THE PLANT WORLD 103 



occasionally be designated as trees. In fact, the native-born Bermn- 

 dian calls every jilant a " tree " even down to a small membranous sea- 

 weed. The oleander, which was introduced into the islands about a 

 century ago, has become extensively naturalized and in some quarters 

 has taken possession of the landscape, attaining a height, sometimes, of 

 20 feet, I should say. It was in full bloom during our visit, and formed 

 a very showy and beautiful feature of the flora. 



There are said to be only two or three recorded cases of a freezing 

 temperature in the Bermudas, and by reason of the practical absence of 

 frost, the India-rubber tree, the mahogany, the logwood, etc., have been 

 acclimated with surprising success. In the open caves or sink-holes of 

 the Walsingham tract, the coffee tree or shrub has run wild and seems 

 to be perfectly naturalized. Oranges and lemons were once raised to 

 some extent for home consumption, but about fifty years ago the 

 trees were nearly all killed by the attacks of insects, and the culture of 

 citrus fruits has never been successfully resumed. Mr. Bishof), the 

 superintendent of the recently established Botanical Station, or Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, as we would call it, is now trying to con- 

 vince the farmers that with the modern methods of fighting plant dis- 

 eases, the raising of oranges and lemons may be made a source of profit. 

 The farmers now depend for their income almost entirely upon onions, 

 Easter lilies, potatoes, and American winter boarders, Wlien we con- 

 sider that the 13,000 acres, or less, comprising the area of the islands, 

 is distributed among about 16,000 inhabitants, most of whom till the 

 soil, it becomes evident that but little remains, on the average, to each 

 individual. Four acres of tillable land makes an unusually large farm. 

 Much of the land is of a kind not readily cultivated. 



Strawberries do not flourish very well, peaches get along after a 

 fashion, but apples, pears, plums, and cherries, are almost a complete 

 failure. Bananas, however, of excellent quality are raised in consider- 

 able abundance, but none as yet for export. 



There are in the islands about 25 species of ferns, nearly all of 

 which I collected. In the line of br^^ophytes, 8 mosses and 6 hepatics 

 had been reported from the Bermudas. The entire absence of any 

 brooks, streams, or springs, is a little disconcerting to one who would 

 hunt for bryophytes. Only one moss and one hei)atic are at all com- 

 mon. In order to get the others, one must go to the Devonshire Marsh, 

 where the water is scarcely brackish, and to the caves and sink-holes of 

 the Walsingham tract. It required Kttle special effort, however, to 

 gather nearly thrice the recorded number of Hepaticae and to make a 

 few additions also to the moss-list. 



The marine flora — to study which was the main object of my visit — 



