a4 
Rich in frnits and food products, the tropics seem very deficient in number and va- 
riety of garden-vegetables, as compared with the temperate regions. Sweet potatoes, 
yams, manioc, beans, egg-plant, tomatoes, okra, squashes, and peppers are the princi- 
pal. Of the sweet potato one soon becomes tired, and neither it, nor the yam, nor the 
manioc, is any substitute for the Irish potato. The native tomatoes and egg-plant, al- 
though vigorous and productive, are far inferior in size and quality to the improved 
varieties of northern gardens. The squashes also are small, unproductive, and poor in 
quality. Hence our desire to introduce and test a number of new vegetables and new 
varieties, 
With a true tropical climate—latitude about 20° north, within a mile and a half of 
the sea, and only a small elevation above it—and a good soil, of a clay loam, very rich 
in vegetable matter, on a subsoil of coraline clay, we had a good prospect the past 
year of making a fine trial of many seeds and plants, but, unfortunately, the season was 
unfavorable, there not being sufficient rain. The usual rainy season here being No- 
vember, December, and January, there are properly two seasons of planting, and only 
two: one in the fall, at the beginning of the rains, for some few things; the other, and 
the best for most, in the early spring or first part of February. 
The first trouble of the gardener here is in the preservation of seeds. One difficulty 
being the great heat and moisture of this climate ; the air being always very damp, even 
in this drought of two years, it being difficult to dry anything except at midday ; and, 
second, the weevil, which is very numerous and destructive. Fresh seeds from the 
North, in good paper packages, pasted tightly, will, with care, keep a few months, but 
spoil quickly after being opened. The natives here have two ways for the preserva- 
tion of their own seeds. First, after drying them well in the midday sun, shutting 
them up in tight vessels, putting corn in demijohns, and small seeds in bottles, with 
some fresh, dry wood-ashes mixed with them. Our own experience with these bottled 
seeds is not very favorable. Tho second way is, after gathering one crop, to immedi- 
ately replant and have some always growing, and thus “save the seed.” This is not 
possible with éverything ; and even when successful is very objectionable, for plant- 
ing out of season quickly causes degeneracy. And so we find all through this country ; 
everything that can degenerate has done so; and everything that can mix has done so; 
nocare being taken to plant any varieties separate. No budding nor grafting being prac- 
ticed, but all fruits planted from the seed, the same thing has happened with them, and 
poor varieties are the rule. 
Next as to planting. The earth here being one vast hot-bed, all good seeds sprout 
very quickly, provided they have the proper degree of moisture. But a tropical sun 
soon parches the surface of the ground, and thus frequently destroys the small ones, 
and generally such must be planted at twice the depth they are at the North. Cover- 
ing them with boards, &c., a short time at first, will not generally answer here, as the 
ants often destroy all under such shelter. Contrary to the report of some, insects de- 
structive to vegetation are wonderfully numerous and active. This is not strange, for, 
first, they have the whole year to feed and multiply; and second, the people 
here carry on such a continued hunting against all birds—even the mocking-bird 
being considered game—that none will come near a house or a cultivated field. Cut- 
worms, beetles, caterpillars, aphides, ants, &c., &c., of the North, all have their con- 
geners here. Even of the curculio, there is a variety that stings nearly every guava 
in the country. 
If plants escape all these enemies, with this rich soil, it is wonderful how the damp 
air of this climate, with the dews of night and a very few light showers of rain, will 
keep all green and growing during the long, hot summer under a torrid sun. 
Our plantings were made in.both fall and spring, or October to December and in 
February.. The northern vegetables proper succeeded best in the fall planting ; others, 
as tomatoes, egg-plant, melons, &c., in spring. Of varieties, the carly kinds seemed 
to succeed much the best. Irish potatoes planted in November grew well as to top, 
but failed as to tubers; probably the earth itself is much too hot for their growth. 
Cabbage (late varieties) was a partial success, but would not be considered to pay 
for cultivation in a northern garden. Turnips did well as to growth and size, but had 
a strong rank flavor. Beets were a decided success; both fall and spring plantings 
growing to a good size and being of a good quality. Radishes also were fine, both 
plantings, and some seed even was obtained from old ones. Asparagus, carrots, and 
salsify surprised us by making an apparently vigorous growth, but the roots were 
small. Onion seed nearly all failed to germinate, and the few growing never acquired 
any size. Of the parsley (although badly adulterated with grass seed) some came up 
and made very fine plants. New Zealand spinach flourished in the cool or wet months, 
but died in summer. Of the melons proper, the Persian, casaba, pine-apple, &c., 
were almost a total failure; from a few poor fruit, however, some seeds were saved to 
try another year, and again to see if, according to the theory of some, they will come 
true and good in the third year after a change of climate. Phiney’s Early watermelon 
succeeded well; very productive of fruit and this of good quality, much surpassing 
the mixed native varieties here. Patagonian squash failed ; Hubbard grew well, and 
