101 



Irom what Dr. Perez says above it is apparent that these 

 particular Echiums are not capable of self-fertilisation when 

 grown as single isolated plants E. giganteum occurs wild in a 

 small tract oi country around Dr. Perez's home (Santa Ursula) 

 near the coast on the N*W. of Tenerife [see Kcw Bull. 1914, 

 pp. 118), whilst E. Decaisnei is confined to die island of Grand 

 ^ Canary. Dr. Perez speaks of the superficial resemblance of the 



two species; they are easily distinguished botanically, E. 

 giganteum with fairly broad leaves with minute soft a]) pressed 

 indumentum, sometimes with a few short and slender bristles 

 only on the margin (sen Kew Bull. I.e. fig. 1 d), and E. 

 Decaisnei with narrower leaves, fairly densely sprinkled with 

 broad-based prickles without the appressed indumentum. A 



short account of the grouping of Canary Island and Madeira 

 species of Echium appeared in the Kcw Bull. 1914, pp. 265-7. 



The Botanic Garden, Havana. — A Botanic Garden was 

 founded at Havana on May 30th, 1817, under the auspices of 

 the " Sociedad Patriotica de Amigos del Pais," and an interest- 

 ing account of the present garden, which is now attached to the 

 Institute of Secondary Education, has recently been published by 

 Dr. Felipe Garcia Canizares.* The volume is well illustrated 

 with views and plans of the garden, and contains numerous 

 plates and figures of the more interesting plants that are in 

 cultivation. A general catalogue of the indigenous and exotic 

 plants grown forms a valuable portion of the work as the native 

 names of the plants are given with their scientific names, and 

 the whole catalogue is arranged under the natural families. A 



& ~ " ----"& 



special account, with figures, is given of the Ocuje (Calophyllum 

 Calaba, Jacquin) and there is a complete alphabetical index. 



From the historical account of the garden, which occupies the 

 opening pages, we learn that the suggestion of establishing a 

 Botanic Garden at Havana was first made in 1793 by Nicolas 

 Calvo and Mariano Espinosa, but despite the efforts of these 

 originators of the scheme, and the interest displayed by Martin 

 Sese, the project was not fulfilled until the year 1817, when the 

 garden was commenced on land granted by Sr. Alejandro 

 Ramirez. 



The first Director of the Garden was Sr. Jose Antonio de la 

 Ossa, the author of the "Flora havanensis." 



In the year 1824 the Chair of Botany was established, and 

 Sr. Eamon de la Sagra was appointed the first Professor, and in 

 1827 became exclusive Director of the Garden. He enlarged 

 the garden considerable and also did much for the encourage- 

 ment of Cuban agriculture. 



The garden at a later date was united with the Institucion 

 Agronoma in the Escuela Botanica Agricola, and was finally 

 placed under the Heal Hacienda as a State Institute. 



The third Director was Dr. Pedro Alejandro Auber, the 

 distinguished naturalist. From 1864-1897, the second epoch 



* EI Jardin Botanico del Institute) de Segunda Enseninza de la Habana, 

 por Felipe Garcia Csnizares, 1918. 





