somp: eotanic gardens abroad. 1 1 < 



most pioneer plants. So it seems likely that when the branches 

 of the two trees tended to interlace those of Q. laurlfolia failed 

 to develop for lack of sufficient light. Other factors may enter 

 into the competition to some extent, but it would take consider- 

 able more study to discover them all. 



But even if we do not fully understand the ultimate causes 

 of this phenomenon, we may regard it as a graphic illustration 

 of the way in which climax vegetation is everywhere tending to 

 encroach on the territory of pioneer plants, just as in human 

 society the city continually encroaches on the country, and the 

 hunter is succeeded in turn l»y tlie lumberman, farmer manu- 

 facturer, etc. 



Coi.i,EGE Point, N. Y. 



VISITS TO SOME BOTAAnC GARDENS ABKOAD. 



By Dr. Peiir Oi.ssox-Seffer. 



(Conhnuation.) 

 V. Ctetuurtuik TjiKEu:\rEUH. 



Only a few miles from Buitenzorg, at Tjikeumeuh, is an 

 economic garden, where experiments on cultural plants are con- 

 ducted. Here we find considerable areas under such plants as 

 coifee, rnl)bcr, gutta percha, Erytliroxylon coca, cassava (Afani- 

 hot), numerous fiber plants, Cincliona, tea, and others. 



Xew varieties of coifee have l)een developed and they are 

 tried and experimented with in this economic garden. In a 

 large field there were some six hundred and odd forms of rice 

 under cultivation. Of rubl)er })lants Ilevea braziliensis is here 

 as el-;e\vhere in the Orient the most favored. The Central 

 American rubber tree {CnsiUJoa elastica) has been grown for 

 many years, and I saw some very large specimens. Ficus elas- 

 tica. the I\':ind>ong or Assam rubber, is largely grown and with 

 its numerous aerial roots assumes very grotesque shapes. Figure 

 IT showing the related species Ficus hcnjaminea closely resem- 

 bles the rambono'. 



The Mexican Acjavcs, Fouvcroya and Sansevicria zcylanica 



