THE PLANT WORLD 43 



afford the \dsitor the comfort necessary in much sight-seeing. Along 

 the river bank are cool arbors amid groups of bamboo trees. This is 

 a favorite resort for picnic parties. 



At the principal gate stand guard two graceful cohune palms (At- 

 talea cohune), and nearby one of the most superbly beautiful of all trees, 

 Amlierstia nohilis, which when in flower in the spring is worth crossing 

 the ocean to see. Further on we see Norantea guianensis, climbing 

 over a large tree, and brilliant with long spikes, not of flowers but of 

 nectar-secreting bracts ; 3Iesuaferrea attracting attention by the red color 

 of the young drooping foliage ; the mangosteen, with its delicious fruits ; 

 the travelers' tree of Madagascar : Araucaria excelsa from Norfolk island 

 The palmetum contains specimens of 180 species of palms, with great 

 variety of graceful forms. The more important palms of this collection 

 are here enumerated : Areca catechu, Arenga sacharifer^a, Asfryocaryum 

 VHlgare,Attalea cohune, Carludovica gracilis, Cocosfiexuosa, Cocos nucifera, 

 Cocas plumosa, Copernicia cerifera, Diplofhemium caulescens, Elaeis 

 guineensis, Livisfona australis, L. (Jhinensis, Manicaria saccifera, Mauritia 

 Jlexuosa, Maximiliana marfiana, Oreodoxa regia, Phytelephas mia^ocarpa, 

 Raphia ruffia, Eaphia taedigera, Sabal palmetto and Thrinax parvijlora. 

 The water lily tank is also an attractive feature of the garden. 



Nearby, maintained by the United Fruit Company, is a collection of 

 cottages under the competent charge of Mrs. H. Feurtado, called Castle- 

 ton Cottages. Here desirable board and lodgings may be had by persons 

 desirous of spending some time surrounded by tropical nature. 



Hope Botanic Garden is situated in the Liguanea plain between five 

 and six miles from Kingston at the base of the hilly country, easily 

 reached by electric trolley car from the center of the capital. " The 

 plain of Liguanea is one of the dry districts, the average annual rainfall 

 at Hope being only 51.5 inches " [contrast rainfall at Castleton]. The 

 vegetation consequently presents a different aspect from the country 

 surrounding Castleton. " The plain is characterized by the presence of 

 Cactaceae, such as various species of Cereus and Opuntia. The trees 

 include Prosopis julifiora (cashaw, or the mesquite of the mainland), 

 Guiacum offiicinale (lignum vitae), Farhinsonia aculeata (Jerusalem thorn). 

 As we approach Hope, at the base of the hills, the rainfall increases from 

 38 inches in Kingston, and Catalpa longissima (the yoke wood tree), and 

 Pithecolobiam saman (the guango) occur." From being at first a small 

 nursery and an experimental ground for sugar cane, it has now devel- 

 oped into a large garden, with six acres of lawns, three and one-half 

 acres of borders, also ferneries and orchid shelters. The planted grounds 

 are extensive and planted with palms and other large trees capable of 

 withstanding the climate. The trial grounds are planted to various 

 races of sugar-cane, mangoes, chocolate, pineapples, and plants suited for 



