1897 | PUBLIC GARDENS AND PLANTATIONS OF JAMAICA 363 
realizes twice the price of the tropical ramie, and fruit trees of 
temperate climates, and of high elevation both in the new and 
old worlds. 
As this region is the best in the island for coffee, it is reason- 
able to suppose that it is the best for oranges, since the soil 
requirements of both are much the same. Although no tests 
have been made in comparing the oranges of Manchester with 
those grown here, many who know both, declare in favor of 
those grown in the Port Royal mountains where splendid fruit is 
produced at as high an elevation as 4100 feet. 
The government has very lately established an orange experi- 
mental garden and nursery as part of the Hill garden establish- 
ment at an elevation of about 3900 feet. A large number of 
budded and grafted trees have been imported from Florida, and 
also from Rivers in England, who supplied growers in Florida 
and California in the early days of their groves. These are per- 
manent stock trees, from which buds will afterwards be taken 
for budding on Seville and lemon stocks. Several thousand 
seedlings of the above stocks are being grown, also of the 
Jamaica sweet orange, grape fruit, tangerine and shaddock. 
Olives have been grown inthe island for many years, but so far 
No fruit, or even a flower, has been produced. It is probable 
that this may be accounted for by their having been planted at 
too low an elevation. Eighty plants of the variety frantojo, 
which yields an excellent oil, have just been presented for trial 
by Lord Malcolm, of Knockalva, and these, together with others 
from Florida, have been put out at various elevations ranging 
from 3500 feet to 5500 feet. 
Grape plants from Persia have been imported from California 
| They grow on the table-lands of Persia, have a distinctive char- 
acter of their own, and are very highly spoken of by travelers. 
They ripen early, and as they have a firm and tough skin they 
_ Will probably prove serviceable for early shipping. The native 
_ Srape of Jamaica,so abundant in these hills, though of no value 
as a fruit, may turn out to be of special worth for grafting the 
_ More tender European varieties. 
