GARDENS AND OllANGE GROUNDS OF ST. MICHAEL'S. 245 



of the Bignonia contrasted with masses of the delicate blue 

 flowers of the Ipomoea was a sight not easy to be forgotten. 

 Passion flowers, Bugainvillea, Clematises, AVistaria, Honeysuckles, 

 Pergularia, Periploca, Jasmines, Lophospernium, Maurandyas, 

 Dolichos, Phaseolus, all impart a charm when trimly trained 

 against trellised walls or climbing up the sides of rockworlv or 

 dead branches placed in the ground for tiiat purpose. Among 

 herbaceous plants I would point out Hedychiums, Canna^, 

 Alpinia nutans, Strelitzias, Heliconia, Cycas revoluta, Calla 

 Eethiopica, Bletia Tankervillia and hyacinthina, Begonias, Lilies, 

 Amaryllis, Ixias, and Tritonias. Of these the Amaryllis bella- 

 donna is the Daffodil of St. Micliael's ; though not a native of the 

 island, it is so thoroughly spread over it that every road-side is 

 quite gay with it in spring. 



Most of our herbaceous plants and annuals grow well. Dahlias 

 flower from July till Christmas. The only native fruits of St. 

 Michael's are a Vaccinium and a wild Alpine Strawberry. At 

 the present time, besides Oranges, there are numerous Apples, 

 Pears, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Figs, Grapes, and 

 Strawberries, wliich all do well under proper treatment ; Goose- 

 berries and Currants will not grow. Of exotic fruits there are 

 three kinds of Guava (Psidlum pyriferum, polycarpon, and 

 Cattleyanum, the two last-named being the best) ; the Custard 

 apple (Anona cherimolia), whose fruit is much liked by some; 

 the Date Plum (Diospyros lotus, Kaki, and Virginicus: the former 

 only has proiluced fruit, which, when first put into the mouth, 

 has an agreeable taste, but it immediately becomes so astringent 

 as to render it unfit to be eaten). Jambosa vulgaris (Rose Apple) 

 produces a quantity of fruit not very desirable. The Pomegranate 

 (Punica granatum) bears freely. All the difterent kinds of 

 Granadilla bear abundance of fruit, which is much esteemed by 

 the Portuguese. The Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is only second 

 to the Orange, being noble in appearance, and frequently outri- 

 valling the Orange tree in size, while its branches are laden with 

 delicious rich golden fruit in April and May, when the Oranges 

 are all sent to England. The Loquat is the only fruit of its 

 season, and in the opinion of many it is superior to an Orange. 

 Physalis edulis has become wild ; it is found in every hedge-row, 

 and is much used for preserving. Musa paradisiaca, sapientum, 

 Cavendishii, abound in every part where there is a valley or 

 shelter for them. The fruit is seldom left to riperj on the plants, 

 it being found more convenient to cut them and hang them up in 

 a room, where they are quickly matured by the aid of a little sweet 

 oil put in a small hole cut in the end of the stalk. 



We had the Lee-chee (Euphoria litchi), Longan, the Akee 

 (Blighia sapida), Manimee tree (M. americana), the Wampee 



