1897 | PUBLIC GARDENS AND PLANTATIONS OF JAMAICA 351 
new and valuable plants, 400 different species and varieties, 
among which were mangosteen, Brazil nut, bhel, Monstera 
deliciosa, carob bean, coca, Tonquin bean, teak, New Zealand flax, 
and thirty-two species of palms. In the same year two cases of 
grafted mangoes arrived from India via Kew; Mr. Thomson 
states that ‘‘to His Excellency the Governor, from his personal 
knowledge of Indian mangoes, we are obliged for their intro- 
duction.”” Even at this early period of its existence the nutmeg 
trees began to bear fruit, and the clove trees were six feet high. 
In the same Blue Book quoted above, Sir J. P. Grant reports 
that a gardener had been obtained from Kew to reside at Castle- 
ton, as Mr. Thomson had taken up his residence at the cinchona 
plantations thirty-four miles off, in the Blue mountains. He 
took charge at Castleton in December 1870. 
Upwards of 200 species of plants new to the island were introduced dur- 
ing the year. Among these perhaps the most interesting were two plants of 
Ipecacuanha, two true mangosteens, and five choice varieties of pine apple; 
also four noted Bombay grafted mangoes, imported two years ago, are very 
flourishing, some of them being already five feet high. My belief is that there 
is nothing to prevent Jamaica becoming, for the quality, variety, and com- 
mercial value of its fruit, the most noted spot in the world, when gardening 
Shall be understood, and the value of the art shall be duly recognized here. 
In 1870, four varieties of orange were imported, viz., navel, 
St. Michaels, tangerine, and mandarin. In after years thousands 
of grafted plants of this St. Michaels, and seedlings also of the 
tangerine and mandarin were distributed all over the island. 
A large tank was made for the cultivation of the Victoria regia, 
_ Which has been growing there ever since. 
i. Ehis’ was a period of great importance in the history of the 
ee development of the public gardens. In 1868 the government 
undertook to plant out in cocoanuts the narrow sandy strip of 
land, known as the Palisades, with Port Royal at one end, furm- 
: — ing a natural breakwater for the magnificent harbor of Kingston. 
a The first clearing and planting was done early in 1869, and by 
bogs) nearly 20,000 cocoanut palms had been planted out, and 
700 of them were bearing fruit. In 1870, £1800 was voted for 
