April 12, 1888] 



NA TURE 



565 



contained the one essential principle of systematic mainten- 

 ance. Moreover, it is not enough that breakages of wire be 

 promptly repaired, but the efficient performance of a line- 

 man's duty demands that he should at stated periods 

 patrol his district and remove the possible causes of in- 

 terruption in the shape of branches of trees and other 

 obstacles to perfect communication before they have time 

 to bring about disaster. His must be the duty of making 

 minute examination of the supports, lest rapid decay at 

 the ground line render even a single post too weak to 

 withstand a sudden shock, and the chain of communica- 

 tion be abruptly severed. He must paint and otherwise 

 preserve these posts, and secure them by the attachment 

 of ample stays against normal or exceptional strains. In 

 a word, a man will find abundant work to fill up his allotted 

 time in a district no more extensive than a day's walking 

 will suffice for him to cover. 



Now all this is not mere theorizing, but the relation of 

 what has been done and is being daily carried into effect 

 in Japan, and it is for these reasons that we assert that the 

 Government of that country may claim to possess a 

 telegraphic system worthy the name. At the present 

 time the telegraphic organization extends to every town of 

 any importance within the Mikado's dominions. In the 

 majority of cases these stations are distinguished as being 

 the head-quarters of the local government or prefecture, 

 and all are thus brought into instantaneous communication 

 with the departmental offices at the capital. The four 

 islands are connected by submarine cables, and the Great 

 Northern Telegraph Company's lines form a medium of 

 communication between Nagasaki and the Western world. 

 The Japanese engineer their own service, educate their 

 operators and travelling linemen, manufacture their own 

 apparatus, even of the most complex character, their own 

 batteries, and the galvanized iron fittings for their poles. 

 The insulators in use are of Japanese porcelain, the finest 

 in quality ever produced, capable of withstanding the 

 most severe tests that it is possible to subject them to. 

 Iron poles are not used, because the pine and cedar 

 flourish everywhere, and are obtainable on short notice ; 

 moreover, it is often cheaper to replace them, if decay 

 sets in, than to invest in iron, which is costly at the 

 outset, and heavy to transport inland. The rates for 

 telegrams are sufficiently low to bring the convenience 

 within the reach of all classes. Messages are transmitted 

 in either Japanese or foreign languages with equal facility. 

 Finally, the finances of the department are administered 

 in such a way as to show a substantial balance at the end 

 of the fiscal year. 



When may we look for this in China? 



With the advantages the pioneers of the service there 

 possess we trust we shall not now have to wait long. But 

 it will inevitably be discovered, if the maintenance of the 

 lines be not provided for efficiently from the outset, that a 

 mighty engine of Western civilization is being hampered 

 and thwarted in its progress, and that among the mercantile 

 classes, who ought to be its principal supporters, there will 

 spring up a feeling of distrust which years of success 

 will not entirely counterbalance. There is no reason why 

 China should not manufacture for herself almost every- 

 thing she requires in the way of apparatus and material, 

 as Japan is now doing ; for men of more deft and skilful 

 touch, combined with high intelligence, than the Chinese 

 do not exist. But all their perfection of workmanship will 

 avail the State little if it be not supported by strict 

 perseverance in those duties which appertain to efficient 

 maintenance. Long lines hastily set up across country, 

 with stations few and far between, and without competent 

 workmen to look after them, under substantial control, 

 will soon cease to convey an electrical current. As 

 suggested before, it is one thing to build a line, but quite 

 another matter to preserve it in working order, and it is 

 to be hoped the example of the Japanese will not be lost 

 upon their near neighbours, J. M. 



FLORA OF THE BAHAMAS. 



AT the Manchester meeting of the British Association 

 a Committee was appointed, with a grant of £^\ooi 

 for the purpose of exploring the flora of the Bahamas- 

 The vegetation of this group has long been known to 

 present some very peculiar features, but it is poorly re- 

 presented in European herbaria. The Committee were 

 fortunate in securing the assistance of Baron Eggers (some- 

 time Commandant at the Danish colony of St. Thomas), 

 who had lately returned from an important botanical 

 exploration in St. Domingo. 



Baron Eggers started at the end of last year, and the 

 following letter gives an interesting account of the progress 

 which he had made up to the time of writing. 



W. T. Thiselton Dyer. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, February 25. 



" Fortune Island, Bahamas, February 6, 1888. 



" I finally succeeded in reaching here, and as this part 

 of the Bahama Archipelago most likely is less known still 

 than the islands nearer Nassau, I propose to explore this 

 group (Fortune, Crooked, and Acklins Islands), which 

 are not far from the centre of the whole, and which, 

 especially the two latter, are of a good size and fairly 

 wooded. From the day of my arrival I have been ex- 

 ploring this island, which is of a longitudinal form, 9 

 miles long by i to 2 miles broad, highest elevation 1 10 

 feet, entirely covered with a low forest or scrub about 10 

 to 16 feet high. The largest trees do not exceed 25 feet, 

 and that height is rare. 



" Partly on account of the season of the year, partly 

 from the protracted dry weather, some of the shrubs 

 and trees have neither flower nor fruit, whilst at the 

 same time the herbaceous vegetation is almost absent. 

 Yet I have succeeded in finding a good number of 

 most interesting plants in flower or seed, and have 

 made, besides, collections of woods and seeds. Cycads 

 I have seen none of here in this island. Guaiacum 

 sanctum seems to be common here. Some very curious 

 composite shrubs I have met with. On the shore 

 Ambrosia crithmifolta seems very common, as also 

 Passijiora pectinata. 



" Of palms are found Sabal umbraculifera, and an- 

 other, probably Sabal Palmetto, called palmetto here by 

 the inhabitants, which is common and used for making 

 hats. A shrubby Phyllanthus is very common, as also 

 a very small-leaved Erythroxylon. Croton Ujalmarsonti 

 is frequent. Several species of Cassia are found, as also 

 some acacias. One Psychotria, a P/ioradendron, grow- 

 ing on Byrsonima lucida, Swietenia Mahagoni, two 

 species of Coccoloba, a large-leaved Euphorbia, a Cordia, 

 and a number of other shrubs and small trees. Of 

 Epiphytes I have seen two Tillandsias and an Epiden- 

 drum, which latter grows among rocks. No mosses, but 

 some lichens. 



" Among common trees is to be noted chiefly Hippo- 

 mane Mancinella, as also Conocarpus erect a in two forms, 

 the glabrous and the silvery-haired ones, both growing 

 indiscriminately together in small woods 



"Almost the whole surface of the island is covered 

 with a layer of limestone, coarse, mixed with sand, about 

 6 inches thick, which appears to have formed a smooth 

 cover over the whole whilst under water. It is now gener- 

 ally broken to pieces, but the pieces are still close together, 

 and only separated by fissures, in which trees and shrubs 

 grow, sending their roots down into the sandy, and some- 

 times marly, soil beneath. In many places there are 

 hollows, in which a light red soil has been accumulated, 

 and where a few attempts at cultivation are made. 



" As a rule, the only cultivation here is on the sandbank 

 that forms the western shore, and on which also the little 

 town is situated. Here is raised some Guinea corn 

 {Sorghum) and sweet potatoes, as well as cocoa-nut trees, 

 which seem to thrive remarkably well. This whole north- 



