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Nurseries. 



The plants raised in the nurseries consist chiefly of limes, 

 cacao, Para rubber, vanilla, coffee, nutmegs, the best varieties 

 of grafted mangoes, and budded citrus, as well as timber and 

 other useful trees. 



The raising of plants for distribution at cheap rates forms 

 a very important part of the work of the Gardens, and one 

 which demands a good deal of the time of the staff. 



The maintenance of Government nurseries is of very 

 considerable assistance to planters, the latter being relieved of 

 the work of raising and caring for seedling plants during their 

 early stages. In the case of new settlers it enables the first 

 cleared areas to be planted at much earlier periods than would 

 otherwise be possible, thus effecting a gain in time which is 

 often of the utmost importance to the planter. 



The demand for plants continues on a large scale, and 

 involves the upkeep of a nursery area of over 5 acres in 

 extent. 



It is doubtful if the nurseries can be extended further, 

 and it is hoped that private enterprise will step in and continue 

 the work started under Government auspices. In the present 

 stage of agricultural development, a well organized nursery 

 is a necessity to the planters of the Island. 



Much work has been accomplished in the Government 

 nurseries in applying the methods of budding and grafting to 

 tropical economic plants not hitherto propagated by these 

 means. It has been shown that the important cacao plant, 

 which, until a few years ago, was exclusively propagated by 

 seed, can now be increased by either grafting or budding, and 

 these methods are now practised in the propagation of other 

 fruits such as avocados, mangoes, and all kinds of citrus 

 By these means it is possible to fix and increase any variety of 

 these plants which observation has shown to be possessed of 

 some special and desirable quality. 



