier or bitter orange, that being the most robust of all. ; In Jamaica, if they do not already possess it, they should get the great pipless oval Jaffa orange, very much liked by some people for its lusciousness, but to my taste it is deficient in the fine flavour possessed by a good St. Michael round orange. Believe me, &c., Tuomas Hansury, yi Extract from “Orange Culture” by the Rev. T. W. Moore, p. 114. A late maturing orange has already been mentioned in these pages, but there is an early variety that nursery men pass over in their catologues, yet which should not be despised. Like the Lemon grown in this state its treatment has not been such as to bring outits merits. Under no circumstance is it as good an orange as the ordinary Florida Fruit, when the latteris matured. But the ‘‘ Thornless Bell’’ is edible in September, and is best when gathered then before it yellows on the tree. When permitted to turn on the tree it looses that sufficiency of acidity which it possesses earlier and which prevents its being insipid—the common objection to it. Instead of a thick rind it then cures with a skin as thin as that of the imported Sicily orange, and with which it will probably compare favour- ably as to general quality. Let it be understood that all that is claimed for this ’’ September Orange” as it might be designated, are its early ripening qualities and its wonderfully prolific nature, THE OULTIVATION oF THE ORANGE. ‘ To the Editor of the “Gleaner.” F. Sir.—I had not the pleasure of listening to Dr. Neish’s lecture on the “ Oultivation of the 4 Orange,” but I have had great enjoyment in reading it, as it was reported in the Gleaner of 22nd , inst. It is not often the privilege of a body of agriculturists to listen to a lecture like his, on a sub- § ject to them of special interest in which the historical, statistical, scientific and highly practical phases 4 are so judiciously blended. It is to be hoped that the lecture will be freely and widely published. FS Dr. Neish is of opinion that some of the seedling orange fruits grown in the island “are so good and so suitable for our trade that they are not likely to be surpassed’’ by those of imported trees: and he only recommends our cultivators to give trial to one exotic subvariety, viz., the “ Selecta’ of the 2 St. Michael. A plant of St. Michael fruited here last year, but I regret to say the fruits were, in every respect, inferior to the ordinary Jamaica sweet orange. The majority, before maturity, burst their rinds and even when ripe were comparatively sour. It does not follow that what is an excellent . variety in the Azores will continue to present the same degree of excellence, under somewhat changed life-conditions, in the Antilles. Fruits, like men, are, specifically and individually, much affected in character by the cultured or scholastic influences of their environs ; and [ think with Dr. Neish, that to improve the orange-trade interests, one of the first steps to be taken is to select stock plants of the best known sweet orange trees in the island, bestow on them distinctive names, and then propagate them, true to character and names, by budding and grafting, that they may be “generally distributed throughout the island.” “ With a special view to ascertain the best native kinds” Dr. Neish very con- siderately suggests, that, “it would be advantageous to bring about a competitive exhibition of fruits.” A considerable sum of money, even Government funds, might be most profitably expended in this service, in offering liberal prizes for a series of sets of fruits, representing degrees of comparative quality, each set proved to have been gathered from a certain tree. The trees bearing the marketable fruits of the first class might then be ascertained, and with the permission of the proprietors, every effort at propagating the plants should be made. Under the head of propagation, Dr. Neish has explained at some length, a means of layering orange tree branches, of moderate thickness, by which they are induced to develop roots, and in time might, of course, be severed from the tree and established in the soil on their own respective individa- alities; but even Dr. Neish thinks the plan has little besides simplicity to recommend it and, very properly, advises those interested to propagate the sweet orange by means of grafting and budding,— for the theory and modus operandi of which he also refers the interested cultivator to horticultural works. The propagation of certain sweet orange plants, as well as improved varieties or individuals of other tropical fruit and economic trees and shrubs by these means, is very important, because, unfor- tunately, in the case of several. it cannot be done faithfully to type by means of seed. And now, if I may be allowed to supplement what has been brought forward by Dr. Neish, I would beg to recommend and describe, briefly as possible, a system (by no means new) of inarching or grafting by approach, by which propagation of such plants may be ensured, and which, by its simpli- city and perfect adaptability to the atmospheric and other cultural conditions obtaining here, recom- -mends itself, above all other modes of grafting, to the non-professional operator. Procure seedling orange plants, sweet or sour, one to two years old, from the thickness of a goose t — Vy eee, quill to half an inch indiameter. Place them singly in good soil, well compressed in bamboo pots and nurse them until properly established. They will then be ready as stocks on which to inarch the im- proved or favourite variety. Tie each pot separately to a branch of the favourite, strong enough to bear it up, and at the same time, at a point from which the middle portion of the stock can easily, and without much pressure, reach and lie parallel to a twig or small branch of the tree of or about the same diameter. The operator should now cut away leaves and spines, if present, at and near to the point on the stock above indicated, and then with a sharp thin bladed knife, cut out of both stock and scion a longitudinal slice, from two inches to 24 inches or even 3 inches long, gradually dsepening, about the middle of each cut, to near the pith or half-diameter, at the same time taking care that the cuts may be so straight and in width, at least, equal, so as to readily allow their surfaces to meet with- ; out resorting to too much force. So important is it that the cuts on both stock and scion should be, at least, of the same width that, theoretically the corresponding inner or lower edges of their barks should, when opposed, come into perfect contact; and with the biginner it will be as well for him to consider this as being absolutely essential to success. Having thus fitted stock and scion, they should now be bound together with threads of cotton or worsted, or with shreds of calico or bast from the inner bark of the mahoe tree. The tying material must not be drawn so tightly as to either cut into or bruise the bark, the object being merely to keep the edges of the wounds in contact. In addition to such tying, it is nearly always necessary to wrap the wounds with shreds of calico, previously satu- rated with a solution of wax, oil, etc., purposely to keep out rain as well as to exclude desiccating air. 6 Procure equal weights of bees wax and common resin. ‘To a quarter of a pound of each add a tea- spoonful of cocoanut oil, or even animal fat ; put into a vessel and boil. This must be done close to the tree on which the operation is being performed. The shreds of colico should be one inch wide, and Jong enough to thoroughly wrap the wound. When ready take hold with the hands of both ends and let all but the ends sink into the boiling wax until saturated, then draw it across the edge of the vessel to dislodge all excess of wax and allow it to cool until it can be touched by a damp finger with impu- nity. This part of the operation is of the utmost importance, inasmuch, as the application of the waxed cloth too hot, will scald the tender bark and thereby neutralize all hope of success ; on the other hand, if applied too cold it is rendered unsuitable for the purpose intended. When the requisite temperature has been attained, the waxed shred must be wrapped tightly and carefully round the wound, and this completes the operation. Kind nature will accomplish the rest. It is now only necessary to keep the soil in the pot moist; and to prevent undue evaporation the space between the surface of the soil and the top of the pot should be stuffed loosely with either moss or hay. If the tree sought to be propagated is of moderate size a hundred or perhaps two hundred pots might be fixed to it at one time. It would cost very little more to water and otherwise nurse two hundred in-arched plants than it would one hundred. In about six or eight weeks after the operation, with a view to aid in weaning, if I may so express myself, the scion from the parent tree, a notch should be made in the scion, immediately below the point of union, reaching almost to the pith. In two weeks thereafter the notch ought to be deepened, but not widened, through and slightly beyond the pith ; and finally in a week or two weeks more, if the weather is moist, the scion should be severed and the new plant taken from the tree, shaded from the sun, and for a time most carefully nursed. It may be well to state that the beginner should not attempt to sever the scion from the parent tree unless when its leaves are developed and matured. When it is evident that the plant is out of all danger, and when active growth has set in, the stock, above the graft, should be cut back, a piece at a time, until finally fore shortened to the upper end of the grafted part. I much regret that so very simple an operation should require such a lengthy description as this, but without the aid of one or two sim- ple diagrams I have, in justice to the subject, found it imposible to curtail it. Ihave moreover to say that as (simple as the above operation is,) I may have failed to make it understood to your readers, I shall therefore be glad to give oral instruction with example to any one visiting Castleton. For the theory and details, descriptive and illustrative, of grafting in all its modes, I beg to refer readers to “ Baltet’s Art of Grafting,” published, I believe, at the office of The Garden, 37 Southampton Street, Covent Garden, London The popular opinion in Jamaica that the majority of the seeds of a sweet orange will produce sour orange plants is not quite well founded, though there need be little surprise felt if a goodly propor- tion of the trees are productive of sour fruits. It may be safely asserted that there are few good sweet orange trees in this island so isolated from inferior varieties, sour fruited Shaddock, Grape- fruit, Citron, Lemon, or Lime Trees as to be beyond the influence of the fecundating pollen of the latter. It is inferentially chiefly to this influence, rather than to an inherent tendency in the issue, that many seedlings, raised from sweet orange seed, exhibit what may be and are termed degenerate or unmarketable fruits. I gladly grant that there is in a fertile plant an inherent tendency to pro- duce, in characteristics, variable issue, but this providentially over-ruled and in a great measure held in check by the prepotent law of sap-relationship or heredity, formulated in the words—“ like pro- duces like.” And in this faith I would suggest that, just as early as possible, gardens, pastures and woodlands should be cleared, and rigorously kept clear, of most of the unprofitable fruit trees above- named, with a view to ensure an extensive increase of seedling sweet orange trees. From observations extending over four and a half years in Jamaica, I find that sweet orange trees generally bear a heavy and a light, or moderate, crop of fruit alternately. I am of opinion that what I have called the light crop might, ina general way, be made to assume the proportions of a good and profitable one, by the judicious application of suitable and requisite manure. For the manure to have this effect it should be applied as a top dressing, and partly or wholly worked into the soil, about the close of crop, in the season of abundance. Iam, Mr. Editor, Faithfully yours, Gro. Symz, Castleton Gardens. March 26th, 1884, FERNS: SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XVII. Synoptical List with descriptions of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of Jamaica, by G. S. Jenman, Superin- tendent, Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin No 41.) 13. Pteris bulbifera Jenm. nu. sp.—Rootstock upright fibrous, with bulb-like, aggregated buds, that are clothed with dense, appressed, rusty coated scales; stipites 14-2 ft. 1. tufted, stiffly erect, chan- nelled, with the persistent scales of the buds at the articulate base; fronds ample, 3-4 ft. 1. and as w. deltoid, bi-tripinnate, subcoriaceous, naked, dark green glossy on the upper side, paler beneath, pinnz in opposite or alternate pairs, the lowest largest and often branched again at the base on the inferior side, petiolate, 1-14 ft. 1. 4-8in. w. with a long tapering serrated point 3—4 in |. terminal one similar, deeply pinnatifid only, or the inferior fully pinnate within, segments subfalcate or straight, 14-4in. 1. 4-4 in. w. tapering, finely acuminate and spinulose-serrate at the end, with an open rounded sinus as wide as the segment between, rachis glabrous, brown or stramineous, with generally a few distant short spines on the upper part, the coste spinulescent above ; veins forming 2-4 rows of fine areola, a Shp alll 14 { ‘ - ? hd a ad ait se te Ms ’ wor oe ee ia ek 7 - occupying the whole space, having no exterior free veinlets, and with or without two unequal, dis- connected narrow costal areole between each pair of ribs; sori continuous below the outer spinulose, serrate part of the segments.—Litobrochia. Presl. Infrequent in very wet forests above 2,000ft. alt., gathered at Tweedside, St. Andrew, and on Mt. Diabolo, St. Ann. Distinguished by the singular, separate, development of the fronds, (the indi- ‘viduality of each of which produces the articulation of the stipes), less evident tripartite habit, con- spicuously long (especially the terminal) and very acuminate segments, broad and rounded sinuses, fine and copious areolation of the veins, devoid of exterior free branches, with disconnected (or entirely ab- sent) costal areoles. The incipient fronds at first are like several nutlets or small bulbs aggreated together, each distinct, with its own separate rootlets, and coated with minute black and glossy subu- late scales, which are mixed with dense, gray, securf. The buds eventually burst and the frond develops, leaving the vestiture surrounding the base of the stipe. Though growing in community, with a common centre of origin, each frond is as it were a separate, independent plant. The occa- sional spine that occurs on the rachises, must not cause the species to be confounded with the copiously armed aculeata. 14. P. gigantea, Willd.—Root-stock very stout, upright, scaly, stipites caspitose, stout, erect, channelled, 4—6 ft. 1, 1 in. thick, scaly only at the base, prickly throughout, fronds erect, deltoid, tripartite, 4-6 ft. each way, dark, green, naked, coriaceous, the lateral divisions nearly as large as the central, but more developed and branched at the base on the inferior side than the upper; pinnae 1-2 ft. 1. 4-6 in. w. uniform in width from the base outwards, sessile or shortly petioled, deeply pinnatifid ; segments ligulate, 2—4 in. 1. 4-} in. w. the apices acute or acuminate and serrate with rather bluntish teeth beyond the lines of sori, which extend from the close or open sinus ; rachis and cost channelled, dark or pale brown, the former more or less prickly, the latter spinescent on the face, veins forming 1-2 series of areole, with exterior free branches, the transverse costal areole narrow, reaching from rib to rib—Litobrochia, Pres]. Plum. Fil. t. II. Infrequent in very moist forest at 2,000-3,000 ft. alt.; gathered at Dollwood, St. George, Port- land Parish. The species may be readily recognised by its large size, even in Herbaria specimens, the pinnz being twice or thrice larger than in any of its allies. The final segments are not falcate, but spread right and left, nearly horizontally, are serrate only in the outer part, whether fertile or: not and the serration is coarse and not spioulose as in the two preceding. ‘The central division in this and its nearer allies have the pinne opposite, while in the lateral they are more or less alternate. Plumier’s figures show a portion of the top of a frond, and part of the base of a stipe. Itis repre- sented in Sloane’s Herbarium, collected by Dr. Houston in 1730. 15. P. laciniata, Willd.—Root-stock stout, fleshy and greenish, shortly repent, stipites 1-24 ft. 1. stout, fleshy, light green, strigose; fronds 3-5 ft. 1. 14-3 ft. w. dark green, paler boneath, membrano- herbaceous, bi-tripiunate, hirsute on the fleshy rachis and coste; pinnae large, subovate, acuminate, usually broadest at the base, 1-1} ft; 1. 4-1 ft. w. the lower petioled; pinnule 3-6 in. |. 14 or 2 in. w. deeply pinnatified, slightly adnate at the base, apex tapering, entire ; ultimate segments oblong, curved, 4—i in. |, 2-4 li. w. the sides entire or in the inferior ones lobed or pinnatitied, the end rounded an even, veins rather open, simple or widely forked ; sori continuous from the sharp sinus, not reaching the top of the segment; involucres pale, silvery, ciliate-—Lonchitis hirsuta, Linn. Frequent in very moist woods, near streams, ascending to 4,500 ft alt. Resembling Louchitis exactly in appearance and texture, from which the free veins and exclusively lateral sori separate it. The substance is thin and membranous, very flaccid, densely pellucid-dotted, the frame work fleshy and green, and everywhere hispid. The hairs magnified are beautifully translucent, jointed, and full of hiquid. Plumier’s fig. 20, appears to be intended for this, but shows the abundant sori exclusively confined to the sinuses, as in Lonchitis. Sloane first gathered it—on the “ Banks of the Rio d’Ore ; St. Maries on the northside.” 16. P. heterophylla, Linn.—Stipites densely tufted, slender, 6-10 in. 1. channelled, green, naked, arising from a fibrous scaly rootstock; fronds separately sterile and fertile, ovate-acuminate, 5-10 in. ],, 3-5 in. w. firm but herbaceous, naked, bright green, the upper side glossy, bi-tripinnate ; pinnae few, erecto-spreading, subdistant, the lowest largest and bipinnate, the several next above simply pinnate, passing gradually into simple segments at the apex with a similar terminal one; final seg- ments distant, oblique, linear-oblong, or ovate, $-14 in. 1. 14-2 li. w. blunt or acute, the base cuneate- suipitate, margins even in the fertile, deeply and uniformly serrate in the barren fronds; rachis and and coste green naked, both flattened or margined in the outer part; sori continuous to almost the apex of the segments ; involucres pale and rather silvery.—Sloane, t, 53. f. 2. Plum. t. 37. Common on wet rocks at low elevations in or near the beds of streams, abundant in the eastern parishes up to 2000 ft. alt. A pretty, distinct, looking plant of no close local aftlaity, of very lax habit, all the segments being }—} in. apart, with coarser cutting, but somewhat the habit of Onychiwm. It grows only near shady sprmgs and in woods on calcareous rocks over which water constantly trickles, in strong tufts, with numerous grass green quite erect fronds, the barren outside, and fertile, rather taller, inside, 17. P. incisa, Thunb.—Rootstock, wide-creeping, clothed with fiae subulate scales; stipites ‘scattered, strong erect, subangular, dark, polished, naked, 14-24 ft. 1,; fronds 4-8 ft, 1. 2-4 ft. w. tripinnate, sub-coriaceous, naked, dark green and glossy above, glaucous beneath pinnw erect, spread- ing in distant sessile opposite pairs, 14-2 ft, 1. 6-1 in. w. ovate-lanceolate, the acuminate apex entire ; _ pinnule sessile, in opposite pairs, usually sub-distant, lancoolate, 3-5 in. 1, 1-1} in. w. pinnate at the _ base, pinnatifid in the outer part, terminating in a rather long, broudish, subentire point ; final seg ee ae 8 ments oblong (the smaller deltoid—oblong) blunt or acute, 4-1 in, 1. 2-4 li. w. broadly adnate at the base, entire or the inferior sinnate or shallowly and roundly lobed ; veins prominent beneath, pellucid, forming a row of costal areola, the numerous branches of which are free or casually united ; sori reach- ing from bottom to top of the lobes.—P. vespertilionis, Labil. P. glauca, Moritz. Frequent among brushwood on open hillsides and the skirts of forests at 5000-6000 ft. alt. This, like viscosa, is subscandent in its larger states. It has a general bluish tinge, like the bloom on certain kinds of fruit. The lowest, and reduced, pair of pinnules lap over the opposite pair on the face of the rachis. The venation is variable,—quite free in parts, or with a line of costal areoles, the exterior branches free or more or less anastomosing near the margin. The colouring of the different parts is beautifully clear and bright, especially of the rachis and cost, both of which are channelled. 18. P. deflexa, Link.—Rootstock stout, woody, obliquely erect, clothed with narrow dark rather spreading scales ; stipites czespitose, strong, channelled, asperous beneath and scaly at the base, 2-4 ft: 1. light or dark brown ; fronds coriaceous, rigid, dark green and glossy above, paler beneath, naked except the ribs beneath which are rather puberulous, tripartite, quadripinnate, 2-34 ft. 1. and about as w. subdeltoid, central division equilateral, the basal divisions distant and their primary branches on the lower side much enlarged, the inferior 1-14 ft. 1. 3 ft. w. bi. (or rarely tripinnate), the branches on the upper side much reduced and simply pinnate, or tripinnate at the very base; ultimate seg- ments linear, 4-14 in. 1. 