1891.] 145 [Rothrock. 



Some Observations on the Bahamas and Jamaica. 



By Dr. J. T. Rothrock. 



(Read before the American Philosophical Society, November 6, 1891, 

 as part of the Report of the Michaux Committee.) 



The American Philosophical Society having last season set apart from 

 the Michaux legacy the sum of three hundred dollars towards defraying 

 the expenses of my West Indian exploring and collecting trip, I desire 

 to offer the following : 



The object of the appropriation was the collecting of photographs and 

 information which could be utilized in the preparation and delivery of the 

 annual lectures, popularly known as "The Michaux Forestry Course." 



Towards accomplishing this, the islands of New Providence, Eleuthera, 

 San Salvador, Watling and Inagua, all of the Bahama group, were visited, 

 as well also as Jamaica and its lesser political dependency, the Grand 

 Cayman, which is situated one hundred and ninety nautical miles, nearly 

 W.N.W., from the western end of Jamaica. 



As the time allowed for my entire trip was but three months, it is evi- 

 dent that no prolonged stay could be made in any one place. We de- 

 voted by far the greater portion of our time to the island of Jamaica, and 

 found everywhere, but especially on its greatest altitudes of 7000 feet, 

 ample returns for our search. 



In all, about one hundred and fifty good negatives were obtained. As 

 duplicates were usually made, it is fair to say there are about seventy-five 

 satisfactory illustrations of trees, physical geography and topography of 

 the islands visited. 



How rich a field the island of Jamaica offers may readily be inferred 

 from the following facts : 



1. If reduced to a square, the island would be about sixty-five miles 

 long: by as many wide. 



2. Its population is only about 600,000 souls. 



3. Only twenty -five per cent, of its area is under cultivation. 



4 The agricultural methods are very primitive and fertilizers are 

 sparingly used. 



5. Notwithstanding these facts, this small area, after retaining enough 

 for home uses, sends into the markets of the world nearly $9,000,000 

 worth of products each year. These are mainly from the vegetable king- 

 dom. 



It is well, also, to call attention to the fact that, of these exports, prob- 

 ably about fifty per cent, are shipped to the United States as against 

 thirty-seven per cent, to Great Britain. Of iruit alone, we received in 

 1889 not less than $1,580,000 worth, as rated by the exports there. Of 

 course, its value here was vastly greater. There has been during the 

 past five years a decided increase in the trade with the United States, and 

 some also with Canada. 



