500 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF [NoV. , 



cultivated valleys, great changes have been worked in the flora. 

 The indigenous plants have been slowly replaced by introductions 

 from tropical and temperate climes. 



A. typical valley which has been modified by human agency was 

 visited by the writer near the town of Cape Haitien, on the north 

 coast of the island. A description of the flora of this valley will 

 serve to illustrate the influence of cultivation upon the primitive 

 surroundings. The ravine in question is situated just back of the 

 town of Cape Haitien, between the mountain of the cape and the 

 main range to the south and southwest. A mountain stream of 

 limpid water runs down through the depression, and a bridle path 

 winds its way to the top of the hills overlooking the sea. Both 

 banks of the brook are covered with arborescent vegetation, except 

 where the gardens of houses are found, or where banana plantations 

 are made. The following trees are met in the rich soil of the 

 valley: The bread-fruit, Artocarpus incisa Linn. ; the star-apple, 

 Chrysophyllum eainito Linn. ; the mango, Mangijera indica Linn. ; 

 the banana, Musa sapientum Linn. ; the bamboo, Bambusa 

 vulgaris Schrad. ; the coffee, Coffea arahica Linn. : the guava, 

 Fsidium guajava Ijiun.; the trumpet tree, Cecropia peltata Linn.; 

 the chocolate, Theohroma cacao Linn. ; the alligator pear, Persea 

 gratisdma Gaertn. The banana fields are planted on the steep 

 declivities and consist of a pure growth without the admixture of 

 coffee plants and chocolate shrubs. Along the roadside are found 

 the following : Adiantamjiedatwn Linn., Asp/eniuni jjeUucidum (f), 

 Argemone mexicana Liun., Lepidium virginieum Linn., Mimosa 

 jmdica Linn., Momordka cliarantia Linn., Hibiscus trilobus Aubl. 



An occasional small maize field is interspersed with banana 

 plantations. The gardens of the houses along these roads are not 

 rich in species or in showy plants. Most of them sufier from 

 neglect. There is an apparent poverty of decorative plants and a 

 great uniformity is noticeable in the garden plants of adjacent 

 properties. A list of a few garden plants may here be given : 

 Musa sapientHm Linn., Hibiscus esculentus Linn., H. sabdariffa 

 Linn., Lycopersicum esculentum Mill., Solanum melongena Linn., 

 Cucurbita pej)o Linn., Gynandropsis pentaphylla D. C, Capsicum 

 annuum Linn., C baccatum Linn., Zingiber officinale Rose, 

 Dioscorea alata Linn., Punica granatum Linn., Fragaria vesca 

 Linn. 



