.TIIE CANADIAN IlOltTICt'LTORiHT. 7f 



building Avere blooming with Chiysatitheniums of many colors, and so 

 relieved by a tiisteful arraiigeiuent of choice evergreens as to appear 

 ([uite attractive, notwithstanding that tlie season for bedding plants 

 was nearly over. Many beautiful varieties of Arbor Vita3 and Ketin- 

 ospora serv^e an excellent purpose here. 



Accompanied by the obliging superintendant, a very pleasant hour 

 was spent in the extensive conservatories among the tropical plants. 

 Here were magnificent Palms from 20 to 30 feet high, and other 

 striking and beautiful objects, but the character of this collection beinf' 

 mainly economic, it has an aspect entirely different from that of any 

 where ornament takes precedence of usefulness. Almost every plant, 

 shrub, and tree were useful to man, employed either as food, medicine, 

 in the construction of implements of some sort, or articles of clothing'. 

 The ordinary Coffee Tree was represented by fine specimens of luxuriant 

 growth, while alongside were examples of the Liberian Coffee Plant, 

 showing at a glance the striking difference in the character of the 

 foliage, as well as difference of habit, sufficient probably to establish 

 its claims as a variety distinct from the ordinary Cafea Arahica. 

 The Tea Plant is largely cultivated, and many thousands of specimens 

 of healthy young plants are annually distributed throughout those 

 portions of the southern States where its culture is likely to prove 

 successful. The reports, especially from some sections in Georgia, are 

 very encouraging; and the area under culture is so rapidly increasing 

 that it is probable that within a very few years a sufficient quantity 

 will be raised in Georgia to supply some considerable portion of the 

 tea demand of the United States. The sight of the various plants and 

 trees which yield farinaceous sub.stances, as well as those producing 

 tropical fruits, was very pleasing, but to me the most interesting feature 

 was the large collection of those which yield medicinal substances. 

 The charming Cinnamon, with its beautiful glossy laurel-like foliaf^e • 

 the large leaved Pimento, fragrant at every pore; the luxuriant Camphor 

 Tree ; the Croton Oil Tree, from whose seeds the Croton Oil of com- 

 merce is prepared ; the climbing vines which yield the Black Pepper 

 and Cubeb Berries of commerce ; the Vanilla Plant ; the trees which 

 yield Cinchona and Quassia; the Cascarilla and Coca shrubs; the 

 Matico Plant, with its beautifully reticulated leaves; these, with a 

 host of others, which would occupy too much space to mention — all 

 served to make the visit a most delightful one. 



