BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 117 



mily." It is certainly the most beautiful little tree I ever saw; it 

 never exceeds in height eighteen inches, and the natives use it to thatch 

 their houses, and make hats, fans, and mats from the leaves. I could 

 easily send you this Palm in a Ward's case. 



In Ferns and Mosses we are very rich. I am not learned enough 

 to give you the names, but our mountains abound in them ; and I am 

 told by the best botanist in the island that there are many of a rare 

 and valuable description, not found elsewhere. We have them of all 

 sizes, from the giant Fern, growing on a stem thirty feet in height, to 

 the dwarf. Mrs. Robinson is a great collector of Ferns, and if you 

 will supply her with a large book of the proper kind of paper, she will 

 be most happy to make you a collection of both Ferns and Mosses. 

 The great fault in all the specimens I have seen here is, that they lose 

 their beautiful natural colour ; this might perhaps be obviated by 

 proper paper. 



No language can describe the beauty of some of our mountain-rides 

 in the neighbourhood of Mount Misery ; the Ceiba-tree and the Fig, 

 and numberless others, covered with Orchids, Wild Pines, Creepers, and 

 Parasites, in the greatest profusion. We have one beautiful creeper, 

 which completely covers the tree upon which it grows, and is one mass 

 of purple blossoms : it is called the Purple Wreath ; and some beauti- 

 ful varieties of the Ipomcea, Aristolochia, Convolvulus, Solandra, etc. 

 etc. The Frangipani-tree grows wild in part of this island, upon the 

 shores of a salt pond, and there are several varieties, white, pink, red, 

 etc. : I do not know if you would consider them of any value. The 

 Patchouli plant grows in Nevis : I could send you some of it if you 



wished. 



We have the Croton variegatum in almost every garden, and the 

 Variegated Pine-apple: the latter very ornamental, but the fruit far 

 inferior to the Black Antigua Pine. I could send you plants of the 

 Croton variegatum if you would wish for them ; and I dare say some 



of the Pine-apple also. 



The Earth Nut, or Ground Nut, is successfully cultivated here, but 

 only for home consumption ; we might however grow any quantity of 

 it if we were sure of a market. What price will the article bring in 

 England ? We do not know anything of the Sesamum, at least by that 

 name: what is it? Indigo is indigenous, and grows wild in every 

 hedgerow. The Annatto (Bixa Orellana) is very common ; the seeds 



