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The lowland flora is well represented by many species of 
Piperaceae, Bromeliacae, Musaceae and Palmaceae. Some of the 
latter only reach a height of a few feet, while others, Aivalea 
Cohune and Cocos nucifera, attain a greater height. A method of 
husking the cocoanut is performed by the natives, who use the 
heart wood of the palm for a wedge. This is placed in the 
ground and sharpened at the top. The nuts are pressed down 
upon it and with a sharp turn the husk is readily separated; a 
single native husking many hundreds of nuts in a day. 
My work resulted in securing between three and four thousand 
herbarium specimens, seeds and living plants, most of which have 
been placed in the museum and propagating houses. 
n or about March 8, the revolutionists took possession of 
the town of Puerto Sierra, when we, as well as most other 
Americans, left for Puerto Cortez. 
I sailed from that town on March 12, and arrived in New 
York March 19. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Percy WILSoN, 
dduuntstrative Assistant. 
RECENT ADDITIONS TO THE PALM AND CYCAD 
COLLECTIONS. 
During the past month a number of additions have been made 
to these collections. A gift of six large palms and one cycad 
was received from Mr. Walter Hunnewell, of Wellesley, Mass. 
Among the palms were two large plants of the flat-leaf palm, 
Howea Forsteriana, a native of Lord Howe Island which lies just 
east of Australia in about 31° S. lat. This is largely grown 
for decorative purposes in this country under the more common 
name of Kextia Forsteriana, and is one of our most popular palms 
for this purpose. The plants referred to above are exceptionally 
fine specimens, plants so large and in such fine condition being 
seldom met with. They are about twenty-five feet tall to the tip 
of the uppermost leaf, one with the trunk about eight feet high 