2 li. w. straight or curved, mucronate, spinulose at the base above, subdistant, free on the superior side of the base, adnate on the lower, barren segments broader, and the margins spinulose-serrate in the outer third, rachis and coste rather scabrous, slightly scaly in the axils, brown, channelled, veins simple or forked, the lowest in barren fronds often springing from the cost; sori reaching from the base to the mucronate apex of the segments.—P. stridens, Agardh. Plum. t. 160 in part. Frequent in the primeval forest of the higher ridges and peaks above 6,000 ft. alt. attaining the highest elevation of any member of the genus. A large plant, the most rigid, hardly excepting aqui- lina, of any. Only full-grown plants exhibit the tripartite habit. The continental forms have much smaller divisions and final segments a third to a sixth smaller—hence Agardh named the Jamaica plant P. stridens ; the habit and other characters are however the same in both. Plumier’s figure, on the right of the page, is an exact representation of a young frond. 19. P. aquilina, Link. —Rootstock pencil-thick, wide-creeping subterraneous; stipites scattered, erect, 1-3 or more ft. 1. naked, stramineous ; fronds large, deltoid or elongato-deltoid, tri-quadripinnate 2-4 ft. 1, about as w. coriaceons and rigid, pale green, upper side naked, under coated with very fiue light silky tomentum ; pinne approximate or more or less distant, the outer part simply pinnate ; ter- tiary with a straight linear apical segment and similar or much shorter close lateral ones 4-4 in. L. 1-14 li. w., rachis and coste stramineous, ribs slightly puberulous-scaly ; veins fine, forked or simple ; sori continuous around the lobes, with a slight interior involucral valve as well as the normal exterior — one.—Pesia, St. Hil. Ornithopteris, Agardh.—Eat. Fer. N. Am. PI. 35. Var. P. esculenta, Forst.—Final segments, especially in the outer part of the primary and second- ary divisions where they are most apart, connected at the base by an arc-like auricle. Var. P caudata. Linn.—All divisions more open, the longer final segments 6-8 li. apart, longer, narrower and not connected by the shallow transvere auricle, but the outer slightly decurrent, the ter- minal caudate, 1 1-4 in. 1. 1-4 li. w.; hardly less tomentose beneath—Plum.t. 29. Sloane t. 63. Most abundant from about 2,000 ft. alt. upwards covering open hillsides and ridges, waysides and the skirts of forests throughout the colony. Plants in shade are more lax and straggling in habit, and often reach as much jas 12ft. high, supported by other vegetation. All the forms are less compact and vary in other particulars more or less from the European brake-fern or bracken. The rachises &c. are sometimes chestnut brown, and the ribs of the ultimate pinnules and segments are flat on the under side and scariose-margined. A cross section of the petiole shows several distinct bundles of vessels. The varieties are equally common. The species is nearly universal, extending as far north as the arctic regions. ‘The double involucral valves would entitle this and the next species to both generic and tribal distinction. 20. P. viscosa, Moore.—Rootstock wide-creeping, slender, finely scaly ; stipites scattered, distant, rather slender, 1-14 ft. 1., dark-colored; fronds pale green, coriaceo-herbaceous, tuberulous-scaly and viscid, tri-quadripinuate 4—6 ft. ]. or more, 2—4 ft. w., composed of several distant alternate spreading or erect-spreading, ovate pinnze, which are 1-2 ft. 1., 4-1 ft. w. ; pinnule close or sub-distant, lanceolate, sessile, 5-8 in. |., 14-2 in. w., the acuminate apices, bidentate-serrate ; tertiary segments numerous, $~1 in. ]., } in. w., the outer part entire and acute or blunt pointed, within deeply pinnatifid, final lobes short, deltoid-ovate, blunt, 1-1} li. 1. by nearly the same w., rachis costz, &c., reddish brown, rusty- landulose, and flexuose or the tormer zigzag ; veins free, forked, pinnate flabellate ; sori continuous on the lobes; involucres double.—Hook Sp. Fil. vol. 2, t. 121 B. and vol. 3 t. 141 C0. Pesia, St Hill. Ornithopteris, Agardh. Common, growing among brushwood, upon which it is subscandent, and along the skirts of for- ests, often in company with P. incisa, from 5,000-6,000 ft. alt. Every part is densely glandulose—vis- cid, the pinne nearly sessile, and their lower pinnules reduced especially the lowest of all on the supe- rior side, the rachises and costules reddish. In a fresh state the interior valve of the involucre ig clearly visible, and the veins pellucid. The colour is a bright peculiarly light green. May, 1893. a BULLETIN BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAM ATIC A. CaN TEN TS: Experiments in the Cultivation of Vegetables. —VIII. Sisal Hemp. Sheep Dip suggested for Cattle Ticks. Manures for Bananas. Sugar Cane Disease. Alfalfa. Ferns: Synoptical List —XVITI. P RI C E—Twopence. [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] . inet oe ye : HA) | | JAMAICA: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, -— ae -¥ 1893. EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES.—VIII. Porators—CastLETon GARDENS. Oe Say Names of}Potatoes grown at Castle- ton Gardens (16 Potatoes of each). Sutton’s Lady Truscott 14 Sutton’s Magnum Bonum 14 Sutton’s Triumph «+ [14 Sutton’s Reading Hero ++ {14 Edgecote Purple 14 Sutton’s Matchless 14 The Dean 14 Sutton’s Supreme 14 Sutton’s Fiftyfold .- [14 Rivers’ Royal Ashleaf --.(L4 Schoolmaster (Turner) .-(14 Sutton’s Red-Skin Flourball 14 Date of Planting mn Do 5 5 3 e = 3 ame \3 | Ay DNs |e S ~ — os - . o| # mts |e S g 2 ° 2 eg al >) ® & 3 s o o o 5 Pe ee ee PS 8 2 lw ei sie) a 5a a fi ae | os on | oD =I =} p=} o ° elie (SBlS/Bla)] & phe] aw lea Stele 02) S| al Sire Peri gs eae 2/2 igais | Shela) 2 ~ sa So af fy | co Tee ie aes =, a | Blog o =| rl ted aH a om 75) a, 9) - a &} gles) 8 prey eo | ol So > lg glass Blo ls By dla me | . S ola Oo! s B& |e eB! a oy Co) o ~ S ~ol2 8 ca a a) ry eval tel 22] n " |? oo = n o = S ¢ =| =| on n a 4 Olas A n Bei ol ee =| =| =) = ° p e as J | Sele A Bo we) oe ee q = |e FLS.S] “a BIA |@lazaiali“a he |S | a Ss Be | ew OZS. ozs. |lbs ozs. .2)25.2| 11 | 4.5) 79) 211]18/15)'3 715 6|6 04'73.3/63.4) 4.65 .2] 1.3] 15 [29.5] 104) 25 | 23 | 16/2 4|5 2)|7 08/74.2/61.7|17.67 .2|28.2| 14 | 6 5| 81) 22 | 20 | 2.2 517 8|9 12/73 5163.4) 6.76 . 2/252] 11 |29.5) 104) 22 | 16 | 0.8 2 313 00/74.2/6L. 7/17 .67 .2} 3.3] 17 |29.5] 104) 22 | 18 | 1.0/1 3|]2 2)|2 O8/74 2161.7/17.67 .2/25.2| 11 | 4.5] 79) 26 | 24/ 2.0/3 516 8/10 04/73.3/63.4) 4,65 .2| 2.3] 16 [29.5] 104) 20 | 18 | 1.642 2)2 6|3 00/74.2/61.7|17.67 .2/25,.2) 11 |29.5| 104!) 29 | 24 |2.08 4/7 110 °12\74:2161.7\17,67 ,2/28.2) 14 |29.5| 104) 28 | 28 | 2 2)6 5|]9 5 {16 12'74.2\61.7|17.67 .2} 6.3] 20 | 6 5| 81) 28 | 22(2.0|'2 3)4 7)|6 08/73.5)63.4) 6.76 .2] 1.3] 15 °|16.5| 91) 27'| 26 |17|/2 8|4 31] 6 12/74.8/63.8) 8.96 ,2| 2.3] 16 |29.5] 104) 21 | 20 1.05) 2 8 4|4 08)74.2/61.7|17.67 Porators— Horr GARDENS. | Number of days rain fell Names of Potatoes grown at Hope Gardens (16 Potatoes of each) cm ms ere Sutton’s Flourball « Abundance “ Satisfaction « Perfection “« Best of All aoe “« The Dean “oe « Lady Truscott eat Reading Russett 3 « Hero an Edgecote Purple eee Triumph ss Magnum Bonum (Turner) Schoolmaster White Beauty of Hebron & Imperator eae Sutton’s Supreme Triumph oe Matchless aay Windsor Castle Xe Nonsuch ove Fiftyfold oe Rivers’ Ashleaf Pre White Elephant se Sutton’s Seedling om Early Rose N.B,—Although there was not much rain, 6 3 S 5 a g = on S op . 2 3.8 eshte } = oan el Pei es ,| 2 |e ss | Plas op o 5 = 3S a ges A ) = as =| n n ze A (Pag MRR! A Ws CO ie Bl wl eee oe ens a | & |e) ssialele rt e | |tale | 8 | 8 2 re a 8 = ie | 3 2 a (acai HS = PR =P Q —& Q =) =) ZA A ..-|27.1.93]13.2.93] 17 4.5.93] 97 | 21 | 17 my | «|e |a5.93) «| 24 | 20 “ “ “14 5 93) “ | 99 | 22 “ «“ “ 14,5.93) ©1181] 13 « “ “© 14,50.93| “ | 28 | 22 “ “« 6 14.56.93) “ante 8 6 “ « 4,.5.931° « | 19 | 16 “ “© | « 14.5.93| « | 28 | 19 ‘ «“ “ 14,.5.93] © | 26 | 24 “ “ « 14.5,.93) “ | 28 | 22 “ “ 6 14.5.93) “| 24 | 23 “< “ “ 14.56.93} “| 16] 12 6 “ “ 145.93) | 30 | 27 “ “ “« 14.5.93) “© | 30 | 28 “ «“ “14.5 93) “© | 32 | 81 “ “ “ 14.5.93] “ | 34 | 34 “ “ “ 14.5.93) * | 30 | 30 “ « * 14.5.93] “1 30 | 24 “ 14 5.93] * | 32 (132 “ “ 14.65.93) “| 30 | 26 “ “ “ 14.65.93] “| 30] No “ « “ 4.5.93] “ | 30] No “ “ “ 14,5.93] © | 30 | 26 “ “ “ /4.5.93] © | 30] 28 rs or © ce i] eo n ie 2] yielded Potatoes to the yalue of more than £1, Number of Saleable Potatoes per set. Total number of Potatoes per set. Weight of Saleable Potatoes per set. Gross weight of Potatoes per set. | Total weight of Potatoes lifted, ax. temp. during lime Potatoes so r= 5 Bp =i Pe >) —_ 3| 3 a") 2 ian] ozs. | 02s. | lbs 1.6) 2.4) 5.6) 6.1) 63)/94.4) 1.70 3.5) 6.5) 7.6) 8.8) 11 “| « 2.6) 5.8] 5.3) 6.5) 9 “ “ 2.0) 3.0)'5.0) 6.2) 5b) <)) «e 4.0) 6.0} 8.6/10.2| 14 ce] 6s 5.2/10.2/12.0/14.0) 7 3 2.0) 4.0) 5.5) 6.8} 63) «| « 2.0| 3 6| 4.4) 5.1] 6] « “ 2.0) 4.0) 4.0) 5.8) 8 66 “ 0; 3.8} 0} 3.8) 4 sey 3.1) 6 5}/7.10/13.8) 93) « “ 5.0!113.9| 6.0)14.0) 10 | « ss 3.3) 5 5) 8.8) 9.4116] « “ 2.1) 3 7) 6.8) 7.4 13 “ sc 3.7| 7.9) 6.6) 8.8) 16 | « se 2.6) 5.5) 7.7, 9.9118 | « 6 2.7| 4.6] 3.7| 4.8) 8] « ‘ 2.9| 5.81 4.61 6.0) 9] «] 3.4| 5.7) 5.6] 6.5113 | « sc 2.0) 6.0} 3.5) 4.44 7] « Ss retulrn. “ “ retulrn. “ “ 3 0) 4.0) 4.9} 5 Bb) 8a ed 3.6) 6.4/10.0|10.7) 12 3 ss 1.4] 3.6| 2.8] 3.3] 63] «| « the Potatoes were irrigated with waste water, About ? of a chain of land ' 8 SISAL HEMP. There are a large number of young plants now ready at Hope Gardens for distribution at the rate of £4 per thousand. Application should be made to the Director of Public Gardens and Planta- tions, Gordon Town P.O. Enquiries are continually being made by the Department as to the progress in the improvement of Fibre Machines. Although there is not at present adequate information about the Albee Smith Fibre Machine, an Electro Type is subjoined, forwarded from Messrs. Gillespie Bros., New York, through the Hon. the Colonial Secretary, The Agent in Jamaica is Mr. J. C. Hlliott, Hayes P.O, 1 ( At 1 ! , tees 7 it Eee! | nl uT y Fr ff Nt) A AMON I | | * SHEEP DIP SUGGESTED FOR CATTLE TICKS. The following letter has been received from Messrs. Wm. Cooper & Nephews, Berkhampstead, England with reference to an enquiry whether their Sheep Dipping Powder is a remedy also for Cattle Ticks. The papers referred to have been sent to the Jamaica Institute, where they may be consulted by those who are interested in the subject. They include amongst others :— Z Sheep Farming. A Treatise on Sheep. their management and Diseases. By W. Sutherland. The World’s Sheep Farming for Fifty Years, 1843-1893. By Wm. Cooper & Nephews. Chemical Works, Berkhamstead, April 11th, 1893. W. Fawcett, Esq., Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town, P.O., Jamaica. Dear Sir, In reply to your favor of the 13th March, we never recommend our Dipping Powder for use upon any other animal than the Sheep. As a matter of fact however, we believe it is constantly used for dressing Cattle and is said to be a most excellent preparation for the purpose. For the destruction of parasites it is admittedly unequalled. It is of course a p vison and if you decide to recommend it for Cattle, we advise that after thoroughly mixing at the strength advised on the directions, the sediment should be allowed to settle, and the water then poured off for use. This is not done in the case of Sheep which do not lick themselves. Nobody we believe doubts the pre-eminence of our powder in all the qualities necessary for a success- ful Sheep Dip. It is almost everywhere used as a Government remedy for Scab, while for ticks and lice and in pro- moting the growth of the wool the evidence of its superiority is overwhelming. We enclose a few papers which bear upon these subjects. a Any supplies you require may be obtained either from our House at Galveston, U.S.A., or from here irect. We are, Dear Sir, Yours; faithfully, Wo. Coorer & NEPHEWs. 4 MANURES FOR BANANAS, The question of Manures for Bananas will soon become a very important and pressing subject for Planters in Jamaica, as the soil will become exhausted through continual cropping except in very favoura- ble situations. Experiments are necessary to determine the proper components for special artificial manures for par- ticular soils and also to ascertain the particular months of the year most suitable for the application of dif- ferent manures. As soils and climate vary in character, so that the number of hands to a bunch, the length of time a plant takes to produce a bunch, &c., varies in consequence—experiments should not be confined to any one locality, but ought to be carried out in as many different spots as possible. This problem is one in which the Government is willing to help planters. Experimental stations as advocated by some, would be very costly, as it would be necessary to purchase land, put experienced men in charge, and supply labour for planting and carrying on the experiments. The following is a copy of a letter from Mr. Henry Cork, and the plan suggested by him appears to be simple in character, and promising the best results, for the experiments would be carried out by men experienced in this particular cultivation and keen to note the slightest improvement in the fruit, Henry Oork Esq., to Director of Public Gardens. 10th April, 1893. Dear Sir, Referring to our conversation on the subject of Banana Manures, I am willing to offer you the fol- lowing facilities for testing them. I will place at your disposal 10 acres or less of my growing bananas of different ages on which you could make any experiment either in cultivation or manuring which appeared to you desirable. I would find all the labour and there would be no expense to the Government beyond the cost of the manures which you thought desirable to try. This plan would involve less expense to your Department than any other and would be a better test as you would have the use of stock and implements which could not be otherwise available to you. | A complete account of the cost of the operations and the yield of fruit would be kept for your infor- mation including Rainfall, Temperature, &c. ; IT am, &c., Henry Cork. It has been determined therefore that sufficient manure shall be supplied free to five experienced Ba- nana planters, in situations which may be considered the most favourable for the experiments. Application should be made to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town, P.O. Mr. J. J. Bowrey, Government Analyst has been consulted, and the following notes have been drawn up for conducting the experiments. gil It will be seen that the total area to be experimented with is two acres and one square chain. The experiments are framed not only to bring out what will give the largest results but also the best results taking cost of manure into account. f The Basic Slag should be applied at one time and that as soon as possible. The other manures should be applied in divided doses 3 or 4 times a year, at intervals, of 2 or 3 or even 4 months—at the small intervals, if it is required to hasten growth so as to have the fruit at some particular time of the year. The planter will know at what time it will be best to give the manures so as to produce the fruit when required. : These manures should not be applied to the soil before or during heavy rain. To secure even distribution, the manures should be mixed with a large bulk of dry powdery earth before they are applied. After being sprinkled the soil should be hoed or lightly stirred in some way. If irrigation is employed care must be taken that the manure is not carried away. Except where thorough watering can be carried out mineral manures alone cannot effect much good without organic matter in the soils, hence all Banana trash, stems, &c., ought carefully to be buried or at least lightly covered with earth. i The amount of bananas in the soil might be increased by?growing belts of blackeye peas or cow-beans between tho rows of bananas, cutting them down when the pods are forming, and burying lightly close round the bananas. By green manuring with beans nothing is withdrawn from the soil, while carbon and nitrogen obtained by the beans from the air are added. uly, The place selected should be as level as possible, and the soil uniform in quality. Twenty-one plots of one square chain each should be marked off by stakes, and one tenth of the amount of manure mentioned in the table below applied to each plot. ~ It will be satisfactory to have the plots duplicated according to the following plan so that for instance p. K. N. is applied in 1 & la; a. a. in 2 & 2a, &. It would be advisable to have the plot marked 11 treated with two tons of cattle manure. Weicut or Manure (IN CwTs.) NECESSARY FOR EXPERIMENTAL PLOTS OF ONE ACRE IN AREA. | p ° * : 5 “3 AY b= | th ° a >) } ae ot ne = © oo ° o @ wa = & a8 | 24 | 84 es cS) 2.8 aS 3 2S 55 ee = ln £< ER oe | |84] gi2B BEE EE les [2 “ Oo pipes ll se Spm ii&siis lage E 3s oo 5S ay a £ 2 ° Es = = - OD Names of Potatoes grown at Hope | =e | 8 E >| oe | 3 a ae 2.8 a a! 2 a 1 ee IE vie 2 Gardens. a 8 |2| 38 a Zi ala | 2 io Gleege 2 g 3 a a qn aw |e ia Fo 2 fo be + ng : Ay S| Bal $8 (eo 2) 2 lo 2/8 ole eects ales om a = | Fi ealel se | & 18 8a Sle Sle SiIEg|883| 4 | ee ° s co BS a 2 Be a kaleeg e) o\- S$ ss od 2 R e\/2o)e2l'a | 8 lg sls o-hs\3 steely ol | | ag 2 oH | Pl ee] ele] s |lgals als alo ated|4a| 2] 8s Alm lala |Alalatae Fe be ES | ale ozs. | 028. | lbs. _ &i Windsor Castle 24.2 9.3 | 16 | 19.5 | 85 | 32 | 26 | 1.9] 4.9 4.9) 8| 93] 4.30) 17 Matchless id 1 1 Ke “ | 30 | 25 | 2.0] 5.0) 2.8) 4.8) 734) «| « ‘ Nonsuch ae oe ae “ “ “& | 34 | 26 | 2.6] 4.8) 1.3) 2.4) 34) « “ & Fiftyfold 66 feat eee ge 928 | 207] 2 8 ae) 0) Be eee Red-Skin Flourball oie ae se fa ae «| 28 | 28 | 1.4] 3.4) 2 8) 3.7) Ga; «| «& ‘& Sutton’s Ashleaf fi ie ¢ “ “« | 28 | 28 | 0.5) 3.6) 0.8] 1.7) 3] « ‘ “ “ Seedling 33 re “ zz « | 30 | 28 | 2.8) 6.4] 5.7) 6.8] 12 « “ ‘ “ Magnum Bonum a +3 Os if «| 30 | 29 | 3.4] 5.7) 3.0) 4.4) 7a] «| « “ “ Reading Hero “ “e ¢ “ «| 30 | 27 | 1.6) 2.011.4) 1.7] 30] «| « “ ‘ Perfection seal) asf s “ “ « | 30 | 28 | 3.6) 6.2) 6.8) 8.0) 14] «| « “ « Triumph “me 6 sé “ 6 « | 80 | 30 | 3.0} 5.0] 3.7) 4.8) 80 | «| « “ Lady Truscott 8 SHIPMENT OF COFFEE IN PARCHMENT. milling, have already frequently been noticed in the Budéetin ; See Nos. 8, 12, 14, 31, The following correspondence is on the same subject. Secretary, Institute of Jamaica, to Director, Public Gardens and Plantations. Institute of Jamaica, May 12th, 1893. To the Editor of the “ Bulletin of the Botanical Department, Jamaica.” Sir, Tn response to an appeal from the Clarendon Agricultural Society, the Board of the Institute appoint- ed a Committee to visit the Show recently held at May Pen. As a result of their visit, the Committee recommended that a special prize of two guineas be awarded to Mr. J. L. Hibbert for his exhibit of coffee for export in parchment, and the Committee stated that “they wished by their award to point out to small settlers how desirable it is to export coffee in this manner as it does away with the expense of milling, and saves both time and trouble. In Central America, the owners of large plantations have given up the use of expensive milling machinery, because they find that it pays them better to export coffee in parchment, and it is hoped that merchants and buyers of coffee in the Island will give their attention to the question of the purchase of it in this form.” This prize was accordingly awarded by the Board. As, however, their attention was drawn to a statement made by the Clarendon Agricultural authori- ties that there appeared to be some difference of opinion as to the advisability of the exportation, by settlers of coffee in parchment, the Board decided to invite the opinion of experts; and I am desired by them to ask you to be good enough to give publicity to the following report kindly supplied by Messrs. Park, Macfadyen & Oo., which will, they think, prove of interest to all engaged in coffee planting. Tam, &c., Frank Cunpatt, Secretary. | | | Report from Messrs. Park, Macfadyen & Co. CorrreE Huskine tn Lonpon. At the outset we would mention that the operation is chiefly applicable to coffee treated by what is called in some countries the “ West India Preparation,’—i. e. to “washed” Coffees which are known by the trade here as “colory,” and as these descriptions are most sought after by buyers, and command far higher prices than the qualities known as “unwashed,” it is obvious that the Planters in their own interests should endeavour to market their crops in the former condition. In sending over Parchment Coffee, great care should be taken to have it thoroughly dried before shipment, as toa very great extent, this affects the market value. If not sufficiently dried, the Parchment becomes more or less musty in transit, and the colour deteriorates, thus seriously affecting its selling value, and from the fact that the outer layer of coffee in the bags dries on the voyage to a greater extent than the bulk in the centre, it is impossible for us when we dry it here before husking to obtain an even result. In addition to this, freight and charges have to be paid on extra weight, which is an absolute loss, and we may mention that we have received parcels in a damp state, which show a loss of 20 o/o, after drying, exclusive of the loss in weight, naturally caused by the removal of the Parchment. It will thus be seen that the Parchment should be dried thoroughly, especially as extra charges are incurred for drying here. On the other hand care must be taken not to over dry the coffee, as that impairs the colour to some extent. The advantages to be derived by Planters in forwarding their coffee in Parchment are several. Tne Parchment covering acts as a great pro- tection to the bean while in transit, from all the deleterious influences to which it is necessarily subjected while in the closethold of Steamers, on Quays &e., and above all, it preserves the colour. This is probably the most important of all, as the finer the colour of the Coffee, the higher is the price paid by buyers, and it has been abundantly proved that Coffee husked here, fetches prices higher by several shillings a cwt. than the