210 THE PLANT WORI.D 



built fires, hoping to induce the trees to put forth blossoms. Sometimes 

 the mangos fail to bear on this island for several years in succession. 

 The trees are hard to propagate in Guam. If the seed is not planted 

 when fresh from the fruit it will die. Seedlings do not bear transplant- 

 ing well, and the natives have no idea of grafting or in-arching. 



As we repeatedly made our way from the road to the edge of the cliff 

 and back we were much annoyed by a coarse, hispid, ill-smelling mint 

 which grows to a height of six feet or more and by a plant called 

 " batunes " by the natives {Hyptis capitata), also a labiate, with heads of 

 small flowers. At places there were thickets which had spread from old 

 boundary hedges of sappan wood (^Caesalpinia sappa7i), here called 

 " sibukao " ; " lemoncito " {.Triphasia trifoliata) \ "tubatuba," or 

 physic nut (^Jatrop/ia curcas) ; and a shrub like an acacia, with odorless 

 heads of whitish flowers {Leucaena glaiica). On the edge of the cliffs we 

 saw many "dug-dug" trees {^Artocarpus communis) , as the fertile bread- 

 fruit is here called, and a hard- wood tree called Ahgao (^Premna i?iteg- 

 rifolia), belonging to the Verbenaceae, which yields a valuable hard 

 durable wood used for construction. In open plains — abandoned fields — 

 saw scrubby growth of cassias, crotalarias, and indigo. It occurred to me 

 that these lyCguminosae must be of benefit to the soil as nitrogen storers. 

 No clover grows on the island, but there is a tiny Meibomia {,M. triflora) 

 which makes pretty patches of turf. 



Made our way gradually toward Agaiia, and at last came to a point 

 where the land begins to slope down toward the district called San 

 Antonio. Here we had a fine view of the city, the Government House, 

 and the mountains to the southward and westward beyond Agana. 

 Found a little clearing in which corn had been planted and a small hut 

 of bamboo thatched with coconut leaves. From this point there was a 

 path going down the escarpment of the mesa, like a ladder over a ship's 

 side, having life-lines of living banyan roots. Below was a luxuriant 

 growth of young coconuts. This point struck me as a fine site, and I 

 made up my mind to buy it if the owner is willing to sell it. His name, 

 I was told, is Ramon Quitugua. He has another ranch on lower land, 

 which is much more productive. This place is of very little use except 

 for raising chickens, which are said to thrive especially on account of the 

 abundance of grasshoppers and other insects in the weeds. 



On my way back descended the steep path to the road below. Home 

 and dined. After dinner the Major went with me to see the land. He 

 seemed to be very much pleased with it and expressed his admiration of 

 the view from it. The locality is called " Maite." In the evening I 

 sent for the owner, who said he had no objection to selling it. It is a 

 good place for chickens, but he said he has been unable to raise a garden, 

 as they ate up the young corn as fast as it came up. This high land is 



