Fan Palms and Pond Flowers. 7 



Less conspicuous is the well-known cinnamon tree, near to which 

 can he discovered a specimen of Gastilloa elastica (the Central American 

 Rubber tree) hidden away as if ashamed of the notoriety the hoom in 

 rubber has given every tree that produces rubber-bearing latex. It, 

 nevertheless, is ambitioua enough, for it is now shyly flowering. 



Of course the gaudy flamboyant ( Poinciana regia) is to he met with, 

 nor do the pretty Queen of Flowers. (Lagerstraemias) go unrepresented. 

 No tropical garden would be complete without these and the many varie- 

 gated Crotons, but not all Berbicians know where to find the spot where 

 a Cacao tree and a large Pear-shaped Guava are to be found, tucked 

 away comfortably enough. 



The screw-pines (Pandani), are represented by a specimen at one of 

 the gates, its rapid and somewhat bulky growth, kept however in due 

 bounds. The "Doctor-Doodle" (Caesalpinia) is there too in all its 

 pride, and the various Hibiscus are not to be denied. 



Daintily planted rosebeds are everywhere, and properly made up 

 borders of bright flowering annuals are at times a distinct fea'ure. Panax 

 and Malpighia, as usual, are made to serve fencing purposes with effect. 

 Acalypha, Pentas, Erantltemum, Galpini'ts, Petrea and a hundred other 

 shrubs are all tastefully arranged. 



The Frangipanni (Plumeria) has not been forgotten, the one 

 favoured being the pink-tinted flowering variety. 



The Lucky-seed (Cerbera thevetia) is at present fruiting heavily, in 

 one of the borders, handfuls of the seed can be gathered in a few minutes. 

 We must not forget another favourite which is, at the time of writing, 

 producing quantities of seed and that is the liquorice or crab-eye vine 

 (Abrus preeatorius) which is to be seen twining around one of the palms. 

 Inconspicuous as its white flowers are in contrast to the shining scarlet 

 seed with a black spot at one end, the whole delicate vine is nevertheless 

 attractive. The crab-eye see Is are often used for necklaces and other 

 ornaments, but it has been said that in India they are employed as a 

 standard of weight and that the far-famed Koh-i-noor diamond was 

 weighed in this manner. 



We must not pass over the handsome specimens of various Agaves, 

 nor an interesting and pretty specimen of Erythrina '. nor should we 

 forget that our imposing Locust tree (Hymencea courbaril), is also to be 

 found, though it has attained nothing like the eno mous size of its 

 brothers in the forest. At present it is nervously producing a few pods 

 of fruit. The splendid specimen of a Pachira or Wild Cacao must also 

 not be omitted. 



A visit at any time is full of pleasure whether it be in the cool 

 morning hours soon after daybreak, when the numerous birds are full 

 of thankful song as they hunt for their morning feed, or at midday when 



