Scientific Travellers. 351 



which they would have done had not a trench been dug and the 

 main roots cut across in that direction. The stem is densely covered 

 in some parts, and more sparingly in others, with very large spines, 

 which are from an inch to two inches long, and singularly hard. 

 The tree is casting its leaves at present, and the period of hyberna- 

 tion or rest is indeed short. In a few days from the time when 

 the leaves first begin to fall the whole of the glorious foliage is gone, 

 and the naked branches remind you of the winter livery of trees in 

 our northern clime ; but it may in all truth be said that the old 

 leaves are pushed off by the new ones, for as the old leaves fall the 

 buds swell, and the last leaf has not left the tree ere the new foliage 

 begins to unfold ; and as with the rapidity of an enchanter's wand, 

 winter passes away, and the beauteous livery of spring is arrayed 

 before you. Such is the process twice every year ; so what becomes 

 of the theory of the necessary rest for plants which winter periodi- 

 cally affords ? Nor do I quote a single instance ; the same biennial 

 return of autumn and spring, of seed-time and harvest, seem to be 

 common to almost every tree and shrub, so far as I have been able 

 to learn or observe. I should have mentioned, that this tree, differ- 

 ing .from most others, rarely produces fruit oftener than once in five 

 years, and then its profusion of cotton becomes a downright nuisance, 

 penetrating everywhere, and absolutely choking you with cotton 

 wool. 



" Next to the silk cotton tree grows a sandbox tree (Hum crepi- 

 tans), likewise planted about the same time, and of equal magnitude 

 with the other. It has leaves somewhat between the lime-tree (Ti- 

 lia) and the elm, with the graceful regular and depending branches 

 of the beech. 



" In the garden grows what I take to be a very rare plant here, 

 the Garcinia Mangostana, Mangosteen, which is not indigenous in the 

 colony. The tree ought to be generally introduced for the sake of 

 its fruit, which is said to be excellent. 



" I saw a wonderful branch of plantains exhibited the other day. 

 It had not arrived at maturity, but had fallen from its own weight, 

 and although mutilated by the fall and in some degree curtailed, yet 

 it weighed 112 lbs. There were about 200 plantains on the branch, 

 from eight to ten inches long, and it was estimated by skilful plantain- 

 growers, that if it had been allowed to ripen it would have weighed 

 at least 40 or 50 lbs more. The productiveness of the plantain in 

 this country certainly exceeds anything I had previously conceived. 

 A plantain- walk in bearing requires scarcely any attention beyond 

 weeding and watching. A gentleman here has fifty acres of plan- 

 tains now in progress, and he tells me that the average crop will 

 probably be 10,000 or 12,000 branches annually, which at a guilder 

 a-piece (the lowest price), equal to Is. 4c?. sterling, you will see 

 would realize a very handsome annual profit after paying all the 

 expenses. 



" Of the plants mentioned in your list I see a good many growing 

 around me in the garden and shrubbery, such as the black-eyed pea, 

 pigeon pea, buona vista pea, lemon, lime, orange, cassava, guava, 