same Coffee when cleaned abroad. Planters are also enabled to market their crop, probably, several weeks earlier, then if they did it themselves, and a material saving of labour is effected in districts where it is scarce. The total cost of receiving from ship, landing, husking, sizing, and all the usual operations is 2s. 6d. per cwt. which we believe is, at least, as cheap as it can ordinarily be performed by Planters, if not cheaper. The charge for drying is extra, and depends entirely on the condition of the parcel, but from what we have already said, it is a charge, which, in their own interests, Planters should never incur here. The loss in weight from husking varies largely according to the nature of the Parchment, and ranges from about 18 ojo. to 20 o/o. The whole of the various operations are carried out in Bonded Warehouses under the immediate supervision of the Officers of the Crown, which affords an important guarantee to Importers that the correct weight is ‘returned to them. The Customs’ duty is charged by the authorities on the husk. We have occasionally received parcels of Coffee dried in the cherry to husk, but we cannot recommend this mode of shipment, though it is possible that in a few individual cases Planters might have found it desirable to adopt it. In the first place, it adds unduly to the charge for freight, the Coffee never turns out such a fine colour as it does if prepared as already detailed, and, of course, the loss in weight is much heavier, besides, it is much more difficult to work, and necessitates a charge of, at least, 3s. 9d. a cwt. The foregoing remarks apply solely to Coffee of the species arabica. As regards Liberian Coffee, we have no hesitation in advising, that, unless absolutely compelled, shipments should never be made in Cherry, as this species, even under favourable circumstances is most difficult to work, _ The advantages to be derived from exporting coffee in parchment, when there is any difficulty about 4 YAM BEAN, Pacuyruizus TUBEROSUS, Spreng. ' Dr. Macfayden, in his “Flora of Jamaica” page 286, called attention to the value of this plant as ollows :-— “Flowers white. Seeds red. The root is formed of a number of simple cord-like fibres, several feet in length, stretching under the surface of the ground, bearing in their course a succession of tubers. “The beans are poisonous; but the root affords a very plentiful supply of very wholesome food. The produce of three plants is usually sufficient to fill a bushel basket. The tubers may either be boiled plain, in which state they are a very good substitute for yams and other roots in common use; or they may be submitted to a process similar to arrow-root, and a starch obtained. This starch is of a pure white, and is equal in every respect to arrow-root. To the taste it is very palatable, is easily digested, and is employ- ed for custards and puddings. Even the trash left after obtaining the starch, and which in the prepara- tion of arrow-root is lost, may, when thoroughly dried, be formed into a palatable and wholesome flour. “A very excellent flour may also be obtained by slicing the tubers, drying them in the sun, and then reducing to a powder. “This plant is deserving of being more generally cultivated than it has hitherto been. It ought in a great measure to supersede the arrow-root in cultivation. It can be planted at any season of the year, and the roots are fit for diging in the course of four or five months; the return is infinitely greater than that from arrow-root, andthe proportion of starch also is more abundant, so that it can be brought to market at so cheap a rate, as to admit of being employed by the calico-printers in place of potato-starch.” The ‘Kew Bulletin” for 1889, page 17, quotes from letters from Dr. Trimen, Director of the Botanic Gardens in Ceylon, pointing out that the pods when young are.not poisonous, but may be eaten like French Beans. He wrote :—“ They are quite new to Ceylon. . . . The young pods served like French Beans, are an admirable vegetable, tender and sweet. . . . What constitutes their superiority over the ordinary French Beans is the absence of any fibrous string along the sutures of the pod. The large size is also an advantage ; they are often 10 or 12 inches long.” In Jamaica the seeds are generally sown in Marchor April. But they can be sown at any time. At Hope Gardens seeds were sown in September. The pods are ready for useas French Beans 7 months after sowing and when pods are quite ripe, 9 months after sowing, the yams are fit to dig. From one seed sown at Hope Gardens 5 yams were dug weighing altogether 14 lbs. They generally vary in size from one foot to 18 inches long, and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. MANURES. ASssERTED RETROGRADATION OF SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME. A paper by Mr. L. Lefrane, recently published in the Bulletin de l’ Association des Chimists de Sucrerie et de Distillerie, gives the results of a number of experiments made in 1889, and lately repeated, from which the writer concludes that superphosphate of lime undergoes rapid retrograda- tion when applied to arable land, the soluble phosphoric acid which it contains, and which constitutes its special value, passing, in eight days at most, into the insoluble state, that is, the superphosphate becomes really phosphate of lime, its commercial value being thus reduced by more than one-third, and he therefore thinks that instead of the superphosphate, cultivators should use the various phos- phates of lime, ground bones, natural phosphates and slag phosphates, which after being properly crushed and sifted, supply at a low price one of the most indispensable elements for vegetable nutrition,—Sugar Cane. A Goop Pian 1s To Utitize WAsTE Bones. The three following methods are strongly recommended, in the Agricultural Gazette of N. S. Wales, as simple and practical :— “1. Put the bones into a manure-pile, especially of horse manure, which is kept well-moistened, They will gradually decay and disappear, enriching the manure to the full extent of their fertilising value. ; “2. Bury them in the soil near the roots of fruit trees deep enough to escape the plough. If placed at a sufficient depth beyond the reach of the summer heat, an immense number of rootlets will cluster around each bone and gradually consume it entirely. Of course these rootlets must not be disturbed in the course of cultivation. «3. Pack the bones with moist wood ashes mixed with some quick lime ; the whole mass to be kept moist. “In a few months tbe hardest bones will be reduced toa fine mush as valuable as superphosphate. The drawback to this method is that if precautions are not taking by covering the heap with soil, the nitrogen of the gelatine of the bones may be fermented into ammonia and lost in the atmosphere. Above all things, bones should not be burnt, for the most valuable part which furnishes the nitrogen, is thus destroyed, and the bone-dust formed from burnt bones would be little more than half as valuable as that made from complete bones. When bones have been boiled, or better still, steamed in a vat under a pressure of 35 to 40 lbs., they can, when dried, be readily crushed in an ordinary maize- crushing mill, and form avery valuable manure. The soup that is made when the bones are boiled will contain a lot of valuable nitrogenous matter which should be added to the compost heap, and well mixed with dry earth before being applied to the trees and vegetables,’ ; 5 PESTS OF THE ORANGH AND PHACH TREES, Mr. R. M. Oocking to Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. ? Port Maria, 28th March, 1893. IR, I notice in your Report on the ‘‘ Coffee Leaf Fungi” you refer to the damage being done both to the coffee and orange trees in Manchester by the slug. I may add that the destruction to the trees is also going on in this parish, especially to the young orange trees (they do not trouble the bearing trees). A. good remedy I find is to hoe around each tree some three feet and then sprinkle strong white lime, but this must be done during dry weather to have any effect. The Peach trees are doing well; I, however, nearly lost them about six weeks ago by the cochineal insect. I had to wash the trees with Jeyes’ Fluid and water, and then paint them with white lime. This appears to have des- troyed the insects, for the trees have thrown out leaves again. ; Iam, &, * R. M, Cocx1nea. FERNS: SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XIX. Synoptical List, with descriptions. of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of Jamaica, by G. S. Jenman, Superin- tendent, Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin No 43.) Genus XIX. Blechnum, Linn. Sori costal or subcostal, linear or oblong, inserted ena special filiform receptacle, forming a transverse union of the veins parallel with costa and margin, but distant generally from the latter ; involucres special, attached exteriorly, inflexed, free and opening along the inner edge ; fronds pinnate or bipinnate. This genus differs from the last by the fertile fronds not being contracted in the pinnz, the lines of sori in consequence being distant from the margin. The species are few, but they abound greatly in individuals, and propagate largely by stoloniferous shoots that are thrown out from the rootstock, as well as by the ordinary generative course of spores. a. Fronds pinnatifid in the upper part, pinnatifid in the lower. b. Lower pinne adnate at the base and reduced to small deltoid segments. 1. B. unilaterale, Willd. bb. Lower pinne free at the base and little if at all reduced. 2. B. occidentale, Linn. 3. B. longifolium, H. B. K. aa. Fronds fully pinnate throughout, pinnate articulated at the base. 4, B. serrulatum, Rich. aaa. Fronds bipinnate, twining. 5. B. volubile, Kaulf. 1. B. unilaterale, Willd.—Rootstock small, fibrous erect, the crown scaly ; stipites tufted, several 4-5 in. 1. slender, fibrillose scaly ; fronds pinnate at the base, chartaceous glabrous, 6—10 in. 1. 14-2 in, w. tapering equally to both ends; terminating in a narrow entire, even or serrulate acuminate seg- ment ; pinne numerous, }—1 in. 1. 2-3 li. w. close even-margined, straight or curved, acute, dilated (rather more on the upper side) and adnate at the base with a narrow sinus between which in the lower part of the frond is incised in the centre, inferior ones gradually reduced to mere broadly-based deltoid auricles, the lowest of which are apart ; rachis slender, pale green; veins forked, close; sori subcostal, linear the upper line shorter, continuous or in short patches, not reaching the base or apex of the pinne.— B. polypodioides, Radd. Common on banks and stony ground in exposed situations from 500-3,000 ft. alt. A small freely tufted stoloniferous species, marked from all the others by the broadly adnate pinne, which dwindle to small auricles at the base of the fronds. 2. B. occidentale, Linn.—Rootstock erect or oblique, usually small, fibrous and stoloniferons, the crown scaly ; stipites tufted, 4-1 ft. 1. fibrillose-scaly below ; fronds 4-14 ft. 3-9 in. w., at first pink then bright green, naked or the ribs slightly puberulous, the lower part pinnate, the upper pinnatifid and then passing gradually into the acuminate entire serrulate point , pinnz numerous, adnate above, below free and cordate-auriculate, subfalcate, acuminate or acute, 14—4 in. ]. }—} in. w. the lower apart, and the lowest 1-2 pairs somewhat reduced and deflexed, the cartilaginous margin finely spinulose— serrate, as are also the coste on the upper sides; veins free, close, forked ; sori subcostal, falling more or less short at each end of the pinne, the opposite involucral valves connivent over the rib, but at length recurved and concealed by the matured sporangia.—Sloane t. 44. f. 2. Plum, Fil. t. 62. B. Var. minor, Hook.—Stipites 1-2 in. 1. fronds 3-6 in. |. 3-14 in. br, otherwise similar. Most abundant on banks and open stony ground from sea level up to nearly 6,000 ft. alt. The most generally diffused species, and though exceedingly variable in size the pinne num- bering from a dozen to 6 dozen toa side and from 1-6 in. in length, unmistakable in any state. Dis- tinguished from the preceding by the free cordate and but slight shorter lower pinnae, and from the next by the more numerous pinne which dwindle usually imperceptably into the entire acuminate apex. There is a form with forked or repeatedly forked fasciated apex, divaricating fish tail-like. The small variety which is constant, is found at the higher elevations. 3. B. longifolium, H. B. K.—Rootstock upright, fibrous, scaly, stoloniferous, stipites 5-10 in, 1. a few deciduous scales at the base ; fronds relatively short, chartaceous, pale green, naked or the ribs slightly puberulous, 6-10 in, 1. 4~6 in, w. truncate at the base and pinnate, above the pinnatifid, ab- 6 fiptly terminating in & pinna 3-5 in. 1.5 lateral pinnae 3<5 to a side, shorter than the terminal, uppet and lower usually slightly reduced the former free and cordate-auriculate, the inferior base narrowed and rounded, more or less separated or subdistant, the latter close adnate and slightly connected; mar- gins cartilaginous and finely spinulose-serrate , veins fine forked, free or forming casual costal areolo ; sori reaching to the base and in the upper pinnw shortly decurrent against the rachis.—Hook. Sp. Fil. t. 154. Var. B. gracilis, Kaulf.—Stipites very slender, 2-8 in. 1.; fronds 4-7 in. 1. 1-2 in. w. ; pinnw 4-12 to a side, 3-1} in. 1. 8-5 li. w. upper adnate, lower free, terminal 2-3 in. 1. Common in infrequent situations, by the banks of rivers at low altitudes, plentiful on rocks by the side of Ugly river, St. Mary; less generally diffused than the preceding, from which it is marked by the fewer pinnew, the upper not much reduced, and long terminal one, which is the largest of all. The variety varies in form and number of pinnz from the preceding to this, and is quite a complete con- necting link between them. It is found on banks and precipices in forests and lighter shade from 5,000-7,000 ft. alt. 4. B. serrulatum, Rich.—Rootstock free-creeping subterraneous, with erect branches, the growing parts densely scaly ; stipites stiffly erect in tufts 2-3 together, 4-1} ft. 1., stramineous, naked or with a few minute scales at the base ; fronds stiffly erect, coriaceous, pale green, oblong lanceolate, 1-2} ft. 1, 3-9 in. w. fully pinnate throughout ; pinne very numerous, close, often imbricating, spreading, linear or ligulate, point blunt or acute, rounded, inequilateral and articulated at the sessile free base, attached transversely to the rigid, channelled, rachis, 2-6 in. 1. }-} in. w. the fertile narrower than the barren, margin cartilaginous and finely serrated, sparse minute deciduous scales along the ribs, otherwise naked and glossy ; veins very fine, close, forked and parallel, spreading, pellucid ; sori costal, falling short of both base and apex. Common in certain open situations in the central parishes, up to 3,000 ft. alt; gathered on Mt. Diablo ; a communal species, the roots thickly and deeply ramifying under the surface of the ground, covering very wide areas. Generally the fronds are fertile only in the upper half, but occasionally they are so quite throughout. Eventually the pinne are shed, leaving the erect naked rachises stand- ing. Like the bracken (Pteris aquilina) it perfers open fully exposed wet or dry savannahs or hill sides. 5. B. volubile Kaulf.—Root-stock strong, subterraneous, creeping, several in. 1. beset with the bases of past stipites, the extending part finely scaly ; stipites several, strong, channelled and angular below. thick as cord, 1-2 or more ft. 1., fronds separately barren and fertile, the former short, simply pinnate, the latter twining, many feet high and bipinnate, pinne of the latter distant, in opposite or sub-opposite pairs, petiolate, consisting of a long terminal pinnule and 1-5 similar spreading lateral ones,the upper piunw iu the frond becoming gradually reduced to a simple pinna without lateral leaflets ‘ pinnule entire, 6-10 in. 1. 1-2 in. b. 14-8 in. apart, coriaceous, naked, glossy, with pedicels 1-6 li. 1. rounded at the base, acuminate, acute or cuspidate at the apex, the margins even and carti- laginous; veins spreading free, close, single or forked, connected by a marginal line; sori costal or sub-costal, linear and continuous, reaching from the base nearly to the apex of tha leaflets, deciduous ; involucres revolute, deciduous.—Hook. Gard. Fern. X. 15.—Salpichlena, J. Sm. Infrequent, gathered by Purdie. The earlier fronds produced are not climbing, and are barren. They have a petiole a foot to 14 ft. 1., and a simply pinnate frond about the same length and width, with a long terminal pinna, 2-3 simple similar pinne toa side. In this stage the plants resemble somewhat Acrostichum (Olfersia) cervinum of reduced size. After this the fertile fronds appear one after another, arising as mere slender stems devoid of leaves, wavering about for support, till they reach a branch or young sapling to twine upon, which they ascend, reaching a dozen feet high or more, developing the pinne as they ascend, the fi'st of which are usually largest and infertile, be- coming gradually fertile, smaller, with fewer pinnules upwards, the upper and terminal ones bein quite simple, the stems forming a dense entangled mass in time, the original, simply pinnate, frond by that time having quite disappeared. The involucres are quite cylindric at first, arising from be- neath the sori and involutely covering it. At length they open out quite flat, revealing the lines of ruddy sori, when after a time both break up and gradually drop away, leaving only the raised re- ceptacle as a slight ridge, barely separated from the midrib, as evidence of their former presence. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT. LIBRARY. Hooker’s Icones Plantarum. Vol. II. Pt. II. Mar. 1893. [Bentham Trustees through Kew. | Bulletin R. Gardens, Kew. App. 11. 1893. [Kew.] Export of Cape Fruit. [Kew. | Report on effects of late frosts on Vegetation. |Bot. Gar. Hong Kong.] Report on Govt. Bot. Gard., Bangalore. 1891-92. [Supt.] Report on Museum, Bangalore. 1592. [Supt. Report on the Daria-Daulat Gardens, Seringapatam. 1892. [Supt.] Report on state of Crops. Nova Scotia. [Secy. for Agriculture. | Report on condition of growing Crops, N. 8. Wales, Oct., 1893. [Dept. of Agriculture. ] Report on the Failure of the Dominica Cacao Crop, 1892-93. [Supt. of Agriculture. | Report on Natal Bot. Gard., 1892. [Curator. | Ann. Report Bot. Gard., Graaff-Reinet, 8. Africa, 1892. [Curator.] Ann. Report Colonial Herbarium, Durban, 1892. [Curator.] Ann, Report McGill Univ., 1892. [ Director. ] Ann. Report Dept of Agri., Queensland, 1891-92. [Dept. of Agri.] Trans. of Queensland Acclimatisation Soc., Dec. 1892. [Sec.] Pro. and Journ, of Agri-Horti-Soc, of India. Oct. to Dec. 1892. [Sec. | Timehri: Journ, of R. Agri-Comm, Soc. of B, Guiana. Dec, 1892. [Editor.] Barbados Agri-Gazette and Planters’ Journ. March, 1893. [Society.] icultural Gazette of N. S. Wales. Jan. and Feb., 1893, Vol. IV. Pts. 1&2. [Dept. of Agri] Bellctin Dept of Agri. Queensland, Nos. 20 and 21. Jan. and Feb. 1893. [Dept. of Agri.] Bulletin U. 8. Dept. of Agri., Nos. 36 and 37. [Gillespie Bros. ] Bulletin Louisiana Experiment Station, Nos. 20 and 21. Bulletin Berkeley Agri-experiment Station, No. 100. _ Bulletin Torrey Botanical Club, March and April, 1893. [ Director. | [ Director. | [ Editor. | Bulletin Botanic Garden, Grenada, No. 25, January 1893. [Curator. | Bulletin de ’|Herbier Boissier, Nos. 1 to 5, 1893. [Conse [ Editor. | Bot. Gazette, Nos. 3 and 4, March and April, 1893. teur.] Planters’ Monthly, Honolulu, Feb. to May, 1893, Nos. 2 to 5. [Editor.] W. Indian and Comm. Advertiser, March, April, May, 1893. Chemist and Druggist, Nos. 670-680, Feby.—April, 1893. [E {Bditor.] tor.] Sugar Cane, Nos. 284, 286, March, April and May, 1893. [Editor.] Times of Ceylon, Nos. 5—18, Feby,—May, 1893. [Editor.] R. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh, List of Seeds. [Curator-] Bot. Gard, Glasnevin, Dublin, List of Seeds. [Curator.] Vergara, D. Mariano : Bibliografia de la Rosa, Madrid, 1892, 8 vo, [Author.] Canaigre, Tannin. By Trimble and Peacock. [Prof. Trimble. ] Descriptions of New Plants collected in Mexico. [Herbarium Harvard University.] Agricultural Record, Trinidad, Vols 1-5, 1889-1892, [Editor. | Report of Bot, Station, Antigua, If, 1892. [Supt.] PLANTS. From Mr. J. F. Butters, Botanic Gardens, Port Elizabeth— 4 bulbs Cyrtanthus uniflorus. Yee fe spiralis Din tn ee obliquus Us Ne Watsonia iridifolia, var O’ Brienii ee * spicata—Pink, Aye” 4 ”» —Scarlet. S? Antholyza sp. ed Crinum riparium. 50 Ct” Freesia refracta-alba. (Dey Lachenalia aurea. 4 aad Heemanthus coccineus, 2 3 Ornithogalum aureum. 2 Satyrium coriifolium. 6 From Mr. J. B. Beach, Florida— Apricots, Cherries, Pears, Persimmons and Peccan Nuts. From Reasoner Bros. Florida— Amaryllis Johnsoni, Acorus Calamus, Amaryllis Atamasco rosea, Nerium atropurpurea, Nerium rosenm gpleu didum, Nerium roseum, Nerium dvuble white, Nerium flavus, Abutilon Mdme. Uhobert, A. Golden Ball, Macadamia ternifolia, Buphane toxicaria, Myrica rubra, Boussingaultia baseloides. Chrysanthemum npg Bigsonia capreolata. From Rev. E. Bassett Key— 3 Plants Nympheea Rudgeana. 1 white Lily. SEEDS. From Geo. Henderson, Esq., Jamaica— Mahogany. From Mr. Leonte Quesada, Jamaica— 2 Ibs. Tobacco. From Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin Aconitum album. A. pyrenaicum. A. variegatum, A. japonicum. A. barbatum.’* A. hispidum. Anemone coronaria. A. sulphurea, A. alpina. Aquilegia spectabilis. A. vulgaris Whitmaniana. Arabis blepharophylla. A nivalis. Armeria vulgaris alba. A. purpurea. Asphodelus albus. A. aurea. A. luteus. A. racemosus. i Aster noya-angliz. Aubrietia deltoidea. A. grandiflora. A. greca. Balsamita grandiflora. Betonica incana grandiflora. Buphthalmum staticefolium, Campanula medium. C. nobilis. C. speciosa. C. pulcherrima. C. persicifolia. C. latifolia. C. carpathica, Clematis montana. Cistus cymosus. C. corsicus. Cytisus triflorus. C. sessilifolius. Delphinium cheilanthum, D. elatum. D. alopecuroides. D.hybridum. D. splendens. D. magnificum. D.formosum. D Wheeleri. D. discolor. D. exaltatum, Eurybia Gunniana, E, parviflora.. Eranthis hyemalis. Francoa appendiculata. Fritillaria imperialis, Funkia Sieboldiana, Genista aurantiaca. G, sibirica, G, candicans, Galega biloba persica, A. grandiflora alba. A. chrysantha. A. grandiflora, Helianthemum rhodanthum. 