250 GARDENS AND ORANGE GROUNDS OF ST. MICHAEL'S, 



in the island, nevertheless there are some trees of it fourteen 

 feet high and nearly as niucli in diameter. This capital little 

 Orange has lately been exported to England, where it realizes a 

 higher price than the common St. Michael's. The largest Orange- 

 tree I measured was thirty feet high, the stem being seven feet 

 in circumference at the base. The produce of the trees is almost 

 incredible ; props are ahvays used to prevent the weight of fruit 

 from breaking down the branches. I was told by Senhor Jacintho 

 Victor Vieyra, a gentleman on whose veracity I could depend, 

 that an orange-tree in the quinta of the Barao das Laranjeiras 

 produced twenty large boxes of oranges, each box containing 

 upwards of a thousand fruit. On telling Senhor Vieyra of the 

 large tree I had measured, he assured me that in the garden of 

 the Barao (who was the father of Orange growers in the island) 

 many larger trees had been cut down, having been destroyed by 

 the coccus, which attacks old trees first. 



In the Orange grounds of the wealthy a small portion is gene- 

 rally devoted to flower gardening and ornamental shrubs ; some- 

 times surrounding their casinho, or in a remote part of the quinta, 

 sheltered on every side from the winds. It is in these places fine 

 specimens of exotic plants are to be found. In a quinta belonging 

 to the Visconde da Praya, at Roche do Cao, are two plants, 

 DracEena draco and arborea; the former has a clear stem, 

 twenty feet high, with a large spreading top ; the stem was six 

 feet in circumference, and nearly the same in thickness to the 

 top — D. arborea was forty feet high. In another quinta belong- 

 ing to the same nobleman, in the centre of a circular Camellia 

 garden, was the best plant of Pandanusodoratissiraus 1 have seen. 

 Much of the fine eftect that might be expected in a large Orange- 

 garden is destroyed by the quantity of shelters that intersect the 

 gardens, yet they possess delightful walks and avenues of Pitto- 

 sporum, and are, on the whole, very enjoyable. Two hundred 

 ship-loads of Oranges are annually exported from St. Michael's, 

 being nearly two hundred thousand boxes. 



P.S. — I observe that I have omitted to describe the Caiota, 

 (Sechium edule, or Sicyos edulis.) 



This interesting and valuable plant was introduced to St. 

 Michael's from Madeira — I believe it to be the Sechium edule 

 of Jamaica. It is perennial, and from October to February bears 

 abundance of its delicious culinary fruit. It is esteemed by the 

 Portuguese beyond their native Cabbage, and that speaks volumes 

 in its favour. 



The substance of the Caiota is much firmer before and when 

 cooked than tliat of the Vegetable Marrow ; its taste partakes of 



