100 
the Virgin Islands; the ladies stayed at the attractive oF 
Charlotte Amalia. I chartered the sloop ‘West Indian" and 
cruised with Dr. Shafer to windward as far as Tortola; we anes 
five days on St. Jan and visited several of the smaller islands of 
this beautiful archipelago, still almost unknown to tourists. 
ing views of islands and sea had from the higher 
elevations—about 1,500 feet on St. ps mas, somewhat less on 
St. Jan, and about 1,800 feet on Tortola—are well worth all the 
time required to reach them and the winter climate at sea-level 
is perfection; for those fond of sailing or fishing, time can be 
spent delightfully; there are a number of sloops available, and 
as all the trade among the Virgin Islands is by sail, expert 
boatmen are readily secure 
our objects was the study and collection of the interest- 
ing little round cactus known to botanists as Mamillaria nivosa, 
which inhabits certain headlands and cliffs in these islands. We 
were guided to of the localities known for it, Little St. James 
Island, - the ae . A. B. Romig, of the Moravian mission at 
Nisky, St. Thomas, who has much interest in botany; we are 
indebted to him for valuable aid and advice and for delightful 
association. We subsequently found the Mamillaria nivosa on 
other islands, and shipped many to the Garden for public exhibi- 
tion and scientific study. 
Reaching Tortola February 13, we passed ee Danish to 
British jurisdiction, separated only a narrow w We 
were cordially received by Mr. W. C. Fish a eerie 
instructor for 2 Virgin Islands in charge of the Botanical 
Station at Roadtown. Five days were given to exploration and 
collecting on io and on smaller islands nearby, including a 
visit to the small area of primaeval forest remaining on tha’ 
island at ‘‘High Bush,” where many rare and characteristic 
species of the native flora are still preserved; I was much please 
to learn that steps may be taken toward the permanent preserva- 
tion of this high altitude flora and the aren reforestation of 
enuded areas adjacent; on St. as ther scarcely any 
virgin forest remaining, and but ie on St. ee reforestation 
work on all these islands would be of great advantage to their 
inhabitants 
