11 
(the Bhododendrom of South America) and other ericoid shrubs, 
with some suffruticose Syngenesia and a few conspicuous Melas- 
tomace(B, compose the principal vegetation. The last plant of 
any size seen near the snow, is a robust Syngenesia, which is 
esteemed highly medicinal; here and there grew also patches of 
a showy Lupine, some kinds of Geranium, and, in swampy 
spots, an Osmunda, several Carices, and a striking Pinguicida, 
reminding me of our P. grandiflora, with fohage of the same 
glistening and icy-cold nature. The plants that vegetated highest 
up were a conspicuous species of Alypium, and, along the margin 
of perpetual snow, a Primula ; which I should have much liked 
to gather in bloom. Many other plants were seen upon the 
Sierra, but not in sufficient abundance to form any feature in the 
landscape. I found in rocky spots a striking Echeveria ; a neat, 
but not conspicuous Daphne ; one species of Fuchsia, and two 
of Berberis, with a strong and rather rare Passion-flower, a 
Tropaolum, several Ardisics, an Ilex, and a Cratfsgus, &c. 
On my return hither two days ago, I received your and Mr. 
Smith’s letters, announcing the arrival of my first box of plants 
from Sta. Martha: sorry I am that some of the contents had 
perished. I am now convinced that it is a faulty plan to pack 
Orchidece (finally) shortly after they are gathered; which I did 
with all my Jamaica plants, and with the box in question from 
Sta. Martha. I have observed that after carrying plants in open 
airy baskets for a week or two, the oldest bulbs of the Orchidece 
commonly perish: thus it must be advisable to ascertain their 
state before sending them away. When I arrived at Rio de la 
Hacha, I found, in the four boxes just despatched, that there 
was a full bushel of dead and broken rubbish : if this had been 
allowed to remain in consequence of the packages having been 
closed, it must have destroyed many more plants; and to a 
similar process of unexamined decay, I attribute my previous 
failures. 
I am anxious to hear how the roots of Achimenes have borne 
the journey; in order that I may yet secure more if desirable, for 
I know of a station where three species grow, on the mountains 
above Sta. Martha; one of which i believe is not in cultivation. 
Every inquiry has been made, since I came into Columbia, with 
a view to obtaining intelligenee of the Palo de Vacca (Cow-tree), 
but I can hear nothing of it. The Phytelephas (Vegetable Ivory 
Palm) is procurable at Sta. Martha, the nuts being brought 
from the province of Maraquita; but I am not so sure of their 
freshness: therefore, in the absence of further directions from 
you about my movements, I think of ascending the Magdalena, 
