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Cacao is grown up to about 1500 ft. on the sides of the valley 
and the plantations contain all types of Calabash and Forastero. The 
value of mulch for the health and vigour of the trees is constantly 
advocated by the officers of the station, and its effect in the island is 
training of bo oys which is here carried out in a very efficient 
manner, ed a small number sufficient to meet the demand for 
overseers, etc., on estates are taken and they receive a sound 
practical and theoretical training. 
Thanks to the kindness of Mr. G. A. Jones, who accompanied 
me, I was able to see as much as possible of the natural vegetation 
of the island by riding up to the heads of two of the beautiful 
valleys near Roseau. The luxuriance of the vegetation and its 
diversity are particularly striking, as well as the fact that the flora 
of each valley appears to be distinct in many important features. 
The tree ferns, twenty feet or more high, lend a peculiar charm to 
the scene in the higher parts of the valley, and one’s pleasure was 
increased on ports Utricularia montana in flower on the banks at 
the top of the 
A ver ead ah idea of the ee: side of the island was 
obtained on the voyage to Portsmouth in the R.M.S.P. coasting 
eb “ Yare,” which I made in company oe Mr. J. Jones and 
H. Alford Nicholls. The steamer keeps so close in that the 
does can easily be studied through field glasses and the xerophytic 
vegetation of the cliffs with Furcraeas, Mamillarias and species of 
Cereus as well as the components of the forest-clad hills can penly 
be distinguished and species in many cases identified, Some brown 
savannah-like areas are in striking contrast to the densely forested 
hills and are no doubt due, as Dr. Nicholls has pointed out, to the 
wanton destruction of forest and repeated burning which has led to 
extensive denudation of the soil. Portsmouth at the northern end of 
the island has a good harbour, which, however, is sapere to the 
south-west, and will.no doubt eradually become a plac 
At present it is not a healthy spot owing to sh eats lagoons and 
swampy ground behind the town through which the Indian River 
runs. Since the bar at the mouth of the river has been removed and 
a properly arranged breakwater constructed, by the Dominica Forests 
Company which is exploiting the forests, conditions have been 
improved and a lowering of the water-level in the lagoons to the 
extent of about a foot has resulted. 
Forests—The forests on the hills near the town are now being 
worked for timber and a considerable trade in lumber is in 
progress. Unfortunately I was unable to visit the forests, but 
according to the “Memorandum on the Crown Lands in 
Dominica” presented by Mr. J. Jones to the Conference, and 
from what I was told in the Island, it is otnasdensd that the Crown 
has made all necessary reservations in connection with the rights 
