109 



They have fruited on but three occasions (luring the incumbencj 

 of the present Superintendent (17 years) and ii is some years since 

 the lasl I'ruif was produced. 



The trees flowered during the "dry season" and showery weal he I 

 having prevailed during that period, it is considerable probable that 

 the crop of fruit, is owing to this occurrence. 



The fruit produced was small in quantity, but excellent in 

 quality, and a good supply of plants have been raised from the seed. 



633 -A LARGE BANANA. 



On one of the "Cacao Contracts at the Government estate at 

 Diego Martin plants of Musa CavendisMi or Chinese Banana, are 

 grown as shade. 



One of the plants it appears " fell upon good ground and brought 

 forth abundantly," — as Mr. J. C. Augustus, the officer in charge, was- 

 able to send down a bunch of thirteen hands, many of which had ovei 

 twenty fingers. The total weight of the bunch, as sent down to this 

 office from the estate was 1341bs. The bunch was over 3 feet in length 

 and the diameter was some 18 inches. 



This kind of Banana is known in Trinidad as Figue Govemeur 

 or Governor Fig. It is known in Jamaica as Chinese Banana and else- 

 where as Cavendish or Canary Island Banana. 



The Trinidad Legislature has recently voted a special sum for the 

 maintenance of a Banana Nursery and Experiment plot at River Estate. 



634.-PACHIRA AQUATICA, Aublt. 



This tree is a common one in the forests and margins of lagoons 

 in Trinidad. In the interior it is known " as Cacao Maron" or wild cacao, 

 and has been brought to us as a new species of Cacao on more than one 

 occasion. An instance was recorded in Bulletin, Vol. Ill, Article 248, 

 of July, 1897. In that article the tree was recorded as Pachira 

 insignis, Sav. There are two species in Trinidad P. aquatica, Aublt, 

 and P. insignis, Sav. which having been referred by the Demerara 

 Authorities and these gardens, to the Herbarium Authorities of Royal 

 Gardens, Kew ; it has been determined that the names have been 

 transposed. The wild cacao must in future therefore be P. aquatica 

 and the larger species P. insignis. Both trees produce large seeds 

 which are known as chdtaigne or chesnut, and are eaten roasted or 

 boiled by the peasantry. 



635.-BOMBAX EMARGINATUM, Bene. 



Many travellers make the mistake of calling all the " Silk Cotton" 

 trees Bombax. The Common West Indian cotton is however produced 

 by a tree known as Eriodendron anfractuosum, D.C., which is a very 

 large tree with peculiar buttresses at the base of the stem, which may 

 be seen lying exactly beneath, and acting as a support for the large 

 horizontal branches. 



