300 



Livistona Hoogendorpi, Livistona chinensis, with liere .and tlierc 

 large Samans on whose far spreading limbs gi'ow the tall cactus, 

 ferns, and other pai'asitical plants, presented the most curious 

 aspect of an aerial garden. 



As I stood in admiration before this charming panorama my 

 ears were treated to the sweet song of birds interrupted now and 

 then by the inquisitive Quest ce-qiCil dit which seemed to question 

 what we w^ere saying. 



At the base of the wine palm the Bulimus ohlonyiis a garden 

 pest was feeding greedily, l)ut of buttei'flios there were only two 

 observed viz. the I'erias Jisa and the 0]>sij)haiies tamarindi. 



On arriving at the office of the Superintendent I was agree- 

 ably surprised with the success attending Mr. Broadway's eflbrts 

 in breeding the silk moths Attacvs Cynthia lately imjjorted in the 

 chrysalis stage from England, for numbers of full grown cater- 

 pillars were feeding on the Zizyphus Jujxiha whilst some had 

 already spun their cocoons. 



A walk into the orchid section revealed a fine selection of 

 those interesting plants some of them in full bloom ; amongst the 

 most I'emai'kable were the Dendrohiinn moschatum with its 

 yellowish pink flowers, the Dendrohium nohih growing clusters, 

 Dendrohium suavissimum particularly cherished by the bees 

 which delighted in nibling at its delicate pink lips, exhaling a 

 delicious odour and tasting very much like honey, whilst the 

 Phaloenopsis amabilis rightly named from its delicate white 

 flowers seemed to welcome the visitor and the Cattleya Gaskelliana 

 the Queen of them all was grandest among the grand. 



From the orchids I directed my steps towards the nursery 

 and in passing by the bath room, the Amherstia nobiJis one of the 

 handsomest trees in the garden, was in full bloom, its numerous 

 red flowers forming magnificent bouquets. 



Stepping into the nursery my attention was drawn to the 

 wild cocoa {Hei-rania alhijlora 1) which was covered with pods, but 

 on my way, having happened to disturb a nest of the small bee 

 Trigona ruficornis, I was assailed most unmercifully and in the 

 afFray abandoned both hat and coat, whilst with violent com- 

 motions of the ai-ms and legs, in self-defence, succeeded in beating 

 a retreat, not without having applied some severe blows on my 

 already properly bitten head and neck. 



Reader you would have been amused to witness the scene 

 and after the battle was over, see me stand and gaze upon the 

 maddening crowd of little creatures, blessing them, as you may 

 well understand, to the best of my abilities. 



This is enough for me said I to Leo, — now let us proceed on 

 our journey. Before leaving the nursery a Avord of praise to Mr, 

 Broadway now Acting Superintendent of the Gardens is the least 