4H. pilosum. H. tomentosum. Hedysarum neglectum, Hesperis matronalis. Heuchera glabra. Hyacinthus candicans. Iris missouriensis. Linum candidissimum. L. grandiflorum rubrum, L. perenne. L. narbonense. Lilium carolinianum. Lathyrus Sibthorpii. L. ceruleus. L. Drummondi, Lupinus arboreus, L. polyphyllus albus, Lunaria biennis. Lavandula vera. Marrubium vulgare. Nepeta ucranica, Orobus aurantiacus. Papaver orientale, P. bracteatum, Peonia humilis. Pentstemon ovatus. P. Richardsoni. Potentilla formosa. P. Hookeriana. P. sulphurea, P. chrysantha, P.splendens. P. Pennoni. P. Dombeyi. Primula japonica. Prunella Webbiana, P. hyssopifolia. Salvia bicolor. §. glutinosa. S. coerulea. S. napiifolia. §S, mollis. S. verbenaca. S. nutans. S.argentea, S. grandiflora, Saponaria calabrica, Scilla amethystina, S. campanulata. S. amoona, : Spireea aruncus, §, filipendula, Statice alpina. §. Oordarti, §, Gmelini, S. latifolia. §. speciosa, Iceland Poppy. Veronica Waldsteiniana. V. laciniata, V, hybrida, V. maritima, Y. saxatilis. V, (excelsa.) VY. fructiculosa, V, eminens, gy From Agri-Horti. Society, Madras— From H. Cannell & Sons, Swanley, England— Aster—perennial mixed. Pansy—Dr. Sankeys striped. Rhodanthe Manglesii. Cineraria—Single mixed. Dianthus Hedwigii Balsam—Cannell’s Perfection. Hollyhocks—nixed. Carnations—mixed. Lupinus—mixed. Acroclinium—mixed. From Botanical Station, Antigua— Thrinax sp. Livistona subglobosa From Botanical Station, St. Vincent— Hernandia sonora. Diplotropis brachypetala. Dialium guianense. Caladium Purdieanum (tubers.). From Botanical Gardens, Demerara— Solanum sp. From Botanic Gardens, Durban, Natal— Y Calodendron capense. ; Tephrosia grandiflora, T. Kraussiana. Apodytes dimidiata. Tpomecea pes-capre. ‘| Cordyline africana, Anona senegalensis, i 7 Watsonia densiflora-alba | Limnanthemum Thunbergianum, ie: Dais cotinifolia. ; Agapanthus umbellatus albus. Morea iridioides Strelitzia augusta. ; Combretum erythrophyllum. Scaevola Lobelia. Dissotis incana. Clerodendron glabrum. Gomphocarpus sp. Zanthoxylon capense. Oncoba Kraussiana. Rab: Turroea_ obtusifolia. Watsonia deusitiora. | ! . Celtis Kraussiana. Gloriosa virescens. . From Botanical Station, Lagos, West Africa— } Chrysophyllum albidum. Honckenya ficifolia. : Dialium guineense. . Lonchocarpus cyanescens. From Botanic Gardens Saharanpur.— Pennisetum triflorum, (2 lots.) Lagerstreemia Flos- Regine. Wendlandia puberula. Catalpa Keempferi. Ficus foveolata. Anogeissus latifolia. From Govt. Gardens, Ootacaomund~ 21 Quarts Hill Rice, Strychnos nux vomieca. Lagerstreemia Flos-Regins. Colvillea racemosa. Cassia renigera. Dracena surculosa. Anogeissus acuminata. From Botanical Gardens, Melbourne— Kennedya prostrata. Acacia spectabilis. Acacia Moradenia. Acacia leprosa. Pongamia glabra. Brachychiton diversifoium Sesbania grandiflora. Billardiera, (W. A.) Phornium tenax variegatus Acacia sp. A. deeurrens. Kennedya sp. Schoenus sp. Grevillea sp. Fimbristylis sp. Myoporine sp. Boronia megastigma. Terminalia sp. Buchnera sp. Eucalyptus ficifolia. E. leucoxylon. E. polyanthema. E. melliodora. E. rostrata. E. macrorhyncha. Acacia cyanophylla. ”” — decurrens. 2‘ juniperina. 7” -pyenantha. salicina. saligna. Ammobium alatum. Angophora lanceolata. 7” subvelutina, Callistemon phoeniceus. Casuarina suberosa. Cordyline Baueri. Doryanthes Palmeri. Dustreplus latifvlius. Grevillea robusta. Hymenosporum flavum, Kennedya rubicunda. Macadamia ternifolia, Morinda jasminoides, Myrsine variabilis. Notelza longifolia, Owenia venosa. Pittosporum rhombifolium, Stenocarpus salignus, Sterculia acerifolia, ” — diversifolia, Syncarpia laurifolia, Synoum glandulosum. Tecoma australis. Telopea speciosissima, OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAM ATIC A. GO NT & NES: Dragon’s Blood Tree of the West Indies. Experiments in the Cultivation of Vegetables.—X. Onior Seed. Profitable Uses of the Mango Crop. Coco-Nut Butter. Timber Trees. Sugar Cane Disease. Cultivation Abroad. Ferns: Synoptical List.—XX. No. 45. Juty, 1893. PF i BULLETIN : | : P R I GC E—Twopence. [A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, | | JAM ALOA: 1893. it 2 DRAGON’S BLOOD TREE OF THE WEST INDIES. There are several plants known in different parts of the world as Dragon’s Blood, but the one to which attention is called in this note is a native of Jamaica, a tree about 30 feet high (Pterocarpus Draco, Linn.) The common name is derived from the fact that when incisions are made in the bark drops of red sap ooze out, which flow slowly down the bark and gradually harden. Jacquin in his “Selectarum stirpium americanarum Historia,” published in A. D. 1763, states that formerly this red resin was imported from Cartagena to Spain as ‘‘ Sangre de Dragon.”” He also says that the bark, wood, and leaves are full of an astringent sap, and that the inhabitants use the bark of the trunk and root for cleaning the teeth. He mentions the Island of Tierra Bomba as its native place, but Grisebach states that it grows in Jamaica, Guadaloupe, Trinidad and in Central and northern South America. Other species of the genus Pterocarpus yield an astringent coloured juice which is of economic value. For instance the Kino which is recognised atthe present day in the European and Indian Pharmacopeias is a product of Pterocarpus Marsupium, Roxb., which is alsoa valuable timber tree, Kino was originally brought from Africa under the native African name Kano, the sap of Pterocarpus erinaceus, Poir. Fluckiger and Hanbury in their “ Pharmacographia” say “ Duncan in the Edinburgh Dispensatory of 1803, while asserting that ‘ Kino is brought to us from Africa’ admits that some, not distinguishable from it, is imported from Jamaica. In a later edition of the same work (1811), he says that the African drug is no longer to be met with, and alludes to its place being supplied by other kinds, as that of Jamaica, that imported by the East India Company, and that of N. S.Wales de- rived from Eucalyptus resinifera, Sm.’’ This reference to Jamaica points to the Pterocarpus Draco. 1t is possible that the wood may be of value in the arts like the Barwood of Africa, (Pterocarpus erinaceus, Poir.) or the Red Sanders Wood of India (Péerocarpus santalinus, Linn. f.). It is important therefore to find out to what extent this tree is still growing in the island, and to submit specimens of the resin and wood to foreign markets. Any information with specimens of wood resin, leaves, flowers, and pods will be thankfully received by the Director of Public Gardens aad Plantations, Gordon Town P. O. ; The tree has compound leaves, somewhat like the common cedar; yellow pea-like flowers, half an nch long; and a flat rounded pod, containing one seed. EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES.—X. Poratozs mn 8 ; ~ ~~ s = 2 ce 4 So aad - n = z a 12/2} 5 | @ leis = 5 E aif. 3 BO) ae Veale oa e a S| 2 a |: |o Fe o Z aq 3 |) 2 oy oo oe g 2 : ¢ mo | 2 U8! | ee hae e| Names of, Potatoes grown at 8 ba qs le [a les = 2l\gis = Bl ols Bech | Soh Seo) cary babel pe shetes g Hope Garden. bi 8 3 Fa |e Ps = 4 “se a a |S leg g ° S| Bla] SP S128 (ale i ewe bei a] @ P| | ar? ta lal adim nes a a Ste eS 3 ae) Gi Oo nl c et oH et RM et) on a, 0 x i) wy Qu S A 5 ° ° ° | E oy o 3 lad ; °. iy 2 | ae ee = ii i tl ee 5 O18 ee ee | eee ee ae Fifo| a] 3 = 42 alo@iezlalalsial = 2] aoe eee FI eee oe ae eceece ewer se). A|& lala Alzlta|ala| & So fa |x a! & ozs. | ozs. | Ibs. Windsor Castle ...{L7.3.93/26.3.93| 9 |14.6.93] 88 | 30 | 30 | 2.6) 6.6] 24] 3.4 | 62 | 930 |11.11) 38 Sutton’s Nonsuch : rs BS Tes co Hee BRB | 2.01 4.38) 3° 6 | 4 81-920), “ “ Supreme at i « |« | 30/25/2. 1100/3 56/6 6/93] “ | « « “ Magnum Bonum ...| “ ir 72 al le « | | 30] 30|2.0'6.91'6 0;4 819.0] “ « ‘ « Triumph peal es id « |« | 30] 30) 1.3) 4.613 6/4 819.0) « “ “ « Reading Russet ho: | oes Somalis? « | | 30] 30/06) 2.441 2)1 8) 33) “ “ “ “« Abundance lh peal ce c | 1989 1901 1 6.68) 8 2h eee ae “ “ “¢ White Kidney acs eae cen ee « 1 | 30/30/06 4.310 56|2 4) 44) « “ “ W.0 3 ONION SEED. A supply of Onion seed has been received from Teneriffe, and small quantities will be distributed gratis to persons who desire to make experiments in the cultivation of Onions. Application should be made to the Director of Public Gardens, Gordon Town, P.O. PROFITABLE USES OF THE MANGO CROP. ‘Tons of the fruit of the common mango are wasted every year, when they might be made into excellent jelly.. A correspondent has kindly furnished the following recipe for making mango jelly, and states that the common mango gives a better flavour than the No. 11. } Manco JELLY. : Pare and boil the mangoes, and when the pulp is soft, take it from the seeds, and press it through a brass or copper-wire sieve (iron wire spoils the colour) with a wooden spoon. Weigh the pulp, and with an equal quantity of white sugar, boil until it jellies, when pour or ladle into bottles or jars. The fruit must be frequently stirred during the first, and constantly during the second process. . . The pulp should be thick after if comes through the sieve; if not, it must be reduced by more boiling before the sugar is added. The mangoes are better green, but they shoud be perfectly ful/. A little lime juice can be used, if desired, for flavouring. COCO-NUT BUTTER. » + Information is occasionally sought about butter made from Coco-nuts. It is scarcely possible to make it, or use it, in tropical countries, but the following notes from the Kew Bulletin may be of interest to enquirers :— The manufacture of butter from the Coco-nut has lately attracted some attention. The inven- tion is due to Dr. Schlinck, a German Chemist, and is of considerable importance in Europe, inasmuch as it is cheap, wholesome and perfectly digestible. The butter is a pure white transparent mass, which melts at 67° F. As it costs only 74d. per 1b. in Germany, itat once becomes a rival to the oleomargarines which are frequently made from the diseased fat of horse and sheep flesh. ' It is well known that in milk many disease germs multiply fast, and are especially liable to be communicated to man from diseased animals. But Coco-nut butter does not afford a nutrient material for micro-organisms, and being a vegetable fat, there is no risk of infection. ' This manufactured butter is free from fatty acids , and even if left exposed to air for more than a week, does not turn rancid, except in the top layer. _ Owing to its high saponification degree, all adulteration is impossible. _ It was proved in the German Hospitals that food, even pastry, prepared with this fat, was eaten without any inconvenience. Coco-nut butter therefore meets all hygienic requirements. Itis far superior to animal fat and butter, as well as to any of their other substitutes ; and further, on account of its perfect digestibility, it is well adapted for the use of patients suffering from impaired digestion. The discovery was made by Dr, Schlinck in 1885, and has been patented. A factory was started in 1888 at Manaheim, and factories were also to be opened in Paris and Amsterdam in 1890. The de- mand is greater than the supply. Asthe invention is patented no details can be ob‘ained about the manufacture. It is however easy to make cocoa-nut oil, which can be used with great advanfage in cooking and in other ways, in place of cooking-butter or olive oil. If this oil is put, while still hot, into her- metrically sealed tins, or into glass bottles using cotton wool with the stoppers, it ought to keep for an indefinite time. A Correspondent writes on this subject as follows :— “ Coco-nut oil.—This article would command a very considerable local trade for cooking purposes, but for the defect of its soon becoming rancid. I wasin correspondence some years back with the Boro-Glyceride Co. about their preparations, and have all the correspondence by me. The preparation did all it undertook to do. “ Cocoa-nut preserves.—Besides this, it is possible we might turn our coco-nut to account by desic- cating with sugar, now that white sugar isfree. I went to Schep of New York, the largest putter up of this, and he said he would give a good deal of money to prevent his Coco-nut Confection from be- coming quickly rancid. | _“ Mr, A. in Kingston carried on the manufacture of cocoa-nut oil cold drawn, by hydraulic pres- gure, also of moringa oil. He kept the ripe cocoa-nuts in the outer husk, in a hot, dark room, till you could hear the kernel rattle. He then ran them on a circular saw, and of course the kernel dropped out. The oil that Mr. A. prepared from these nuts, was after 15 months, though kept in an uncorked bottle, perfectly sweet. Now, I believe, that the coco-nut preserves would not turn rancid if the nut were so prepared. ‘There is in England and America a very large trade. I have the draft of the machinery and the modus operandi from America. It cost me something to get it, as it is a secret, and Schep guarded it with jealousy. Waste steam might possibly be rented in Kingston.’ rr 4 TIMBER TREES. The natural wealth of a country is to a very considerable extent estimated by its vegetable pro- ductions. These of course vary very much; some countries of the globe simply teem with valuable timbers and other vegetable products, whilst others, owing to climatic conditions, are almost barren wastes, and all the arts and devices of man cannot make them otherwise. In Jamaica we have a climate, or I might say variety of climates, capable of supporting the vegetable products of most of the temperate, sub tropical and tropical countries of the world, and we are indebted to other countries for the majority of our useful trees and plants, some of which have become so plentiful and common as to be looked upon as indigenous to the soil, by those who, perhaps, bave never given the matter a thought. The Mango, which is found almost everywhere from sea-level up to about 4,000 feet elevation, and upon the fruit of which the peasantry partially subsist during a portion of the year, was introduced from the East Indies ; the Breadfruit which furnishes such a nutritious culinary fruit is a native of the South Sea Islands; the valuable Logwood which has proved to be a source of wealth to many in recent years who were fortunate enough to possess it in quantity, came hither from Honduras; the seeds of the invaluable Guinea Grass were accidentally introduced from the West Coast of Africa ; Coffee, one of the principal crops of the Island, had its original home in Abyssinia ; Cocoa is indigenous to tropical America; the Nutmeg is a native of the East Indies, whilst the Oinnamon comes from Ceylon ; the Akee and the Kola nut were brought from the West Coast of Africa; whilst the. Orange, Lime, Lemon, the Shaddock and the Citron had their original home in India; the Granadilla and Sweet-cup, the Naseberry and the Cashew, the Sweetsop and Custard-apple, the Avocado Pear and the Guava all come from tropical America; the Fig is a native of the Mediterranean Region, the Loquat of Japan; the Wampee and Litchee are from China, the Clove is from the Moluccas, whilst the Bete} Pepper is fron Java; Cinchonais from Peru and Bolivia and the native habitat of the Ginger i, tropical Asia. This list might be added to almost ad infinitum, but enough has been said to show from what widely separated, and differently situated parts of the world the trees and plants that tend to supply our every day wants, were originally procured. The larger number of the plants introduced and es- tablished by our ancestors would appear to be such as they, no doubt, considered would be most useful in providing for the daily wants of the inhabitants, or in yielding substances used in the arts and manufactures of the world. In this they proved to be right, and it isa proof of the keen foresight, and great thoughtfulness with which they were possessed. It will be observed, however, that the list which I have given contains few or no trees yielding timber of any value. It must be admitted that there is a deficiency of useful timber trees in this Island. I am aware that there is a limited supply of West Indian Cedar, a most valuable timber, a small quantity of Mahogany, Mahoe, Y¥, acca, and Juniper Cedar, and perhaps a few other kinds, but not in quantity, and the trees frequently grow in almost inaccessible places, or if they are easily got at, it is often difficult to get the timber to the nearest main road. What I wish to point out is that we have no trees in quantity, yielding timber which could take the place of the Pitch Pine and White Pine lumber now so largely imported. That valuable timber at one time was plentiful here is evident ; old buildings and substantial articles of old furniture to be seen in some parts prove this; but through waste and, I am credibly informed wan- ton destruction in many instances, the supply has been reduced to a minimum. Our proprietors and planters generally, have little or no time to devote to the subject of reforesting, even were they inclined to do so. There are thousands of acres of land now lying idle, suitable for the growth of West Indian Cedar, than which, I believe, there are few better timbers for all-round pur- poses. The tree is a native, is easily raised from seed, of fairly quick growth, and after being planted would require little or no care. Of other useful timbers the Mahogany, Mahoe, Juniper-Cedar, Yoke, Broad-leaf, Yacca, &c. should be extensively planted. But there is no reason why planting opera- tions should be confined to the few valuable trees either indigenous, or naturalized here. At the com- mencement of these notes I gave the names of some of the fruit and other trees and plants introluced at one time or other from various parts of the world, and indicated the native country of each, merely to show the wide range we have to select from. If fruit trees, &c. from the places named thrive so well here, why not timber trees? There is noreason why they should not, and, asa matter of fact, the Public Gardens have proved that very many valuable exotic timber trees are admirably suited for various parts of this island, but beyond arousing a passing interest, and perhaps disposing of a few plants of several kinds, they have not succeeded in inducing landowners to plant timber trees to any appreciable extent. This is greatly to be regretted. The Department of Public Gardens is in a posi- tion to obtain seeds or plants from most parts of the world, but thereis no use in putting its corres- pondents to the trouble of forwarding seeds, and in its incurring considerable expense in raising plants which are not likely to be accepted even as a gift, by those who have the land to grow them. It must be borne in mind that seedling timber trees are not like Roses, Crotons or Geraniums ; they cannot be kept in a nursery for years, re-potted, fresh cuttings made when required, &c. As soon ag they have grown to a certain size they must be planted out, or they become stunted and worthless, and eventually perish. } : ; This is a subject that deserves serious attention ; valuable timber is exceedingly scarce in accessible places ; even ordinary timber is fast giving place to brushwood, so that firewood is scarce in many parts and an expensive commodity and good fence posts are difficult to obtain at high rates: and this in a country where it would only be necessary to put in such plants by the thousand and allow them to grow ; nature, in the majority of cases, would attend to their requirements, W. Harris. —— =" 5 SUGAR CANE DISEASE. In the May number of the Bulletin, was published a letter from the Director of the Royal Gar- dens, Kew, respecting a disease in Sugar Cane, which had been investigated by Mr. George Massee. Mr. Massee’s report and the extract from Mr. Bovell’s letter therein referred to, are given below. Extract from letter from Superintendent Botanical Station, Barbados, dated February 11th, 1893. As the question of a fungus attacking canes which have not been first injured by the moth borer is still a very debatable point with those over your way who take an interest in the matter, [ am sending you per Mail Steamer to-day, c/o Messrs Obree & Company, Southampton, a box containing (1) canes which have been just attacked by the fungus, and in which no shot or moth borers are pre- sent as yet, as far as I can see, without cutting up the cane. (2) Canes which have been attacked with the fungus a little longer and in which shot borers have entered but oo moth borer. (3) Canes with fungi, shot borer and moth borer. (4) Canes killed by moth borer only. Preliminary Report on the Sugar Cane Disease. The abundant supply of living material, consisting of 18 large canes, illustrating every stage of the disease, sent to Kew for investigation by Mr. Bovell from Barbados, has enabled the vexed ques- tion Ps to the part played by fungi in connection with the sugar cane disease, to be conclusively settled. Fach cane was accompanied by a description of the supposed cause of disease, as, killed by “ shot- borer”, “ moth-borer”, “fungus”, and in some cases two or all the above were described as being present on the same cane. > Microscopic examination showed the presence of the fungus in every cane, but in some instances, owing to the absence of fruit, its presence could not be detected by the naked eye. Only one fungus, an undescribed species of Zrichospheria was found on the canes. The idea en- tertained by some planters that more than one fungus is connected with the disease, probably arises from the fact that the Trichosphzeria has at least three distinct forms of fruit, very different in general appearance, and whose development depends on the relative vitality of the canes. Stage I. Conidial condition, for the rapid reproduction of the species; appearing on the surface of wounded parts as a very delicate, dark-coloured velvety mass, or when old and very abundant, penetrating the internal tissue of the cane and producing a black charred appearance, due to the numerous chains of large olive-brown conidia. Stage II. Melanconium form, bursting through the cuticle of old canes in the form of minute black pustules, often following the ravages of the ‘‘ moth-borer” or “shot-borer” in dying or dead canes, Stage III. The ascigerous form. Minute, black, hairy perithecia, present only on dead and more or less decayed portions of the cane. The conidia from Stage I..obtained from a pure culture, were placed on the unbroken surface of very young leaves of lateral shoots of a healthy sugar cane plant growing in the Lily House, Kew Gardens ; in five days the infected areas showed deep red blotches, and in fourteen days the conidial form of the fungus was perfectly developed, the mycelium in the meantime having passed into the shoot and adjoining leaves. Soon afterwards the young infected shoots decayed and dropped off, microscopic examination showing that the mycelium had passed into the tissues ot the parent stem. Further experiments showed that fully developed leaves and stems cannot be infected on an un- broken surface, nevertheless when the surface is broken infection is readily effected. A cane about 1} inches in diameter was inoculated by cutting a deep slit and introducing mycelium from a pure culture of the conidia; in 16 days the cane was split at this point, and the central portion was found to be coloured red for a distance of 3 inches, and the mycelium had extended even bayond that distance ; the microscope showed the presence of the dark olive conidia formed in tissues away from the light. Infection also readily takes place at points where lateral branches have been broken off. Summary. 