12 
fine, and even eee Blocks for engraving have been prepares 
from it by Mr. Robson I. Scott, of Whitefriars Street, H.C., 
reported upon . as follows : :—“It is the only likely asamur - 
I hav 
box that e yet seen, but it is not embraced asa deliverer 
should be ; ~ its time may not be far off.’ The wood, how- 
ever, has never come into use = engraving purposes, but 
a question hs recently submitted to Kew by Messrs. Samuel 
F. Armitage & Sons, of Farnworth, near Manchester, as to the 
nature and character ot a wood known as Zapatero Wood. In 
reply Messrs. Armitage were informed that the name was applied 
in Trinidad to the wood of Peltogyne paniculata, Bth., which » 
of a deep purple colour, similar in appearance to the wood know 
in British Guiana as Purple Heart, and furnished ae an allied 
plant (Copaifera Martii, Hayne, var. pubiflora). Further corre- 
spondence, however, accompanied by specimens of the wood, 
Zapatero of Trinidad were totally distinct, the first-named being 
a light yellow wood res ee Box, and the last, as “‘hefore stated, 
of a deep purple colour. Upon examining the yellow wood wit 
the microscope it was found to agree closely with a wood known 
in commerce as West Indian Boxwood, which, in consequence of 
its straight and even grain, and the cies # its costing about one- 
third of that of true Boxwood, is uch used for making 
parasol and sunshade handles, Seste auiisiea. rules, thermo- 
meters, and other similar articles. Upon further comparison of 
these two woods with that of Tabebuia Naninetitn they were 
found to be identical, thus proving that the Zapatero Wood and 
the West Indian Boxwood of English commerce are both 
produced by the plant just mentioned. 
From the above facts it would appear that the wood of this 
species is now largely used in this country as a substitute for 
oxwood, except for engraving. 
VII.-MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 
Visitors during 1903.—The number of persons who visited - 
Royal Botanic Gardens during the year 1903 was 1,352,548. That 
for 1902 was 1,323,376. The average for 1893-1902 was 1,352, 495, 
The total number on geen was 568,726, and on week-da ays 
783,522. The maximum number on any one day was 73,566 on 
June 1, and the smallest 116 on June 19. 
The detailed monthly returns are ._ below :— 
is 18 
ry 638 
February : 37,903 
March ... 75,024 
ril 168,884 
May 152,322 
June 219,82: 
July 164,319 
August ... “i ea .» 265,148 
September... ere --» 145,586 
October... a ors “ 28% 
mwovember 0k: 2.3 ves D087 
December i bia ee 016 
