69 
cates. I trust that steps may in some way be taken to arrange 
an exchange with that institution. There is a very large collec- 
tion in regard to Aaericari: grass types which will greatly add to 
the usefulness of our own herbarium, as I had with me a com- 
plete set of Panicums and Paspalums and compared a number of 
them with the specimens there. 
Respectfully submitted, 
Grorce V. Nasu 
flead Gardener. 
IMPERFECT COCONUTS. 
The fruit produced by a great number of trees on coconut 
plantations in Jamaica during the last year, were found to be de- 
fective, and, while approximately normal in external appearance, 
yet had failed to develop the ‘nut’ or the portion enclosed 
within the shell, the endosperm, which is the most valuable por- 
tion of these fruits. Specimens of the imperfect fruits were sent 
to the New York Botanical Garden by Hon. Wm. Fawcett, Di- 
rector of the Public Gardens and Plantations of Jamaica, and a 
careful examination was made of their structtire. 
these coconut fruits of average size, was Seat to weigh 
f 
575 For comparison, a coconut 
sions was taken, which had been lying for a year in a dark room 
and which, but for a certain loss in weight drying up of 
the milk and the “meat,” mig onsidered normal 
fruit weighed 880 grams, making a differenc in 
favor of the normal specimen. If t tter had aoe i the 
The husks of both were then sawed open tac iy and 
