A BOTANICAL STATION IN TROPICAL MEXICO. 7 



fully studied. In view of the recent progress in plant breeding it 

 is expected that the qualities peculiar to the rubber tree can be 

 considerably improved under cultivation, and one of the chief 

 objects of the station is to experiment in this direction. 



It would be difficult to find a more ideal spot for such a station. 

 The plantation is situated on the lowlands at the foot of the Sierra 

 Madre, about twelve miles from the Pacific ocean and sixty miles 

 from the Guatemala border, in the midst of a magnificent tropical 

 forest. This forest is one of the chief attractions of the station. 

 Great palms and giant forest trees grow here, so twined about 

 and interlaced with lianas and epiphytes as to almost entirely 

 hide the trunks from view — in fact, the trees as such seem to 

 lose their identity, leaves and branches assuming queer and 

 startling shapes. And the beauty of it all is that a five-minutes 

 walk will bring one right into the midst of it. Then, too, it takes 

 but a few hours' travel to pass from the forest to the low, swampy 

 lands, covered with a luxuriant growth of high grass, called by 

 the natives camaloic ; or in the other direction, up wild mountain 

 trails to an elevation of over 7,000 feet. In the dense forest cover- 

 ing of these mountains the daintier terrestrial ferns grow in pro- 

 fusion ; rocks and logs are covered with lichens, mosses and 

 ferns ; and orchids and bromelias are everywhere. Here, as many 

 as thirty different species of epiphytes have been counted growing 

 on one tree. Among the ferns numbers of species of Aspleninm, 

 Gymnogrmnme, Polypodiiiiii, BlccJiiiiini, and Pfcris have been seen. 

 Of the climbing plants the most common seem to be different 

 species of Ipoinoca. These with Begonias and bi-lobed Bauhinias 

 grow in wild, bewildering profusion. This is a veritable paradise 

 for a collector and it is to be regretted that there is no special 

 assistant connected with the institution for that work. As it is, 

 collecting is done when time can be spared from the more pressing 

 work of the station. 



The station building is equipped with all of the varied apparatus 

 necessary for experimental work along many different lines. 

 There is a chemical laboratory, with sloping cement floor, a dark 

 room for photographic work, a plant-physiological room, a library, 

 and a room for one assistant. To the rear of this is another, and 