1. The experiments described above prove that the young leaves of the sugar cane can be infected by the spores of Trichospheria falling on an unbroken surface, and further, that the fungus acts as a true parasite, eventually killing the plant. 2. In older plants inoculation can only take place when the surface is wounded, but when an entrance through a wound is once effected the fungus acts as a destructive parasite. 8. The frequent pre.ence of both fungus and moth-borer or shot-borer in the same cane is explained by the above statement. Assuming the insect to first pierce the cane, the spores of the fungus would find a suitable place for development in the wound ; hence the presence of one parasite prepares the way for another, and the combined action of the two soon ends in the destruction of the plaat. Never- theless the fungus is not entirely dependant on the previous presence of the insect, but readily finds entrance at broken points, and can alone kill the cane. Protective Measures. The conidia of the fungus will not germinate, neither will the mycelium grow in a 1 per cent solution of cupric sulphate, but spraying with the ordinary Bordeaux solution is in all probability not practicable other than in the case of an experimental plot, and would certainly have no beneficial effect on an infected area. Remembering that the mycelium of the fungus extends, as a rule, far beyond the range indicated by its presence to the naked eye in a given cane; and further, that almost every cane—judging from the material examined—attacked by the “ moth-borer” or “shot-borer,” is also infested with the fungus, it would be unwise to use appearently sound portions of such canes for propagation, It was observed in those canes killed by the fungus alone, that the disease was oldest and most mature near the root, and this suggests the question—Was the cane, even if taken from a healthy stock, inoculated 6 with the fungus spores on the cut and exposed surface of the portion used for propagation? As a preventitive against this possible cause of inoculation, the cut surface might be painted with a solution of Bordeaux mixture immediately on being cut, and repeated at intervals. It has been observed that the fungus causing the sugar-cane disease develops readily on the young leaves of the bamboo, the same may prove to be true of other members of the Gramineae, hence a careful search should be made for such possible nurse-plants, as the spores would be carried for a considerable distance by the wind. Finally all diseased canes should be burnt, and not allowed to remain to rot, during which condition they are simply producing fresh material for the inoculation of other plants. ' Previous to the receipt of the material reported on above several consignments of diseased sugar- cane had been received at Kew from Mr. Hart,from Trinidad, caused by the same species of fungus ; but as the material was either dry or preserved in spirit, no cultures or inoculations could be made, G. Masszz. / April 4th, 1893. CULTIVATION ABROAD. West Inpian Lime-Jvice. The area under lime-tree cultivation in the Island of Montserrat is now about 1,200 acres, three- fourths of which bear fruit. In Dominica also a good deal of lime-juice is made, although not to the same extent as in Montserrat. It is expected, however, that if the roads that have been projected in Dominica should be carried out, the cultivation of lime-trees will be greatly extended, as the in- dustry is believed to pay handsomely. The average yield of juice from an orchard in full bearing is about 500 gallons per acre. The average shipments of lime juice from Montserrat for the last five years have been 800 puncheons of raw lime-juice of 120 gallons each, 200 54-gallon casks of concen- trated juice, and 2,500 lbs. of essential oil of limes, in addition to green and picked limes. Chemist and Druggist. , Lemon Growine IN Santa Pavia We extract the following paragraphs relating to Lemon-growing at Santa Paula from the letter of a private correspondent, as we think that they will be read with interest. Our informant, writing under date of January 21, says :—‘‘ We have been busy for the last three weeks picking Lemons, washing, wrapping in paper, and storing them away in the curing-house, we have been through the orchard three times, each time with a different sized ring. Three men work on a row of trees taking one at atime, one man picks all round the bottom and centre, another does the middle on a step-ladder, and the third picks the top of the tree with a ladder about 15 feet high fastened on a frame with wheels. All the Lemons have to be cut green. We have a ring 2} or 2} inch in diameter as the case may be in one hand and a pair of clippers in the other, and none but those which will not pass through the ring are to be cut; bags are slung over our shoulders wherein to place the Lemons, and as soon as these are full we carefully empty them into boxes scattered over the orchard. I am the box-fore- man, and have to see to the proper distribution of the boxes, also that they are not too full, otherwise they would get bruised and rot, for the Lemon is so delicate that if handled more severely than an egg, the skin is liable to get abraded, the essential oil evaporates, and the Lemon will not cure. The chief drawback to the fruit is that the most important picking is in the winter and early spring, and the market is not, of course, open until the summer ; in the meantime the Lemons must be preserved. The management of their curing in this country is at present very crude. The Lemons here are hauled up to the packing-house, then sorted into several grades, those smutty or dirty in any way first being washed in tubs of tepid water ; they are then roughly wrapped in tissue paper, placed in shallow wooden trays, and stacked one above the other in the euring house. They are care- fully examined every few weeks, and all showing a tendency to decay are thrown away. The Lemons are picked monthly throughout the year, but the present is the most important crop. The April- May bloom yields the true or normal Lemon, the February, March, June, and July the abnormal or bastard ; the first-named cures the best. More than 1,000 dollars (according to present exchange £206 5s.) is made a year off this 1l-acre orchard of 20 year old trees, mostly Eurekas and Lisbuns which are considered the two best varieties here; 8 dollars (£1 13s.) per box of 300 Lemons is some- times paid here in the mid-summer. “The best stock for budding on, is considered by most orchardists to be the “ Florida sour stock,” or wild Orange, as it makes a strong growth, and is less liable to “gum,” and other diseases. The great enemies of the trees here are the black and barnacle scales, but these can be kept down by the caustic soda spray. } “The Lemons in this state are not, in any opinion, nearly so good as those raised in Sicily, but a good deal to do with that is the “crudeness” of the soil, want of judgment in the selection of the stocks, and location of the orchard. The Lemon to be grown to perfection must be planted on a sunny slope, that looking towards the south is best, at an elevation of from 500,to 1,000 feet within 5 or 6 miles of the sea, in a situation free from wind and frost, on a well-drained sandy loamy soil, and last, but not least, plenty of water, for “ water is king” in California. “From what I have read and heard, the ‘‘ Mesas’’ or table-lands of San Diego county embody to a near extent all these requirements; this country is in the extreme south of California, and the land must be nearly synonymous with the slopes of Mount Etna, where the finest Lemons in the world are raised. Most of the orchards here are protected by wind-breaks, as we frequently have high winds ; three or four rows of Blue Gums (Eucalyptus), an? one of Pepper Trees make the best 7 protection, Cypresses are also good. I maintain that a Lemon-orchard is the best investment there is in California, it is a perpetual source of income, I have learned a great deal about the fruit since I came here, and am still learning. ‘We shall not commence picking the Oranges until May, as the fruit ripens here so much later than that of Florida. There are several Washington Marvel (an early variety) already ripe enough for eating. I have only had to sit up six nights at present to watch the state of the thermometer ; it only went down to freezing point twice out of the six times and even then not lasting long enough to necessitate lighting the pots of oils in the orchard.” H. W. C. in Gardeners’ Chronicle. 2 FERNS: SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XxX. Synoptical List, with description, of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of Jamaica by G. S. Jenman, Superin- tendent Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin No. 44.) we Trise VIII. Aspleniee. Sori linear or oblong, rarely arcuate or subreniform, single or double, situated on the backs of the veins, close and parallel, or less commonly diverging, lying at a varying anyle with the midrib, . in some instances nearly parallel, in others nearly at a right angle therewith, between these extremes directed to the margin with varying obliquity, more or less falling short of both midrib and margin, . or near to or distant from one or other ; involucres superior, persistent, the same shape as the sori, i attached along one edge, free along the other, flat or vaulted, sometimes double and back to back, or * the reverse with the free edges connivent ; veins free or united. In spite of the great variety, and, in some cases, of extreme dissimilarity of habit in the mem- bers, this is a particularly well marked Tribe in the essential characters of the form and arrange- ment of the sori and involucres, though in the subgenus Common throughout the island on walls and wet and dry rocks, first gathered by Sloane, well marked by its small size, few pinnz and distinct barren and fertile fronds, the former. being much smaller and very short stipites. There are two forms, the second longer, more tapering, with closer, smaller, less dentate or quite even and more numerous segments, ; 9, A. jamaicense, Jenm.—Rootstock upright, fibrous, slightly scaly and tomentose ; stipites grey—green above the base ; tufted, 3-6 in. |. ; rachis similar ; fronds pinnate, herbaceous ae glabrous, fertile central, erect, 4-7 in. 1. 14-2 in. w., barren external, spreading, much smaller pinne apart, the terminal roundly lobed, 6-10 to a side, spreading, rhomboidal-oblong, broadly S vanndiel aub- dentate, shortly pedicillate, the upper base expanded and somewhat auricled, the under cut away 44 the inferior margin ; veins pinnate, forked, the inferior flabellate ; sori 1}-3 li. L. oblique, not aceon the margin ; involucres pale or silvery, flat, narrow.—Jour. Bot. Sept. 1886. i 6 Infrequent or occasionally common from 500 - 6,000 ft. alt. throughout much of the Island growing on rocks ; gathered by Hart at the top of the John Crow Peak (about 6,000 ft. alt.), by Shrere ring in St. Ann (2.000 ft. under and above) and myself in various lower situations in the eaaicne parishes. Intermediate between the last, of which it has the habit, and the European A. marinum Linn,* sometimes there is a distinctly separated segment on the upper and occasionally under side of the inferior pinnae, with pinnate veins and double series of sori, as in the undivided pinne. The rachis is rather flattened in the upper part and often somewhat flexuose. It has been gathered also in Guatemala. 10. A abscissum, Walld.—Rootstock sm Il, fibrous, erect or oblique; stipites tufted, 3 - 5 in. 1 grey-green, naked ; rachis conform slightly margined and sub-flexuose above ; fronds pinnate 3-6 7A |. 2- 34 in w., lanceolate or deltoid—tlanceolate, thin naked, grey-green, the base truncate ; inn few, spreading 1-2in. 1. tin. w., the lower, which are not reduced, acute or acuminate the ch er obtuse or rounded, passing gradually into the roundly-lobed, acuminate terminal division widaais 1~2in. 1., obliquely-truncate and the under side shortly cut-away, serrate or bi-serrate on b th mar ins veins pinnate, branches forked, oblique ; sori on the superior branch, 1}-3hi. |., falling about Saaalt short of both margin and midrib ; involucres narrow, pale—Plum. Fil. t. 74 A firmum. Kze noe Sp. Fil. t. 174; Eat. Fer. N. Am. Pl. 80. : Common among the lower hills of the eastern parishes on rocks and boulders near rivers and in damp woods ; very near cultrifolium, of which it might be regarded as a variety, shorter, with fewer pinnz and of thinner texture. It spreads by means of viviparous buds produced on the wide-extend- ing, more or less exposed, roots, as in A auritum. 11. Asplenium cultrifolium, Linn.—Stipites tufted, erect from a small slightly sealy upright rootstock 4-10 in. 1, grey-gr en, naked channelled ; rachis similar; fronds pinnate grey-green, chartaceous naked: 6-10 in. L., 3 5 in w. broadest as a rule at the base, with an acuminate lobed terminal segment 1-2} fry ale pinne 6-12 to a side, spreading apart or subdistant ; acuminate, upper base usually truncate, under shurtl : cut away; or the lower ones cuneate, serrate or biserrate on both margins, the teeth appressed an eed in the outer part, veins pinnate, forked, oblique, sori on the outer branch, 2-4 li. 1. more distant from m rgins than midrib, involucres narrow, pale. Common on rocks near rivers and in damp woods and ravines among the lower hills up to 1,000 ft alt., reappearing on the banks of streams at 4,000-5,000 ft. alt , differing from the preceding by = loses size and more numerous pinne. The superior base is in some cases slightly expanded, but not at al] auricled and the sori sometimes appear as if duble there, but are not really so, being on separate bu closely co tiguous veinlets. A small state, apparently of either this or the preceding, only 2-3 in, sae *A, marinum, Linn. has been over a century mistakenly ascribed to Jamaica owing to Linnwus quoting tab. 33, fi 1 of Sloane’s History as a type in founding the species. On page 56 of Sloane’s folio herbarium in the British Msous is the specimen from which his figure was taken, and this is a small state of A, awitum, Swartz, : ‘ including the stipites, with 2-3 small rounded pinne to the side, quite soriferous, was gathered at Old England, below the Cinchona Plantation. ‘lhe name was founded on Plumier’s Fil. t. 59, which is repre- sented as much larger, with only 5-6 pinne to a side, the lower with a deltoid auricle on the superior base, and having a cylindrical, prostrate, creeping rootstock,—clearly a different species to that to which the name is now applied. Moore regarded it, probably correctly, as a Diplazium. 12. A. obtusifolium, Linn.—Rootstock strong, repent, scurfy, the end finely scaly, stipites approximate, erect, 4-8 in. | grey-green or darker, flattish or channelled, naked, rachis conform; fronds pinnate, acumi- nate or obtuse, base truncate, herbaceous, very thin and pellucid or thicker, dark green naked, $-1 ft. 1. 3-6 in. w.; pimne spreading, usually open or their own width apart, 14-3 in. 1, $-}in. w. acuminate, blunt or broadly rounded, the base cuneate or truncate, expanded and auricled or not on the upperside, the under obliquely cut away, sessile or slightly stipitate, the margin entire, serrulate or inciso-serrate ; veins pinnate, branches open, very oblique, simple or once or twice’forked ; sori linear, straight or curved, {—} in. L. ; involucres narrow flat.— Plum. Fil. t. 67. Hook and Grev. Icon. t. 239. On rocks near streams rivulets and water falls in moist woods and forests. There are two forms, one, of which Plumier’s figure well represents, with thin, broadly rounded, plain-margined pinnee. and the other thicker of substance, acute or acuminate, but very variable, and more or less toothed or decply incised. I have net seen Jamaica specimens, but Heward recorded it as common in the woods near Old England Plan- tation, Manchester, collected by him in 1823-6. 13. A. salicifolium, Linn.—Stipites tufted from a short, fibrous, finely scaly-crowned rootstock, few slender grey-green, naked, 6-10 in. 1. ; rachis similar, slightly margined above ; fronds pinnate, 4-1} ft., 1. 4-8 in. w. light green naked, herbaceous ; pinn spreading, 4-10 to aside and a similar terminal one, apart or distant, the lowest as large or little reduced, 3-5 in. 1. $-1 in. w. equilateral, base cuneate, the lower stipitate, tapering and mostly attenuated outwards, margins even or slightly repand, not toothed ; veins pin- nate, oblique, once or twice forked, short of the edge, sori linear on the anterior veins, +-4 in. |. usually equally short of both mid-vein and margin; involucres pale, narrow, flat. On trees, logs and rocks of woods and shady places ; more or less drooping and pendant in habit, the substance being very pliant. This is ascribed to Jamaica by Swartz, no subsequent collector apparently having found it. The cuneate base, equal on both sides, not at all expanded or auricled, of the pinne readily distinguishes it. ; 14. A. anisophyllum, Kze.—Stipites 4-1 ft. 1. scaly at first at the base; fronds pinnate, more or less pendent, glabrous, chartaceous, cloudy-green, 14-2 ft. 1. 5-8 in. w. the rachis naked and grey-green; pin- ne 3-5 in. |. $-1 in. w. alternate, spreading, acuminate, distantly toothed, base deeper or not on the upper side, the lower distant ones not, or very little, reduced andshortly petiolate, upper ones apart, sessile, with a similar terminal one; veins oblique once or twice forked, terminating in the marginal teeth; sori 2-3 li. 1. ; sunk, confined to the base of the anterior veinlets, but not reaching the midrib; involucres ample, finally revealing the tumid sori.—Hook Sp. Fil. vol. 3 t. 166. Readily distinguished from its neighbours by the short tumid sunken sori, the beds of which are con- spicuous on the upper sides of the fronds. The description is taken from Cuban specimens gathered by Linden ; I have seen no local ones. The species has a very wide range in both the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. 15, A. auriculatum, Linn.-—Rootstock fibrous, erect or oblique, tomentose, and with minute reticu- lated brown scales ; stipites tufted, 4-1 ft. 1. channelled, grey-green, naked ; rachis similar ; fronds pinnate, 6-12 in. 1. 4-8 in. w. light green, naked, herbaceous ; pinne spreading, petiolate, more or less apart, 2-4 in. 1. 4-1 in. w. acuminate, bi-serrulate, teeth evanescent outwards, inferior base shortly cut away, superior expanded into a rounded or subdeltoid auricle, lowest pair not reduced, terminal lobate and inciso-serru- late, veins pinnate, once or twice forked, flabellate in the auricle, sori very oblique, {-4 in. 1. much short of the margins, involucres narrow, flat, even-edged.— Plum, Fil. t. 60. Hook Sp. Fil. vol. 3 t. 171. Frequent in woods and forests below 2,000 ft. alt. on trees and rocks ; with the habit of growth of salicifolium, from which the auricle at the base of the pinne clearly distinguishes it. This latter varies in shape with the degree of development, usually it is rounded, but when large it more or less deltoid. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT. Liprary. Hooker’s Icones Plantarum. Vol. II. Pt. IL]. May, 1893. [Bentham Trustees, through Kew. ] Report of Select Committee on progress of the Bahamas 1888-1892, [Kew.] Reports on Botany and Geology, Sierra Leone. [Kew.] Report Agri-Horti-Soc of Burma. 1892. [Kew.] Report Bot. and Afforestn. Dept. Hong Kong. 1892. [Supt.] Report Bot. Gard. Straits Settlements. 1492. [ Director. ] Report Bot. Gard. Ceylon. 1892. [ Director. ] Report Bot. Gard. Trinidad. 1892. [Supt.] Report Uitenhage Public Gardens, 1892. [Curator. ] Report Bot. Station, Aburi. 1892. [Curator.] Report Bot. Station, St. Vincent, 1892. [Curator.] Report of the Botanist. 1892, [US, Dept. of Agri.] Report of the Pomologist 1892. [U.S. Dept. of Agri. | Report on Fibre Investigations, 1892. [U.S. Dept of Agti.] North American Fauna. No, 7. [U.S. Dept. of Agri.] North American Silenes Polycarpa. [Harvard Univ. Proc, and Journ, Agri-Hort-Soc. of India. Jany-Mch. 1893. [Seoy ] Proc, Agri-Hort-Soc. of Madras, Oct-Dec. 1892. Jany-Mch 1893, [Secy.] Ann. Meeting, Agri-Horti-Soo. of Madras. 