72 



We find great difficulty in propagating this plant, but after 

 repeated trials, we have succeeded in securing a few plants. One of 

 the difficulties met with, is one which can hardly be appreciated until 

 the cause is known. Cuttings put in under ordinary conditions look 

 well for a time, begin to grow, and suddenly collapse. This result, 

 after many experiments was found to be due to the fact that certain 

 insects fed upon the callus produced at the base of the cutting, and 

 consequently not being able to produce roots, the cutting withered 

 away. 



Not only is this the case Avith the Bongainvillea ; but it is 

 especially so with the Rose and other plants. We have succeeded at 

 last — by placing the cuttings inside a water guard — thus excluding 

 insects and we now find that cuttings are raised as easily in our 

 Gardens as elsewhere. 



By "water guard" is meant a structure which is completely 

 surrounded by a small canal of water or moat, like the old castles of 

 ancient history. In some places such an arrangement is called an 

 "anti-formica" as it is used as protection for plants against the 

 parasol ant. 



143— THE TRANSPORTATION AND VITALITY OP SEEDS. 



After many years experience in the harvesting, growing and 

 transporting of West Indian seeds and a similar lengthy experience 

 in growing seeds received here from both Tropical and Temperate 

 climes ; it has been found that it is impossible to keep seeds, for any 

 length of time under the climatic conditions which prevail for the 

 greater part of the year in Trinidad. In our dryest season, February, 

 March and April, seeds keep fairly well, but during the wet months 

 they deteriorate rapidly, and soon lose their vitality. 



From some correspondents the seeds we receive almost invariably 

 germinate, with others, the opposite is the case. 



I am confident that in the latter instance this arises from keeping 

 the seeds in stock too long after ripening and not from any fault of 

 the seeds themselves. 



Some seeds, such as those of Cola, Cacao, Castilloa, &c., can 

 only be sent when newly ripened, and packed to germinate during 

 transit — others are more hardy and if sent fresh into a temperate and 

 dry climate will keep longer there (in a temperature of about 60°. 

 Fah. in a dry drawer) than they would in the place where they were 

 grown. 



