47 



view of throwing the strength of the plant into its vegetative organs, 

 so as to produce wood which will afford a more abundant supply of 

 bloom in the folloAving season. 



119.-YAMS. 



Our crop of yams was harvested in February, and the results 

 were nearly equal to last year's return. Last year our return was 

 0*68 lbs. per square foot or thirteen tons to the acre, Avhile this year 

 our return stands 0*63 lbs. per square foot which is slightly less. 



In addition to the Barbados " Water Yam," which was the 

 variety groAvn last year, we have been successful in procuring several 

 other varieties from Jamaica, St. Vincent and Demerara, some of 

 which have proved of excellent quality and far superior to the Water 

 Yam. The varieties aie named as follows : — "Negro Yam," "Yellow 

 Yam," "Afoo or Afou Yam," Horn Yam," "Buck Yam," " Cush- 

 Cush," " Snake Yam," " Barbados White Yam," " Dominica Yam," 

 " Devil Yam," and one or two other unnamed varieties. The heaviest 

 weight of "Negro Yam" — one root — was 30| lbs. "Yellow Yam" 

 gave roots weighing II lbs.; "Afou" 14 lbs., and "Devil Yam" 

 20 lbs. to 25 lbs. The "Buck Yam" is an excellent variety and 

 splendid for table, but does not yield a heavy return. The " Yellow 

 Yam," which is the same as the " Dominica Yam," yields an excellent 

 table dish. The "Negro" and "Barbados White Yam," the "Horn 

 Yam" and the " Snake Yam" proved to be of excellent quality, and 

 superior in many respects to those commonly grown in Trinidad. It 

 is intended to extend the notes upon this subject in a future number 

 when the question of the nomenclature of the various kinds will be 

 fully discussed. At present for convenience, the various kinds are 

 termed varieties, but there are three if not more distinct species 

 included under this term. A plant received during the year under 

 the name of Dioscorea sj). proves to be a yam of poor quality common 

 here under the name of " Cut and throw away." In common with 

 several other varieties, it produces ajrial tubers on the vines generally 

 from two to four inches in diameter. 



120.-THE GARDENS ORDINANCE. 



The Royal Botanic Gardens Ordinance of 1S94 has given power 

 to make Rules and Regulations for the proper management of the 

 Gardens. 