1893. [Seoy] Agri, Gazette of N.S, Wales, VolIV. Pts, 36 Mo “Mey 1893, [Dept.] Barbados Agri. Gazette & Planters’ Journal Nos. 6 and 7. June and July 1893. [Editor.] Agri-Bulletin of the Malay Peninsula, No. 3. Transactions Queensland Accln. Socy. Vol. I. Transactions Massachusetts Hort. Socy. 1893. Pt. I. Botanical Gazette. Vol. VIII. No. 6. June, 1893. Planters’ Monthly, Honolulu. No. 6, June 1893. Sugar Cane Nos. 287-289. Sugar Journal and Tropical Cultivator. Chemist and Druggist. Nos. 681-693. W. Indian and Com. Advertiser. June 1883. Times of Ceylon. No. 3-5. Bulletin Royal Gardens Kew. Nos. 74-78. Bulletin Torrey Bot. Club. Nos. 5-7. May 1893. Pt. I. May-July 1893. Bulletin Dept. of Agri. Queensland. Nos. 20-44 Jany-May 1893. [Director Bot. Dept. | [Secy. | [Secy. ] [ Editor. | [ Kditor. | June-Augst. 1893. [Hditor. | Nos. 19-26, May-June, 1893. [ Editor. | Supplement to the Leeward Islands Gazette, Nos. XV-X VIII. Apl. June 1893. [Editor] May-July 1893. [Editor. | [ Editor. ] : 1893. [Supt. of Agri. ] Feb-June 1893. [Kew. | [ Editor. | [Dept. of Agri. ] Bulletin Botanic Garden, Grenada. Nos. 28 and 29. April and May 1893, [Curator. | Bulletin Louisiania Exp. Station. 2nd Series. No. 2U. { Director. | Bulletin Berkely Agri Exp. Station Nos. 100-102. [ Director. ] Bulletin State. Exp. Station. No. 22. [Director.] Bulletin Kolonial Museum, Haarlem, June. 1893. [Editor. | Bulletin de l’Herbier Boissier. Tome I, 1893. No.6. [Conservateur] L’ Illustration Horticole. Tome XI, 1893. 6me et 7me Livraisons. [Editor] Notes on Pulvinaria and Lecanium by Prof. Cockerell. [ Author] Baker (J. G.) A Synopsis of the Genera and Species of Musez. [ Kew. Bailey (F'.M.) A Companion for the Queensland Student of Plant Life. SEEDS. From Messrs Milner and Smith, Sydney, N.S.W. Kucalyptus trianthos. botryoides. - 3 citriodora. ij corynocalyx, a crebra. oH leptophleba, a melliodora. a microcorys, « paniculata. st pilularis. ye rostrata. A siderophloia. ce sp Eremophila maculata Acacia decurrens «« — pycnantha Boronia megastigima Casuarina equisetifolia Frenela Maclayana “C robusta Syncarpia laurifolia Hymenosporum flavum '!'elopea speciosissima Tristania conferta ae laurina From Botanic Gardens, Dunedin New Zealand. Hoheria Sinclairii Hoheria populnea, var, angustifolia Scheffliera digitata Olearia avicennefolia Cyathodes acerosa Clianthus puniceus Panax longissimum Phormium tenax Parsonsia albiflora Pseudopanax crassifolium From Botanic Gardens, Cape Town Aberia Caffra Agapanthus umbellatus 6 « albus Albuca minor Aloe marginata Antholyza sethiopica minor Babiana sulphurea Gladiolus cunonia “ alatus “é angustus, “ grandis, (6 gracilis Brisbane. 1893. [Author.] Gladiolus hirsutus. 6 tristis: Geissorhiza humilis. “é Bellendeni. Ui Kermesina. “ secunda. Greyia Sutherlandi. Ferraria undulata. Freesia refracta alba. Homeria collina 2 spicata, Lachenalia pendula, Morea sp. “ tricuspis. Massonia pustulata, Sparaxis grandiflora alba. bulbifera. Synnotia bicolor. Trichonema aurea. a From Botanic Gardens Saharanpur, India. Amaryllis spp. Phenix humile, Rubus trivialis, Ehretia serrata, Beaumontia grandiflora. Ipomea rubra-ccerulea. Dillenia indica, Butea frondosa, Sterculia alata, Hiptage Madablota. Peach. From Botanic Gardens, Seebpore, India. Bambusa siamensis. From Botanic Gardens Bangalore, India. Soymida febrifuga. Abroma augusta From Botanic Garden, Rockhampton, Queensland. Livistona australis. Antidesma Dallachianum. Erythrina vespertilio. Eucalyptus maculata, var. citriodora Sesbania grandiflora, From Govt. Botanist, Melbourne. Banksia collina. Banksia ornata, From Agrt-Horti-Socy’s Gardens, Madras. Cordia Rathii From J. BR. Reece Jamaica. « Nut Eddoe,” Musk Melon, _ a he — WS i : No. 48. OctoBER, 18938, | ee BULLETIN OF THE - BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAM AIC A. CONTENTS: . Havana Tobacco Seed. Sisal Hemp in the Bahamas. Cocoa Drying in Ceylon: A Correction. Notes from the Institute of Jamaica.—I, Curing Lemons and sie. Budding Oranges. Ferns: Synoptical List.—X XIII. i Experiments in the Cultivation of Vegetables.—XIT. P RI C E—Twopence. A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] : JAMAICA; GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, 1893. A EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES.—XII. PoratoEs—CaAstTLETON GARDENS. 6m 1d i % | 8 a to g | » sande ba rd A ° 2 op ao) &| |e B | 2 fp (aaah cee Ble | [os|.0] Bol oie 6 | een ee Z 4] 2 | wise! ol wale Ay 5 = ‘BE Name of Potatoes : BiFOisiaig te is ay Ay q’ Fa on 3 | Are | mn Oo os F or) = Algis |2s!i 4/2312 ta 1@ is) 3 58 mb q (a Pea) alam 1s + 2 [Se 3 SS Am Set ee ey a Sep : m/e) Ee ele] e leg 2e| ee) ee les] El ale S| S/S rs She a eee ho. | eo ne g\¢|eisel|el ela fes|@s|281s8 eel g|] BIB 3 Le ao |e] a 5 5 1/5 Ae oe aye sa ah} .& 4 5 AIHBIAR |Alzlae |F |o la B ] a| ale OZ lbs 2 ° ae Sutton’s Satisfaction .-.|L2.4/22.4) 10 | 8.7) 87 | 24 | 14 2.8 | 2.8 |73.0) 63.5/42.64| 49 Sutton’s White Kidney —|12.4/22.4) 10 | 4.7) 83 | 24 | 19 2.5 | 3.0 |74.5) 62.4|39.88' 47 Sutton’s Nonsuch ee(12 4/22.4| 10 | 9.7) 88 | 24 | 12 5.3 | 4.0 72.2) 63.5)42.64) 50 Sutton’s Supreme ..|L2,4/20.4) 8 | 9.7) 88 | 20 | 15 3.2 | 3.0 |72.2| 63.5/42.64| 50 Stitton’s Windsor Castle ./12.4/20.4) 8 | 8.7/ 87 | 20 | 15 4.2 | 4.0 |73.0) 63.5/42.64| 49 Sutton’s Triumph oo [12 419.4) 7 | 8.7) 87 | 21/19] § . 3 1.6 | 2.0 \73.0) 63.5'42.64! 49 =O a= Sutton’s Reading Hero »12.4/20.4) 8 |10.7) 89 | 24 | 19 7, | z 1.6 | 2.0 |72.3) 63.4/43.69] 51 Sutton’s Abundance «+ /12.4)21.4) 9 | 9.7) 88 | 21 | 16 2.6 | 2.8 72.2) 63.5)42.64) 50 Sutton’s Magnum Bonum -»[12,.4/22.4) 10 | 8.7| 87 | 22 | 18 3.7 | 4.4 |73.0) 63.5/42.64| 49 Sutton’s Perfection ---12.4/21.4, 9 | 9.7] 88 | 19 | 10 4.4 | 2.12 |72.2) 63.5/42.64) 50 Sutton’s Seedling .»12,4/20.4| 8 | 4.7) 83 | 20 | 18 4,2 | 4.12 74.5) 62.4/39.88] 47 Sutton’s Reading Russet .»-/12,4/20.4] 8 |10.7) 89 | 19 | 17 3.7 | 4.0 |72.3) 63.4/43.69) 51 HAVANA TOBACCO SEED. During the last 3 or 4 years large quantities of Tobacco Seed raised by the best growers in the Temple Hall District have been distributed free by the Department of Public Gardens and Planta- tions. This seed is yielded by plants grown originally from seed from Havana ; but of late Tobacco Merchants have been unable to get seed from Cuba. It was important that an effort should be made to obtain the best seed from a reliable source, for the seed from plants grown year after year on the same spot tends to deteriorate, and the high quality of Jamaica cigars could not in consequence be maintained. The cultivation of this important article of trade is extending, and efforts are being made by the Department to substitute seed of Havana Tobacco for the use of settlers instead of that of their own native plants and to induce them to follow Cuban methods of cultivation and manufacture. At the suggestion of the Director, a Despatch requesting seed was sent by His Excellency the Governor to the British Consul-General at Havana, and a parcel is daily expected containing 25lbs. of Vuelta-Abajo Tobacco seed, which the Consul-General states to be quite fresh and of the very best uality. 2 eh is rather late to sow this year, but those who wish for seed should apply to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P. O., stating how much land they have prepared for lanting. 4 Bulletin, No. 13, for May, 1889, contains a short treatise on the cultivation and curing of Tobacco by the late Mr. J. OC. Espin, a practical grower and cigar-maker. This Bulletin will be sent free to those who apply for it. - SISAL HEMP IN THE BAHAMAS. A correspondent writes concerning Sisal Hemp in the Bahamas as follows :— “Qur fibre industry continues to advance rapidly. A new Company with very large capital has commenced operations on Little Abaco, and employs 300 men. J.S. Johnson has turned his business intua Limited Company with £80,000, capital. They have about 3,000 acres already planted. Cham- berlain has 2,000 and commences cleaning next year. Monroe has about 2,500 and has just put up a Todd machine, and is only waiting to finish his railway to bring the leaves to it to commence steady cleaning. Albee Smith has 2 machines in the Colony now, but the only one I have heard from (at Rum Cay) is a failure, as the second grip (gutta percha over chain) gave out after very little work, Menendez in this Island is cleaning steadily now, using Van Buren’s machine, until he can find a bet- ter, I think we shall have a large export in 1895 and a very fair one in 1894,” OO 8 COCOA-DRYING IN CEYLON : A CORRECTION. Dr. Trimen, Director of the R. Botanic Gardens, Ceylon, writes as follows :— “Tn the reprint of my description of a drying-house for Cacaoin your “Bulletin” (No. 41) for March last, I notice a serious error, “R 120” for R 1,200. I do not know who is responsible for this as the note has been through so many hands, but it would be well to call attention to it. It means £80 instead of £8 in sterling money. “ Also the last paragraph (in inverted commas, like the other two) is none of mine but added by some other hand, and, as far as Ceylon is concerned, not correct.” These paragraphs were takenfrom the Agricultural Record of Trinidad for 1890, to which Dr. Trimen referred in his first letter, The mistake in the Record isnot a mere misprint, for Sir Wm. Robinson in a later paragraph refers to the cost as being only £12. But there isa misprint in the Bulletin in quoting the last paragraph as from Dr, Trimen ; it is really part of Sir Wm, Robinson’s lecture, NOTES FROM THE MUSEUM, INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA.—I, By OC. H. TYLER TOWNSEND, Curator of the Museum. No. 88.—A Grus Insurine StrAWBERRY PLANTS. On April 6, 1893, Mr. W. Harris, Superintendent of the Cinchona Plantations at Gordon Town, sent to the Museum specimens of a grub, with the report that they were doing serious damage to strawberry plants. Mr. Harris wrote that the grubs burrow in the soil, and eat up into the hearts of the plants, causing them to become sickly and finally to wither up. Mr. Cockerell, in reply, stated that he sus- pected them to be larvee of a species of Praepodes. They were placed in soil to breed, but without re- sult. On July 5, I wrote to Mr. Harris for further specimens, which were obtained July 10, together with specimens of beetles which Mr. Fawcett thought might be theadults of the grubs. His opinion, T believe, is correct. One of the smaller grubs is a scarab or chafer larva, and may not be particularly concerned in the injury, although it is root-feeding in its habits. It may be known at once by the fact of its having six well-developed legs. The other grubs all belong to a very different group, the Rhyn- cophora, or weevils, as indicated by the fact that they are absolutely footless. The beetles are Prae- podes amabilis Waterh., a large weevil from 21 to 26 mm. long, black, with three pale bluish green stripes down the wing covers, the whole frequently thickly covered with a rosy or pink-golden or grey metallic efflorescence of minute scales. In fact the green stripes are simply scales of thiscolor. This weevil is with little doubt the adult of the strawberry grubs above-mentioned as being footless. It will however, be attempted to breed some of the latter, so as to prove or disprove this. The grubs sent are from 13 to 25 mm. long. They are wholly whitish, except the head, which is pale yellowish brown, and the mouth parts, which are blackish brown. They greatly resemble at a casual glance the “ white grubs,” or chafer larve, but are at once distinguishable by being footless. Mr. Harris writes, under date of July 10, that applications of fresh lime and kainit have seemed to be partially successful, pointing out that the fresh lime should be dug in and well mixed with the soil. As Mr. Harris suggests, however, the grubs may make their appearance sometimes when it is not possible to put the lime in the ground, as when young crops are coming on, in which case it would be necessary to use some other remedy. It is quite possible that kerosene emulsion could be used with success in this instance. It would need to be of such a strength that it would not injure the growing plants by soaking into the ground about their roots; and yet be sufficiently strong to kill the grubs. Actual experiments in the field are necessary to determine these points. A full paper on the subject of this grub will be published in a future number of the Journal of the Institute. July 13th, 1898. [The attempt to breed these grubs at the Museum ended in failure, owing to the absence of growing plants with which to mature them. Strawberry plants and larvae will be obtained from Cinchona the coming season, when it is hoped that the beetles will be successfully reared.—C, H. T.T., Nov. 2, 1893.] No. 48.—An Enemy or Casuarina. In Mr. Cockerell’s lecture on Agricultural Pests, it is stated that the Casuarina tree furnishes an example of a plant introduced without its enemies, no insects having been found up to that time to depredate upon it in Jamaica. We have now, however, to record an insect enemy of this tree, in the shape of a twig girdler, a beetle which gnaws away the bark and wood to a certain depth in the shape of a ring around the smaller branches, causing the terminal portion todie and finally to break and fall to the ground with heavy winds. This beetle is Oncideres pustulata, a native species, which doubtless attacks other trees as well, and has taken to the Casuarina since its introduction into Jamaica from Australia. It was identified by Dr. Riley in Washington from specimens received through Mr. Faw- cett, from Mrs. Ruth Charley, of Little London. Girdling beetles practise this peculiar habit of girdling branches, so that the terminal section, in. which they deposit their eggs afterwards, may become dead. This later falls to the ground, and the beetle transforms therein, finally emerging from the dead stick. The remedy, therefore, consists in gathering and burning all the dead or girdled sticks, whether on the tree or on the ground, The larvae can in this way be very easily destroyed. The perfect beetles seem to be quite common, and should be killed when found on the trees, August 7th, 1893. [This girdling beetle has since been recorded to attack the gungoo pea (Cajanus indicus). See Notes from the Museum os. 52 and 54 for an account of this, which had been observed here in 1882. The beetle is an addition to the Jamaican list of named species,—C, H. T. T., Noy. 2, 1893.] EEE 4 No, 47.—A Potato WEEVIL, In June last, Mr. H. McDermot, of Grand Cayman, sent to the Museum specimens of a small weevil, both adults and larve, with the report that they were injuring potatoes in that island. This weevil is the Cylas formicarius. The adult is about 6 mm. long, of a dark greenish or bluish black, with the head, thorax and legs orange-coloured, the beak being blackish. The head and thorax are narrowed and elongate, giving the insect an elegant appearance. The small maggot-like grubs of this weevil are wholly of a whitish colour, and are the stage which does the injury to the tubers. Mr. MacDermot writes that this weevil has within the last four or five years become generally dis- tributed and extremely troublesome to the cultivation of the Potato. It attacks potatoes of all kinds, but especially the large white variety, and has apparently been introduced from Cuba or Pedro (St. Elizabeth) where it abounds. Infested potatoes present the appearance outwardly of being sound and good, but on being split open disclose the worms boring in every direction. Immediately next the borings the tissues of the tuber are black and discoloured, while the remaining portions are said to be tasteless, and are often refused even by pigs. It appears that the tubers attain a certain size before they are attacked, and are therefore sometimes dug early, before they are large enough to be good eating, so as to escape the worms. Sandy soil and deep planting are said to be preventives to a certain extent of the destructiveness of the worms, Aug. 29th, 1893. [Cylas formicarius is also native to Jamaica, but is an addition to the lists of identified species. —C. H.T. T., Nov. 2, 1893.] No. 48.—A Jamatcan Brean WEEviL. In July, Mr. Fawcett sent to the Museum a box of “red peas,” Phaseolus nanus, which were in- fested with a weevil. They were received from Mr. W. Grant, of Cave Valley, in St. Ann’s, and are what are commonly known in America as “string beans.” These beans contained smali holes, in which a large number of the weevils had bred, quite the same as those made by the pea and bean weevils in more northern countries. Specimens sent to Dr. Riley in Washington were determined as Bruchus tetricus Gyll. The more destructive weevils of this genus in America are B. pisi and B. obtectus, which attack peas and beans respectively in that country. There are many other species of this family Bru- chide, of which the great majority breed in seeds of leguminous piants. The eggs of the pea and bean weevils are deposited in or on the young pods usually, and the newly-hatched grub, as recently des- cribed by Dr. Riley, contrary to the rule among weevil larve, is furnished with legs. These it soon loses, however, having passed the post-embryonal stage, and becomes a maggot-like larva enclosed in the bean or pea. Bruchus tetricus, above mentioned, is new to the Jamaican lists. A species, supposed to be B. rufimanus, was found by Mr. Cockerell in white beans (Lablal vulgaris var. bonavist) in the Museum of the Institute. He, however, doubted whether they were aJamaican product. The only other Bruchus recorded from Jamaicais B. spinosus,arather largespinous species whose habits are not known. As a remedy for these weevils in dry beans or peas in bulk, bi-sulphide of carbon is most effectual as it kills every stage of the insect, from egg to adult beetle. A very small quantity—one or two ta- blespoonfuls—should be poured into a barrel, or other tight receptacle containing the beans, the barrel being then closed and left for a few hours. It should afterward be opened and the bi-sulphide allowed to thoroughly evaporate, the building being thrown open, ifit is done within doors, and no light or fire should be introduced in the meantime, as the vapours are highly inflammable. August 31st, 1893. No. 49.—Tue Cyntuia Sirk Worm Experiment. The Cynthia silk worm, Attacus cynthia, is a native of China, India along the Himalaya Moun- tains, and Assam. It has been naturalized in the the United States and in France, and is cultivated somewhat in parts of Africa andin Austrialia. The larvae are quite easily reared in the open air in northern countries. The native food-plant of this silk worm is the Ailanthus tree, butit is said that it will also thrive on the castor oil plant, lilac, cherry, barberry, laburnum, and others. Last January some cocoons of this species were sent to the Museum by Mr. D. Morris, of Kew, through Mr. Fawcett. They were obtained by Mr. Morris from Mons. A. Wailly, the well known silk worm authority. M. Wailly imported them from the United States, where they had been raised. Eggs obtained from moths which issued from these cocoons were distributed by Mr. Cockerell in March, to seven persons in different parts of the Island. Cocoons were previously sent to four others. The castor oil plant was suggested as the most suitable food for the worms. The experiment unfortunately ended disastrously in each case. Only one correspondent secured the cocoons from the eggs, and they were valueless. In all other cases the larvae died from one cause or another. It was complained that the worms would not eat the castor oil leaves. In some cases, lettuce was eaten in preference. Apparently the climate and the food plant are not well adapted to the species in Jamaica. Yet it would seem that it might be made to thrive with proper food and care in the more mountainous dis- tricts. It would seem that the other very closely allied species, Attacus ricini, whose native food is the castor oil plant, would be much better adapted to our Island. Mr. Cockerell records breeding an American parasite, Spi/ochalcis mariae, from the Cynthia cocoons. These parasites had survived the passage of the cocoons from America to England, and thence to Jamaica, where they issued. September 5th, 1893. No. 53.—Tue Pimento Borer. In October, 1892, some pimento sticks were sent to the Museum by Mr. A. E. Husband, of Man- chester. They were infested with longicorn larvae, and were placed by Mr. Cockerell in a jar to breed, The following July, the sticks having remained in the jar undisturbed during the interim, it wa 5 found that several specimens of a small and elongate light coloured longicorn beetle had issued from them. These beetles on being sent to Dr Riley, in Washington, were pronounced to be Cyrtomerus pilicornis Fab. The species is new to the Jamaican lists. As the pimento or allspice (Pimenta vulgaris) is considerably cultivated in Jamaica, this borer may prove a serious pest. The sticks sent to the Museum show rather wide, more or less sinuate or irregular, shallow channels in the hard wood immediately beneath the thin bark. The channels are very solidly packed in places with a fine and hard frass. Their general direction is lengthwise of the branch, but they sometimes wind around it, or rarely turn backward at an acute angle. At intervals, in the sticks are seen small deep holes penetrating obliquely downward or upward into the hard wood towards the heart of the branch. These are narrower than the outer superficial feeding tunnels, but are still flattened, and doubtless are the cells where the borers undergo the pupal change to the adult state. The bark being removed shows the tunnels to extensively cover the outer surface of the sticks, indicating that these borers are active ones and capable of doing much injury. The only remedy for such borers in living trees is to search for. infested branches, detect the tunnels before they become extensive, and kill the grubs by using a probe of wire or other material. Probing is simple in this case because the borers work just beneath the bark until ready to pupate. September 22nd, 1893. No. 57.