115 



A short lecture will be delivered each day by the Superintendent 

 on the principles and practice of grafting. 



Between the same hours and on the same days instruction Avill 

 be given on the culture and pruning of the CoflPee tree (Coffea 

 Arahica). 



The days set apart for instruction will be the 6th, 7th, 8th ; 13th, 

 14th, loth; 20th, 21st, 22nd; 27th, 28th, 29th August, 1 p.m. 

 to 3 p.m. 



Notice should be given of the intention to attend the lectures 

 before the 6th of August. 



The crop of Coffee noAv on the trees under culture and the 

 absence of it on untreated trees affords good evidence of what may be 

 done by proper treatment and culture. 



J. H. H. 



29th July, 1895. 



Botanical Department, Trinidad. — Circular Note No. 27, 



'•' Silica'" in Grasses. 



In the Liguanea plains of Jamaica one of the most common 

 pasture grasses is that commonly known as " wire grass," and botani- 

 cally as Sporoholus Indicus. This grass is also indigenous and common 

 in Trinidad. 



In Jamaica this grass is most difficult to cut, it being next to 

 impossible to maintain an " edge" upon any tool or instrument made 

 use of for that purpose. 



In Trinidad on the other hand the same grass is cut with ease, 

 either with the scythe or other instrument. 



The true reason for these facts not being clearly recognised, 

 mature samples of both grasses were procured wdth the view of 

 having the amount of Silica in each accurately determined. 



An analysis performed at the Government Laboratory by Pro- 

 fessor Carmody gives as follows : — 



Percentage Silica. 



Sample "A" Jamaica— 4-50.— Sample "B" Trinidad— 2*69. 



This result was anticipated, and the large amount contained by 



the Jamaica sample would appear to fully indicate the reason for the 



difficulty which is experienced in cutting the grass in our sister 



island. 