—Enrinosr Growtus Dus to Mirus. Phytoptus, a genus of mites, produces a peculiar fungus-like growth on various plants, the growth varying in its form and structure according to the species of Phytoptus producing it, and to a certain extent depending upon the plant infested. In as much as these mites are very small and usually well concealed, the growths wich they cause were for a long time classed by mycologists as fungi under the generic term Hrineum. As recorded in the August number of the Journal of the Institute, Mr. Campbell sent from Castleton Gardens last July a leaf of Calophylium calaba, which was covered onits under surface with numerous small and compact brownish growths, formed of fine and short closely packed setae, presenting much the structure of the pile of velvet. This was sent to Mr. Ellis, and by him determin- ed as the form originally called EHrineum calabae by Kunze, who described it from the island of Porto Rico. Mr. Fawcett has recently written me that specimensfrom Castleton Gardens were also forward- ed to Kew, and pronounced to be an erinose growth due to an insect. When troublesome, the phytoptid mites may be destroyed with sulphur or Kerosene emulsion. Recent experiments with the latter seem to prove its efficiency for the pear Phytoptus in the U.S. The orange Phytoptus producing the rust is destroyed in Florida by using sulphur mixed with lime in the process of slacking, and applied in a watery solution. A soft soap and sulphur wash is used in England for the Currant Phytoptus. October 9th, 1893. No. 60.—Gruss Insurine Roors or ORANGE TREEs, There have been found ina jar in the Museum several grubs of a beetle, which, according to the label, were found eating roots of an orange tree, and sent by Mr. Fawcett on the 28th of May, 1887. They are rhynchophorous or weevil grubs, and quite similar in appearance to those found by Mr. Fawcett and Mr. Harris, from April to July of the present year, injuring roots of strawberry plants at Cinchona, and which are mentioned in Notes from the Museum No. 38. Like them, they doubtless belong to the genus Praepodes. This observation should not be lost sight of. Grubs attacking the roots of trees and plants are more easily overlooked than those which work above ground, since their depredations are concealed and usually not suspected until the ruin of the tree is imminent. In the U.S. the grubs of certain scarabaeid and prionid (longicorn) beetles attack the roots of plants and trees, the former being usually confined to certain crops and grass, and the latter to trees. The grubs of these prionid beetles are often of great size, some of the beetles being very large. It is noteworthy, however, that in the tropics, at least in Jamaica, the grubs of certain large weevils seem to take the place in part of those above mentioned in the U.S. The cocoanut or palm weevil, which bores the root of the cocoa palm in the West Indies, is the gigantic grab of Rhynchophorus palmarum. Then we have these larvee of Praepodes injuring the roots of the strawberry, orange, and without doubt other plants. It is very probable, as Mr. Cockerell has suggested, that the grub reported to injure the roots of cacao in Jamaica is the larva of Praepodes. Then we have a coffee borer, which may or may not turn out to be the same thing. These weevil larva, as pointed out in the notes above referred to, are at once distinguish- ed from all other larve of beetles by being footless. i There are some large prionid beetles native in Jamaica, whose grubs doubtless injure the roots of trees, and quite possibly those of the orange. he Curator will be glad to receive any specimens of root-borers, with notes upon them. October 14th, 1893. CURING LEMONS AND LIMES. The export of Lemons would probably prove to be most remunerative, if they were properly cured and packed. m The following information is taken from the Handbook of Orange Culture, by the Rev. T. W. oore. “Comparatively little attention has been given in Florida to the cultivation of the lemon and the lime ; and yet these are among the most valuable of the citrus family, whether we consider their mone- tary value or their healthfulness, This neglect has arisen from several causes, “The lemon is a more vigorous grower than the orange, and when planted on strong or fresh land the fruit grows to a much larger size and with a thicker skin than in Europe, The rind, also, when a ow ees rae eee i = ie ee 6 the fruit is permitted to yellow upon the tree, is bitter, which destroys the commercial value of the lemon, Other ill results are noticed when the fruit is permitted to ripen on the tree. Such fruit is comparatively light, the juice sparse, and charged with a small per cent of citric acid. All this is the result of a want of knowledge of proper treatment of the fruit. My lemons have brought in New York more money per box than my oranges, and have in these markets ranked as first quality. I would mention, also, that as a general rule the lemon tree is more productive than the orange. This fruit ‘which ranked so high was gathered from seedlings planted from seed of the Sicily and Messina fruit -of commerce. If the fruit on these trees is allowed to ripen on.the tree, they average three-fourths of a pound in weight, but of inferior quality, juice little and rind thick. “My method of preparing for market is to gather the fruit when about one-third larger than we find the Sicily lemon when it reaches our American market. In curing, the fruit will shrink this extra third. The fruit is gathered in latticed boxes holding about fifty lemons each and only two‘layers deep. The fruit should be cut with short stems, and so handled as not to be bruised. The boxes are at once put into a close room, one on top of another, but forming a hollow square. If the room is large, cover the pile of boxes with a cloth that will confine the sulphurous gas with which the fruit is to be treated. Place in the centre of the square, and sufficiently remote from the boxes not to heat the fruit, an oven of live coals. Throw on the burning coals an ounce of flowers of sulphur, and fasten down the cloths. Ifthe room is small and tight, the cloth is not necessary. Allow the fruit to re- main in a dark room for a week, then expose to sunlight—the direct rays of the sun a part of the day is best—until the skin is yellow. The fruit is then ready for market, or to be stored for future use, for when thus treated it can be kept for an indefinite time. This sulphurous gas is of great benefit in the curing of both lemon and orange. First, it aids in properly curing the fruit by toughening the skin and drying up the watery particles ; second, it is fatal to all parasites of the orange, whether vege- table or animal. I am satisfied that a very large per cent of the speedy decay of the orange so fatal to shippers is occasioned by the germ of fungi left over from the former year in the packing houses, and old boxes in which rotten fruit was conveyed. These germs lie dormant, waiting for a moist at- mosphere favorable to their development ; they then develop and multiply with wondrous rapidity, showing their work in the form of mould on any moist surface, but especially on fruit. Some years ago I put into-a basket that had held some decayed lemoms, on the sides of which basket at the time of gathering I noticed a little mould, some very fine Tangerine oranges. In two days’ time half the fruit was entirely worthless. The fruit that was left on the tree, or that had been otherwise handled, was entirely sound. This gave me a hint. It was a very wet season ; most of our shippers were losing heavily. Commission merchants were constantly reporting, “Fruit arrived in bad order,” “Did not pay expenses.” I knew that sulphurous fumes were fatal to fungoids. I commenced to gather and ship in the midst of the damp season. I fumigated every box of fruit, and though mould had appeared on the fruit as it hung on the trees, I heard no report of decayed fruit, but on the contrary had the report of “Arrived in good condition,” and “Good price.” “T have not much experience in handling the lime, but I am convinced that this fruit, most val- uable because of its healthfulness and its richness in citric acid, can be cured as easily as the lemon, and preserved quite as long, if subjected to the treatment recommended for thelemon. This fruit needs only to be known in our Northern market to be valued even more highly than the lemon. When once brought into notice it will prove truly profitable to the grower. The yieldis speedy and abundant. “The Florida lemon, marketed during the latter part of August and all of September and Octo- ber, meets with little competition from foreign fruit.” The Californian Fruitgrower says that the import of lemons into America is steadily increasing the value rising from 2,501,426 dollars in the year 1885 to 4,831,334 dollars in 1892. BUDDING ORANGES. : The following letter on the subject of budding oranges from Mr.D. Morris, Assistant Director of Kew Gardens, is of great interest and value. In Bulletin No. 42 for April, I stated that “the climatic conditions are so much against the operation of budding that, in my opinion, it will not be found worth while ever to adopt it inthe Island.” Iam not prepared yet to modify my opinion until very many more experiments have been carried out at Hope Gardens. The Superintendent will leave no method untried to ensure success, but it is evident that the climatic conditions for the whole year must be considered in comparing Lucknow and Jamaica, and not those obtaining only in March. In Gardening for India, Firminger says “ In the Upper Provinces the budding is performed with great facility at two seasons of the year: first, when the plants are about to start for their Spring growth, and again when for their Midsummer growth, as at those times the bark separates most freely from the wood. But, for some reason I am unable to explain, I have not found such to be the case in the vicinity of Calcutta; and budding can so seldom be performed there with success, that it is rarely or never attempted, inarching being uniformly adopted instead.” Now compare what he says about the difference in the climate between Bengal and these Upper Provinces. “Tn Bengal what is called the ‘Cold season’ lasts, at the longest, not more than three months, commenciug in November and ending by February. The temperature at night, during that period at times, will fall as low as the freezing-point,—but this is of rare occurrence. Towards the close of February commences the hot season, which lasts till about the middle of June, when the periodical yains usually set in. From March to May is the hottest period of the whole year. March and April are the driest months. Some time in June the rain season begins, and lasts usually till about the vOth of October. ‘he greatest humidity prevails in August and September. During these months, towards evening, the atmosphere is filled with vapour almost to saturation...... i a 7 “The climate of the Upper Provinces varies considerably from that of Bengal, insomuch that many plants which thrive under the one, will not thrive nor hardly exist in the other...... The Cold season, in Upper India, commences at the beginning of October, and cannot be said to be completely over till about the close of April. ‘In December and January sharp frosts at night are not unfrequent, sufficiently severe to destroy many of the tender kinds of shrubs, unless protected. The European annuals, though often in the early morning rigid with a white coating of hoar-frost upon them, and in an hour or so after exposed to the burning rays of the sun full upon them, seem, with one or two exception, to take little harm otherwise than that their growth is all but entirely arrested while the season is at the coldest. By the 10th February the frosts are over. “During March, after their temporary rest, trees and shrubs in a well-irrigated garden push forth with a vigour perfectly astonishing, far beyond anything of the kind ever witnessed in Bengal. The young shoots, however, thus rapidly produced, are very apt to be scorched up and killed in a few hours’ time by the fierce hot gales that prevail soon after. “In May the heat becomes intense, the same at night as during theday. At this period the garden must be unremittingly watered. Many plants in a border left unwatered even for a fortnight would of a certainty perish, and most would be sure of dying, if left unwatered during the whole of the dry season. This excessive heat continues with little intermission, unless during the ‘heavy falls of rain that occur more or less in July and August, till September, when it begins gradually to abate.” It is quite evident that we have at Lucknow conditions of vegetation, arising from different causes, but similar in their effects to those in Florida and other places where budding is practised, namely a rapid springing into growth after a season of rest, instead of a continuous growth throughout the whole year, i W. F. Royal Gardens, Kew, 8th September, 1893. My dear Fawcett, As bearing upon our recent correspondence with regard to the budding of oranges, I may men~ tion that on Saturday last we had a pleasant visit from Mr. Matthew Ridley, Superintendent of the Government Horticultural Gardens at Lucknow. He was formerly at Kew and has had wide expe- rience in fruit-growing in the plains of India. His Reports, as probably you are aware, are always interesting, and contain valuable information of a useful character. 2. Mr. Ridley’s experience with regard to oranges is a somewhat singular one. Nearly all the orange trees grown and distributed by him are budded trees. The plan of budding oranges has been regularly practised in the Lucknow Gardens for many years. It is carried out by native labour, and al- though there are naturally some failures, the supply of budded trees is always kept up to the demand. 3. It may interest you to learn that stock plants are raised from seeds of sour orange and lime. These are raised in large numbers in open beds, as plants are raised in Jamaica, and they are grown on until they are about 18 inches to 2 feet in height. In the spring of the year on the advent of dry weather, the work of budding is commenced. During the month of March, and with bright, hot weather, just as is experienced at that season in the West Indies, suitable buds are taken trom the best kinds of orange trees in the Garden, and these, after being prepared, are budded on to the sour - seedlings as they grow in the beds. The seedlings are taken one by one, and a clean cut made in the upper part of the stem with a budding knife. The bark on each side of the cut is lifted, exactly as in budding roses, and the bud put in. A little binding with bast or banana fibre completes the opera- tion. There is no need of wax, clay, or any preparation to cover the budded area. 4. Mr. Ridley mentioned, first of all, that the slit in the bark of the stock is not T-shaped, as shewn, for instance, by Dr. Nicholls in his book (English ed.) opposite p. 82. It is simply a cut dowa the stem, with no cross cut. Further, that the shield of bark attached to the bud is cut squarely across top and bottom. It is not trimmed into a narrowed point either above or below. It is claimed that the bud is easier to manage when so left. When the bud is being inserted the stem of the stock is bent forward so as to open the slit, and so facilitate the admission of the bud. These latter are not matters of any great moment, They are rather details of procedure which have been adopted at Luck- now and passed on from one man to another. 5, It is not necessary to describe the budding process in any greater detail. Budding is a very simple process, and it is well described in any work on gardening. As regards climate, I should say that the hot weather in the plains of India must be much hotter than anything in Jamaica. There is apparently little difference, as far as I could gathor from Mr. Ridley, between the conditions of vegeta- tion during, say the month of March in Lucknow and in Jamaica. Hence it would appear that upon theoretical grounds there is nothing to prevent budding being followed as fully in one place as in the other. There is so much to be gained by an adoption of the budding process wherever it can be car- - ried out, that this must be my excuse for inflicting so long a letter upon you in support of it. I hope you will be able to say something more about it in your Bulletin, and so draw increased attention to the subject in the interest of crange-growers in Jamaica. I attach a Memorandum on “ budding oranges,” giving instances where it is practised elsewhere. Iam, Yours very sincerely, D. Morrts, Buppinc ORANGES. Extracts from “Fruit Culture in the Several Countries,” being United States Consular Report, No. 414, June. 1884. Italy: Marsala.— The trees are produced from seeds of bitter orange and budded afterwards.” p.597, Sicily.—“The seed of the bitter orange is planted, When the young plants aro a year old, they are transplanted..,...when well rooted and growing, the best varieties of orange and lemon are budded on to the stocks,” p, 599, 8 Venetia.—‘For propagating plants......seed is sown in spring....,.such plants require to be grafted later......but oftener by the insertion of a bud or some thrifty shoot from one of the lower branches.” . 618. Spain: Western Andalusia—‘The general mode of propagation is by cuttings......Jn Valencia however, grafting or budding is resorted to.” p. 670. Malaga —Orange “trees are seedlings from sour orange seeds transplanted at one year old and grafted the next year.” p. 687. Asia Minor : Mitylene.—“the orange and lemon trees here are budded or grafted.” p. 751. South Australia.—“*We graft or bud.” p. 812. Morocco.—‘They (orange trees) are propagated from seeds, inarching, grafting, budding, and by cuttings.” p. 815. Florida.— ‘The best example......of an orange grove...... is the fine grove of Mr. E. H. Hart at Federal point. This grove is of the choicest ‘budded’ varieties.” (Report on Tropical and Semi-Tro- pical Fruits in the United States, 1887. p. 60.) FERNS : SYNOPTICAL LIST.—XXIII. Synoptical List, with descriptions of the Ferns and Fern-Allies of Jamaica, by G. 8S. Jenman, Superin- tendent Botanical Gardens, Demerara, (continued from Bulletin No. 47.) 16. Asplenium hastatum, Klotzch.—Rootstock small, fibrous, finely scaly, erect or oblique, stipites tufted, 4-7in. 1. channelled, naked above the finely scaly base ; fronds pinnate, 8-12in. 1. 2—8}in. w. naked, dark green, chartaceous, truncate at the base, the apex terminated by a linear distantly inciso- lobate segment 1—2in, ]. pinne horizontal, }in. less or more, apart but not distant, shortly stipitate, tapering, acuminate-bluntish, shortly cut away on the underside of the base, upper expanded auricled and subcordate, margins bilobate-dentate, the teeth irregular, rounded and deep, about 1li. w., veins pinnate, forked, flabellate in the basal auricle ; sori on the outer branch, oblique, 14-24 li. 1. distant from the margin.—Hook. Sp. Fil vol. 3. t. 172. Infrequent on rocks and trees of Portland from 2,000-4,000ft. alt. Quite intermediate in its general characters between auriculatum and pteropus, but stiffer and more upright of fronds than either ; and with much shorter fronds and fewer, though somewhat conform, pinne than in the latter 17. A. pteropus, Kaulf.—Rootstock short, erect, finely scaly; stipites caspitose, 2—4in. 1. mar- gined, naked, except the minute scales at the base, gray-green ; rachis similar, narrowly-winged throughout ; fronds pinnate, 1—-2ft. 1. 2-3in. w. light green, herbaceous, naked, a little reduced toward the base, passing abruptly or not at the apex into a linear attenuated lobate segment 1-2in. |. and 4-5 li. w., shortly cut away on the inferior side at the base, the upper side expanded, acute or acuminate at the point, the margins evenly serrated with oblique blunt teeth } li. w. which are evanescent in the acuminate or attenuated outer part; veins pinnate, simple, except the interior one at the superior base, which is 2-8 times forked : sori copious, oblique, 1-14 li. 1. 8-12 on either side, near the midvein and distant from the margins ; involucres thin, pale, the open edge curved.—Hook, Sp. Fil vol. 3. t. 177. Very common from 2,000—4,000 ft. alt. on rocks and trees on the banks of streams and other wet si(uations in moist forests. A much more slender plant, smaller in all its parts, with the rachis less winged with membrane than a/atwm, which in habit and in situations of growth it resembles. The pinne, which are 30 or more to a side, resemble most those of harpeodes and lunulatum, the fronds however, being more weakly and differing much in other features from either. 18. A. alatum, H. B. K.—Rootstock erect, with strong, wiry, descending roots ; stipites caespitose, 4— 7in. 1. compressed broadly or narrowly winged, naked ; fronds pinnate, lanceolate-oblong, 1—1}ft. 1. 2- 5in. w. thin, glabrous, dark green, little if at all reduced at the base, no terminal segment, the con- spicuously winged rachis, extending an inch beyond and rooting at the apex; pinne numerous, hori- zontal, apart or subdistant, 1}-2}in. 1. }4in. w. subsessile, base equal-sided, cuneate-rounded, point bluntisb, margins bidentate, teeth appressed ; veins pinnate, forked ; sori oblique, 2—4 li. 1. near the midrib but much short of the margin; involucres narrow, finally concealed.—Hook and Grev. Icon. il. t. 137. : Abundant on wet rocks and banks by rivers and in the beds of streams in wet forests at 4,000- 5,000ft. alt. ; distinguished by its broadly winged rachis, projecting beyond the pinnw at the top of the frond, and by the numerous equilateral, blunt pinne. The habit is rather weakly, the fronds curving gracefully outwards, the end eventually rooting in the ground. 19. A. letum, Swartz.—Rootstock oblique, shortly repent, dark, fibrillose ; stipites tufted, few or many, 2-6in. l. light or dark, channelled, naked ; rachis similar, but rather compressed and margined above ; fronds pinnate, lanceolate-oblong, base usually truncate, chartaceous, cloudy-green naked, 6-10 in. ). 14-2}in. w.; pinnee numerous, spreading, usually close, subdimidiate, the inferior slightly stipitate the superior slightly adnate-decurrent, passing gradually into the acuminate lobate-serrate apex, 1—1}in. |. 3-5 li. w. rounded, blunt or acute, the inferior side cut away at the base in a curved or straight line, from which point the outer part is up-curved, superior base truncate, deep, but not auri- cled, upper and outer margins serrulate or duplicate-serrulate, the teeth blunt and 4$li. w.; veins pin- nate, very oblique, simple and forked ; sori 14-3 li. 1. slender medial ; involucres pale, narrow.—Hook. Sp. Fil. vol. 3. t. 173. Sommon on wet rocks in forests and on the banks of shaded streams from low levels up to 4,000ft. alt.; easily recognized by the subdimidiate pinne, which are deep on the upper side, quite cut away within on the under, beyond which, below the midvein, is very narrow. There are two local forms; that at the lower elevation has fewer fronds, rarely more than 1-2 full grown, with blunter pinna, rather thicker texture and more of the veins forked; while in the other, which is larger, the fronds are numerous and the rachises stiffer and dark brown, No. 49. Novemser, 1893. BULLETIN OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT, JAMAICA. OORNTENTS: Notes on Bananas. Notes on Potato Cultivation. Notes from the Museum, Institute of Jamaica.—II Ferns: Synoptical List.—XXIV. Contributions to the Department. P RI C E—Twopence. A Copy will be supplied free to any Resident in Jamaica, who will send Name and Address to the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations, Gordon Town P.O.] JAMAICA: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 79 DUKE STREET, KINGSTON, 1893. 2 NOTES ON BANANAS. To the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations. Sir, I send you the following rough notes for Banana Cultivation which I have gained from actual experience. F Ist. Limit the cultivation toan area that you can give direct personal supervision to, say each root to be examined once per month. 2nd. Calculate your means and always have sufficient ready money in hand to do the work as soon as required. I have seen three weeks delay in the performance of necessary cultivation ruin a crop for a whole season. 3rd, Keep the land properly drained. Allow no surface water to become stagnant or heated by the sun’s rays, neglect of this precaution in bad weather means sudden death to Bananas. I have seen a whole row destroyed in three days. 4th. Do not plant too close unless one or two cropsare all the planter wishes to reap, say 14 ft. square for level lands that can be ploughed and 10 ft. square for hill sides. Let the rows be straight to enable the planter to detect trespass and theft easily. 5th. Leave suckers that will fruit in succession at intervals longer or shorter in accordance with the fertility, or poverty of the soil. In rich soils the intervals may be as short as 2 or 3 months, in poor lands 4 to 6 months. Two stalks should not be permitted to shoot at once if it is possible to avoid it. If several suckers of the same size are left in one root it takes longer for them to mature, and even if the land is good, the bulk of the fruit will not be ready in the spring when good prices are the rule, but late in the season when the demand is less, and prices unremunerative. The cultiva- tor, if he is an observant man, will soon discover the capabilities of his land, and be in a position to control the yield of fruit. 6th. To ensure ratooning, the land must be kept thoroughly broken up and pulverized, by fork- ing or ploughing and harrowing. Care should be taken that the plough is always followed by a har- row. It is injurious to leave the land in heavy clods unfit for plant growth. 7th. Bananas always throw suckers outwards, so that ratoons grow away from the original plant. The rotted ‘trees in the centre form a barren circle after afew years. This circle can be sweetened, and made available by application of wnslacked lime. 8th. Green grass or Cow peas, forked or ploughed in, keeps the soil loose and supplies nitrogen- ous food to the plants, encouraging early maturity. 9th. Too many of our small proprietors waste a great deal of their time in efforts to obtain a trifle more per bunch for their bananas, by carrying it themselves to the shipping port, instead of selling it on the spot, and devoting their energies to planting and cultivation. They often expend time worth four shillings, to obtain one shilling on the sale. 10th. Sufficient care is not observed in carriage of fruit. Bananas which take twelve months to produce are often destroyed in five minutes from this cause. Rejections are greatly complained of, but in very many instances they are caused either by damage in carrying, or by immaturity of the fruit delivered. There are sometimes faults on both sides. I promised you a few figures in re Banana Cultivation, and as my financial year has ended and my books have been closed, I append the particulars showing the results attained. Stalks per acre, 339. Gross sales per acre i £27 1 3 Cost of cultivation and delivery per acre... | 618 6 Net profit a! ie £20 2 9 s. d. Selling price per stalk b. ?- a orev brtoe iw odw ,soismal of iasbigehl yae bt ool boi Che aa IT w ve (.0.% awoT sohto® ,acoiisicald baa anebiae otidat to todn07 i 2 ae, 4 : | ic) igh lla aia a ‘ea AOTSDYI a hi ae PAN God Oy Of 8 : f % = A 1 o- a < ie ae A ° Ss 5 ia es 15 ae REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC GARDENS AND PLANTATIONS, JAMATICA, Oo ore rw re cc oC =I 10. et. 12. For THE YEAR ENDED 31st Marca, 1893. —- —— —_ CONTENTS. Page. . Hope Gardens 1 . Hill Garden 4 . Castleton Garden 8 . Kingston Public Garden 9 . Bath Garden 10 . King’s House Garden and Grounds 10 . Bulletin 11 . Library 12 . Herbarium 12 Office Work 12 Hope Industrial School 13 Coffee 14 13. 14, 15, 16. iE, 18. 19. 20. Page. Ginger 17 Forestry 19 Reports on Free Grants of Plants 21 Reports on Onions 22 Appendix I.—Distribution of Plants and Seeds 24 Appendix IT.—Plants from Kew at Hope 25 Appendix III.—Library Cata- logue 27 Appendix IV.—- Meteorological Tables 29 . z ; j - c i : — oT 3-6) Fa a 3 bas AU “ a by a ¢ a AIT OLA OATCSEAD OL U1 SOO ys ‘iad E \ fy Ft Ww . -* 7 F d f ' A Nt t. “ee 5 “* HOM : O04 AANE Bir TOF = E. s. I Lje|eié] 2 | eek L| el? Sif te - S } 8 © 3 3 &. 5 g “punois “yyUO Ry . z S = g S | | -zapun 4903 9 4 fp g ; | ww M7 . j -Aqrprar r roanqerodmo J, “pura 1A 4ml0g Mog | ‘y1oyuorye,y Soorsog—‘oimyeredmoy, *OInSsOIT ’ | “a ‘LA 009°G NOILVATIG 907‘, NOILVANTY—Xvag NIVINQOW A01gG —adVX) NAAVH MAN ‘LAL 106) NOILVATIG— NAGIVY) TI "S9]QBT, [BoSojo109j;077 ‘Al XlGNaaay 30 KINGSTON PUBLIC GARDEN. Elevation, 60 feet. Temperature Wind—Miles Pressure. Dewpoint. | Humidity. Degrees Fahrenheit. per day. 4 | Mont. . ; = 3 7a.m,|3 p.m. oh 3p.m.| Max Min. Pe Pe 1892 In. | In. @ e ° 2 e e @ ° ° April --.(80.068/29.993) 73.5 | 83.1 | 86.1 | 69.3 |16.8) 65.6 | 68.3 | 76 62 0.81 May -+/80.012) .964; 77.3 | 83.5 | 86.9 | 72.8 |14.1) 69.6 | 70.8 | 77 66 1.07 June ---/80.011) .971) 78.1 | 83.5 | 87.0 | 73.5 |13.5) 69.9 | 71.6 | 76 68 3.20 July -+.|80 046) .999| 77.1 | 86 5 | 89 4 | 73 5 16 9] 69.2 | 72.1 | 77 62 0.20 August -»./80 000) .957| 75.9 | 85.1 | 88.6 | 72.9 /15.7| 69.8 | 73 9| 81 69 1.00 September -..(29 982) .923) 75 2 | 83.7 | 88 6 | 72.8 |15.7| 69 9 | 72.6 | 84 69 3.15 October -.|29,942| .886) 74.2 | 81.9 | 86.0 | 71.7 [14.3] 71.3 | 726); 91 74 7.36 November -+-/29.968/ .900) 72.2 | 83.0 | 86.4 | 70.1 |16.3| 68.4 | 70.9] 88 67 2.99 December .. 30.027) .963) 69.7 | 81.8 | 85.4 | 67.1 |18.3] 64.8 | 68.2] 84 64 0.72 1893 January «-/30.018} .952) 68.9 | 82.3 | 85.6 | 67.3 |18.3 5 | 66.0] 83 58 0.38 February --, (80.053) .989) 69 6 | 62.8 | 85 6 | 67.6 |18.0] 63.8 | 67.1] 82 59 0.88 March . |30.067/30 001) 70.7 | 82.4 | 85.6 | 67.8 |17.8) 62.9 | 67.4 | 76 61 0.00 Total Means --(80,.015/29.958) 73.5 | 83.3 | 86.7 | 70.5 |16.2 67.3 | 701] 81 64 100.7 |21.88 ee Mean 78.6 CasTLETON GARDENS.—Eevation 580 Frxv. Temperature : Pressure. Dew Point. | Humidity. Degrees Fahrenheit. PA 3 Montn. A | = | 8 qi 7am. | 3 p.m. {7a.m.|3p.m.; Max. | Min 3 7a.m.|/3p.m.|7 a.m.|3p.m & 1892. In. In 2 g “! ~ m 22 ¢ : April - | 29.63 | 29.62 | 66.9 | 77.6 | 83 9 | 62.7 | 21.2 | 64.8; 723] 93 78 2.38 May of .62 .69 | 71.2 | 79.8 | 84.5] 67.5 | 17.0 | 69.8 | 70.9 | 96 74 4.77 June an 64 .59 | 72.2 | 80.0 | 85.4 | 68.1 | 17.3 | 69.6 | 74.7 | 93 86 | 11.02 July co 64 .65 | 71.4 | 83.3 | 87.3. | 68.1 | 19.2 | 69.6 | 73.2} 96 63 3.03 August a .59 .59 | 69.3 | 80.0 | 84.4 | 67.5 | 16.9 | 57.0] 74.1 | 65 82 7.89 September ods .58 .54 | 68.9 | 79.4 | 85 7 | 67.2 | 18.6 | 681) 73.6) 93 84 | 12.42 October oo 54 .53 | 71.0 | 77.4 | 81.1 | 696 | 11.6 |700/| 74.1) 95 80 | 32.92 November ozo 55 .54 | 70.0 | 77.0 | 80.4 | 67.0 | 13.4 | 64.1 | 69.1 | 96 76 2.52 December “ 61 .59 | 64.7 | 76.8 | 79.5 | 63.2 | 16.3 | 64.1 /691)| 96 84 | 29.32 1893. January oe -60 -57 | 64.4 | 76.2 | 79.4 | 61.8 | 17.6 | 62.9 | 70.0 | 96 81 3.99 February ae . 64 .63 | 65.7 | 77.4 | 80.1 | 63.1 | 17.0 ) 640) 70.4) 93 79 | 13.94 March ee 65 63 | 64.5 | 77.8 | 81.9 | 61.2 | 20.7 | 615); 66.5; 90 69 2.27 ; Total Means 29.62 | 29.68 | 68.3 | 78.4 | 82.8! 65.6 | 17.2 | 65.4) 71.5] 91 78 |126.47 jo SE SS Mean 74°.2 31 Kine’s Hovsrt GarpEn—E eEvation, 400 Freer. Temperature. | Pressure. Dew Point. | Humidity. Degrees Fahrenheit. P; Month. oan) it 10. > de. oe lm 7 am. | 3 p.m. |7a.m.|3p.m.| Max. | Min. | Range. |7 a.m.|3 p.m./7 a.m. |3 p.m.| & | | | / | 1892. In. Tn. ° e e 2 2 Peat Jel te April 30.1 30.0 | 70.4 {| 84.4 | 88 2/ 64.9] 233 | 64.9 | 76.0 | 84 64 2.60 May sie] e050 29.95 | 72.8 | 83.8 | 88 6 | 69.9 18.7 | 71.1 | 79.6 | 93 61 4 85 June can} OL L 30.1 | 75 6| 84.8 | 885) 70.2| 18.3 | 70.9) ... | 85 | .. | 2.65 July 30.1 80.1 | 74.8 | 87 5 | 93 8| 68.9] 24.9 | 70.2| 769, 84 76 0.30 August 30.0 30.0 | 74.6 | 86.0 | 91.6 | 67.9 | 23.7 | 69.9 | 79.6] 84 85 | 3.15 September «| 30.1 29.99 | 73.4 | 84.6 | 88 1/| 68.5 | 19.6 | 69,5 | 77.6) 90 79 | 13.65 October «| 30 0 29.99 | 71.9 | 82.0 | 87.1 | 67 7| 19.4 | 68.7 | 77.9] 90 87 9.60 November «| 30.0 80.0 | 70.3 | 83.2 | 86.4 | 66.1 | 20.3 | 67.6 | 79.3 | 93 87 5.45 December 30.0 30.0 | 66.4 | 82.5 | 87.6 | 619] 25.6 | 68.1)| 77.6] 90 84 | 0 85 1893. | January «| 29.88 | 29.88 | 67.8 | 84.2 | 88.9] 606) 28.3 | 63.3 | 76.6 | 84 79 0.75 February --| 29.83 | 29.76 | 68.6 | 84.6 | 88.7 | 622 | 26.6 | 64.3|)77 8| &4 79 | 0.96 March «| 29.81 | 29.78 | 67.5 | 85.6 | 89.1] 63.1 | 26.0 | 62.1] 76.0] 81 72 0 70 Means -| 20.96 | 29.94 | 71.0 | 84.3 | 88 8165.9 | 22.8 | 67.1 | 77.7 | 86 76 ) 45.60 ee Total. Mean 72°3 Horz GarpEens—ELEvATIoN 600 Ferv. Temperature, Pressure. Dew Point. Humidity. Degrees Fahrenheit. = Z Month, 5 a | a So ¢ 7a.mj3 p.m |7 a.m.|3 p.m.| Max. | Min.| & |7a.m/3p.m.|7 am. | 3 p.m. a 1892. In. Lins < c ° ©. S, 2 = April .+|29.22 (29.22 | 70.6 | 82.8 | 86.2 | 67.8 | 18.4 | 64.7 | 69.5 81 57 4.34 May so] 019] -19'| 73.8 | 82.1 | 86.1 | 70.8 | 15.3 | 68.4 | 71.9 81 71 6.67 Juno | 20] .20| 74.2) 830) 867 | 72.8 | 13.9 | 64.9 | 71.4 73 59 3.34 July A fale 26 | 74.1 | 86.3 | 89.7 | 71.5 | 18 2 | 68 5 | 77.8 84. 72 0.77 August ..| .20] .20] 73.6 | 84.4 7.2 | 72.6 | 14.6 | 68.0 | 72.4 81 67 2.69 September | -17 | .16 | 72.3) 81.8 | 843 | 72.6 | 11.7 | 69.5 | 73.2 93 74 11.19 October ralelo |) t-loultacO 2600 | Sh.8 | 71,9'| 9.9 | 69:7 | 73.9 90 84 16.78 November | 16] .16 | 70.2 | 83.6 | 85.0 | 68 9 | 16.1 | 66.6 | 72.2 90 67 7.36 December See eso fy -he NOGean || Slew - 65.6 — | 62.3 | 70.6 87 71 1.35 1893. | January oe) 020] .18 | 64.5} 81.1 | 84.7 | 61.9 | 22.8 | 60.4 | 70.1 82 69 1.18 February we, -21 | .20| 66.2 | 81.7) 86.3 | 64.0 | 22.3 | 61 6 | 68.1 87 62 1 56 March «| .2L | .20 | 67.0 | 82.8 | 87.9 | 63.1 | 24.8 | 61.3 | 65.4 82 56 0.00 Means -»5| 29.19/29.19 | 70.4 | 82.4 | 859 | 68.6 | 17.6 | 65.5 | 71.3 84 67 67.22 +-—+- —~ Total, Mean 77°4 | J re PA.iad, crit AS rai ry * s ' be _ ~ ae ee. > = ee 4 —_) bn as 16 enw af Bh OLHIR mene: 2 > = %. 33 INDEX TO BULLETINS NOS. 39-50. Agriculture, Training in, 50 (13) Alfalfa, 41 (4), 43. (6) “for worn out Coffee land, 50(16) Annatto, 39 (19) Anthistiria ciliata, Linn., 40 (4) Avea in Parishes between 2,000 & 4,500 feet, 50 (16) Arrowroot, 39 (19) Aspidiotus, 40 (8) Asplenium, 46 (7) “ abscissum,, Willd., 47 (6) « alatum, H.B.K., 48 (8) “ anisophyllum, Kunze, 47 (7) “ auriculatum, Linn., 47 (7) “ cultrifolium, Linn., 47 (6) « dentatum, Linn. 47 (6) “ dimidiatum, Sw. 49 (7) « ebenum, Ait. 48 (8) “ faleatum, Linn. 49 (6) “ formosum, Willd. 46 (8. “« harpeodes, Kunze, 49 (6) « hastatum, Kl. 48 (8) ** _jamaicense, Jenm. 47 (6) « laetum, Sw. 48 (8) « — Junulatum, Sw. 49 (6) “ monanthemum, Linn, 46 (8) * obtusifolium, Linn. 47 (7) « parvulum, Mart. & Gal. 46 (8) « pteropus, Kunze, 48 (8) « pumilum, Sw. 46 (7) « ~ salicifolum, Linn. 47 (7) « serratum, Linn. 46 (8) « Trichomanes, Linn 46 (8) Asterolecanium, 40 (8) Attacus, 48 (4) Aulacaspis, 40 (8) Bananas, 89 (19) « Manures, 43 (4) « Notes on, 49 (2)' Bath Garden, 39 (23), 50 (10) Bay Rum, 39 (19) Bean Weevil, 47 (3), 48 (4) Bee-Keeping, Improved, for small settlers, 41 (4) Begonias, Tuberous-rooted, Directions for Grow- ing, 47 (5) Bitter Wood, 39 (19) Blechnum, 44 (5) “ longifolium, H.B.I. 44 (5) “ occidentale, Linn. 44 (5) « — serrulatum, Rich., 44 (6) « —_unilaterale, Willd. 44 (5) « volubile, Kaulf. 44 (6) Bones as Manure, 44 (4) Bowrey, Mr. J. J., on Banana Manure, 43 (4) Bruchus, 48 (4), 47 (3) Budding Oranges, 48 (6) Bunyard, G., ou Oranges, 42 (4) Cajanus indicus, Insect Enemy of, 48 (3) Canes, Report on infested sugar, 40 (5) Carbon disulphide as a remedy against insects in grain, &., 47 (3), 48 (4) Cashaw for Railway sleepers, 50 (20) Cassava, 39 (19) Cassava Grater, 47 (4) Castleton Garden, 39 (5), 50 (8) Casuarina, Insect Enemy of, 48 (3) Caterpillars, Kainit hurtful to, 40 (5) Cayman Is., Potato Weevil in, 48 (4) Cedar, as timber, 50 (20) Ceroplastes, 40 (7) Ceylon, Cocoa curing in, 41 (2) Ceylon Cocoa Drying House, 41 (2) Chionaspis, 40 (9) Chutney, 46 (7) Cigar Beetle, 49 (5) Cigars, 39 (25) Cinchona Febrifuge 50 (6) Cinnamon, 39 (20) Clove, 40 (4) Clovers for worn out Coffee land, 50 (16) Coccidee, or Scale Insects, 46 (2), 46 (2) Coccus, 40 (7) Cockerell, T. D. A., on Coccide or Scale Insects, 40 (7), 46 (2) « ce on infested Sugar Canes, 40 (5) Cocoa, 39 (20) « — eured at Hope School, 41 (8) “curing in Ceylon, 41 (2) « — Drying House in Ceylon, 41 (2), 48 (3) Coco-Nuts, 39 (20) Coco-Nut Butter, 45 (3) Coffee, 39 (20), 50 (14) “ attacked by slugs, 40 (5) “ _ eultivation of, Increase in, 50 (14 “ exports of, from 1774 to 1892, 50 (14) « in Brazil, 50 (16) “ in Guatemala, 50 (14) « —_Jands worn out, 50 (16) « Leaf Fungi, 40 (5) « Parchment, 44 (3), 46 (5) Cola, 39 (20) Colonial Botanical Departments, Work of, 39 (5) Conchaspis, 40 (9) Cork, Henry, on Bananas, 43 (4), 49 (2) Corn, Imported, 39 (21) Cultural Exports and Imports, 39 (19) Cylas, 48 (4) Cynthia Silk Worm, 48 (4) Cyphomandra betacea, 40 (4) Cyrtomerus, 48 (5) Dactylopius, 40 (7), 46 (2, 3, 4,) “« calceolarize, Maskell, 40 (6) Diaspis, 40 (8) Diatrza saccharalis, Fabr. 47 (5) Disease on Leaves of Coffee, 40 (5) Dragon’s Blood Tree of the W. Indies, 45 (2), 47 (2) Drying House, Cocoa, in Ceylon, 41 (2) Ebony, West Indian, 39 (21) Elevations of the Island of Jamaica, 39 (14) Erinose growths due to Mites, 48 (5) Eucalyptus, 39 (26) « plants, distribution of, 50 (4), 19 « ~ resinifera, Sw., 45 (2) Eugenia caryophyllata, Thunb, 40 (4) Ferns of Jamaica, 40-49. Fibre, 39 (21) Florinia, 40 (9) Flowering Plants of Jamaica, 46 (7) Fluckiger, Prof., on Dragon’s Blood, 47 (2) Fodder Plants at Hill Garden, 50 (5) Foreign Students in the Gardens, 39 (18) Forestry, 50 (19) Free Grants of Plants, Reports on, 50 (21) Fuchsias, Directions for growing, 47 (5) Fungi on Coffee, 40 (5) Fustic, 39 (21) Gardener’s Chronicle on Dragon’s Blood, 47 (2) « Training of, 50 (138) Ginger, 39 (21), 50 (17) 34 Ginger, Curing, 50 (17) «Prices for, in different Parishes, 50 (17) Gloxinias, Directions for growing, 47 (5) Grapes, Description of, 42 (2) Grape Vine, Cultivation of, Instruction in; 39 (2), 40 (6), 41 (3) “6 “Plants, Distribution of, 42 (2) Grubs injuring roots, 48 (5) Grubs injuring Strawberry Plants, 48 (3) Gungoo bons Insect Enemy of, 48 (8) Hanbury, T., on Oranges, 42 (4) Harris, W., on Potato Cultivation, 49 (2) Harvard University, Students from, 39 (18) Head-Quarters, Question of Locality for, 30 (15) Herbarium, 39 (16) Hill Garden, 39 (7), 50 (4) Hooker, Sir J. D., on Timbersupply in Jamaica, 50 (19) Hooper, E., on Forests of Jamaica, 50 (19) Hope Gardens, 39 (8), 50 (1) ' Hope Industrial School, Cocoa cured at, 41 (3) Icerya, 40 (7), 46 (2) Industrial School at Hope, 39 (17), 50 (13) Insects in Grain, Peas, &c., 47 (3), 48 (4) Ischnaspias, 40 (9) Jenman, G. 8., on Jamaica Ferns, 40-49 Juniper as Timber, 50 (21) Kainit hurtful to Caterpillars and Snails, 40 (5) Kangaroo Grass, 40 (4) Kew, Connection of, with Colonial Botanic Gar- dens, 39 (6) King’s House Garden and Grounds, 39 (11) 50 (10) Kingston Public Gardens, 39 (13) 50 (9) Lagos, Apprentices from, 39 (18) Lancewood Spars, 39 (22) Lasioderma serricorne, 49 (5) Lecanium, 40 (5) Lemon-growing in California, 48 (6) Lemons, Curing, 58 (5) Lignum-Vitz, 39 (22) Lime-juice, 39 (29), 45 (6) Limes, 39 (22) « Curing, 48 (5) Logwood, care of 50 (20) « Export of, 39 (22) Lomaria, 43 (6) “ attenuata, Willd., 43 (7) « Boryana, Willd., 43 (8) « — Féeui, Jenm., 43 (7) « [/Herminieri, Bory, 43 (7) « — Plumieri, Desv., 48 (7) « procera. Spreng, 43 (8) « onocleoides, Spreng, 43 (7) Lonchitis, 40 (10) « aurita, Linn, 40 (10) Lucerne, 41 (4), 48 (6) Macfadyen, Dr., on Yam Bean, 44 (4) Mahogany in Jamaica, 50 (20) Mangoes, 39 (20) Mangoes, Profitable Uses of, 45 (3), 46 (7) Manures, 44 (4) « for Bananas, 43 (4) Margarodes, 40 (7) Massee, George, on Sugar Cane Diseases, 45 (5) Mealy Bug, 46 (2, 3, 4) Measurements of Trees, 39 (26) Medicago sativa, Linn., 41 (4), 48 (6) Moore, Rev. T. W., on Oranges, 42 (5) Morris, D. on Oranges, 42 (3) Museum, Notes from, 48 (3), 49 (5) Mytilaspis, 40 (8) Naphthaline Powder as a remedy against in- sects, 47 (3) Napoleona imperialis, 40 (4) Nutmegs, 39 (23) Nutmegs on Male Trees, 47 (5) Oncideres, 48 (3) > Onion Seed, 45 (8) Onions, Reports on, 50 (22) Oranges, Budding, 42 (3), 48 (6) “Early, 42 (2) “Exports of, 39 (23) “trees attacked by slugs, 40 (5) Orthezia, 40 (8) Pachyrhizus tuberosus, Spreng, 44 (4) Parchment Coffee, 44 (3). 46 (5) Parletoria, 40 (8) Peach Trees distributed, 50 (6) Peas and Beans, Exports of, 39 (23) Peas, Experiments in the Cultivation of, 40 (2) “ results obtainedin Cultivation of, 50 (4) Pelargoniums, Directions for growing, 47 (5) Pelleza, 40 (9) “ geranizfolia, Fée, 40 (9) Pellicularia Koleroga, Cooke, 40 (5) Pests of Orange and Peach Trees 44 (5) Phaseolus nanus, Weevils in, 48 (4), 47 (3) Phytoptus, 48 (5) Pimento, 39 (23) “Borer, 48 (4) Pine Apples, 39 (23) Pinnaspis, 40, (9) Plagiogyria, 40 (9) « piserrata Matt., 40 (10) Planchonia, 40 (8) Plum, Jamaica, or Tree Tomato, 40 (4) Potato, Notes on Cultivation of, 49 (2) «« Experiments in Cultivation of, 43 (2) 44 (2), 45 (2), 46 (4), 48 (2) «Weevil, 48 (4) Pot-plants, Directions for growing, 47 (5) Preepodes, 43 (3) Pseudoparlatoria, 40 (8) Pteris, 40 (10) “ — aculeata, Sw,, 41 (7) « —_ aquilina, Link, 42 (8) “ biaurita, Linn., 41 (6) “ pulbifera, Jenm., 42 (6) “ _ eretica, Linn., 40 (11) «« deflexa, Link., 42 (8) “ gigantea, Willd., 42 (7) « grandifolia, Linn , 40 (11) «heterophylla, Linn., 42 (7) *« incisa Thunb., 42 (7) «“ _Kunzeana, Agardh, 41 (7) «“ — Jaciniata, Willd., 42 (7) “longifolia, Linn., 40 (11) « — longipinnula, Wallich, 41 (6) « mutilata. Linn., 41 (5) “ pedata, Linn., 40 (11) «« podophylla, Sw. 41 (7) «« quadriaurita, Retz, 41 (6) « Swartziana, Agardh, 42 (6) « viscosa, Moore, 42 (8) Pterocarpus Draco, Linn , 45 (2), 47 (3) «* erinaceus, Poir., 45 (2) «“ Marsupium, Roxb, 45 (2), 47 (3) ‘ santalinus, Linn., 45 (2) Pulvinaria, 40 (8) Quinine in America, 47 (4) Railway sleepers, Cashaw for, 50 (20) Red Pea, Weevil in, 48 (4), 47 (8) 35 Report of Director of Public Gardens and Planta- | Syme, Geo., on Oranges, 42 (5) tions for 1891-92, 39 Report of Director of Public Gardens and Planta- tions for 1892-93, 50 Rice, 39 (24) Rivers, T. F., on Oranges, 42 (4) Roots injured by grubs, 48 (5) Rum, 39 (24) Scale Insects, 40 (7), 46 (2) Sisal Hemp in the Bahamas, 48 (2) Sisal Hemp Machines, 48 (3), 48 (2) « «plantation at Hope, 39 (9, 10) Situation of Botanic Gardens in Jamaica, 39 (13) Slugs attacking Coffee and Orange trees, 40 (5) Snails, Kainit hurtful to, 40 (5) Stilbum flavidum, Cooke, 40 (5) Strawberry Plants, Grub injuring, 48 (3) Stylopyga antillarum, Brunner, 40 (5) Sugar, 39 (24) *« Cane Disease, 48 (5), 45 (5) “ Canes, Report on infested, 40 (5 Tachardia, 40 (8) Tea, 39 (24) Thompson, W., on Grape Vines, 40 (6), 41 (3) Ticks, Sheep Dip for, 43 (3) Timber Trees, 45 (4), 50 (19) Tobacco, 39 (25) « Beetle, 49 (5) “« Seed, Havana, 48 (2) Townsend, C. H. T., Notes from Museum, 48 (3), 49 (5) Tree WA or Jamaica Plum, 40 (4) Trichospheeria sp., 45 (5) Trimen, Dr. H., on Cocoa, 41 (2) ff " on Yam Bean, 44 (4) Trullula sacchari, Ellis & Everhart, 40 (6) Vine, Instruction in the Cultivation of, 39 (12), 40 (6), 41 (3) “« — Disbudding and Stopping, 41 (4) « Planting Young, 41 (3) Vinsonia, 40 (8) Yam Bean, 44 (4) ( Superphosphate of Lime, Retrogradation of, 44 (4) | Yams, 39 (25) ; : Le B bogie) orgs OR) Oly -obital ry eae oR ky, (8S) OR aibre doa kh) 1) 6 es (ESOS nol Laan VE moet sa ies ali bik Goose lore ie AB) YY fade Tr tedpail | OS) GS oogado'l | (G) 0. oll ae ae (S).eh ssn 50 (3 b (Vy 8b 40) eb Sesh: (OB eG ego ey corneal Pi Ug (82) 06 ear ERED sk Atos (S) Of 2867) op tor) Dire (3) Oh we (s p Ob Her, an bia FE ) Sb gnven( ae dite) het O)OB AMAL: ou * . a ; = it f ry ; fa) Gh Hs rome j y BR 138 mun | (ead at est boty (68) O8 2orof | (BY 8D Beanie Tgontask Rey ol ws en ™ ’ * | % a. ¥ -4 . a * Ae ae ph. tee & i tp iy ee ow? “ah Tae é ae Sibel’ * o 4 (Si) Ae 1 ii¥are ca ae i : hd hij ved Ape rs: : a]