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das we reach middle elevations we see the most beautiful of 
all tropical plants—the tree ferns—of which a single conspicuous 
species is common in the island with a trunk 25 to 30 feet in 
height 
The road between Arecibo and Utuado at the time of our first 
passage was still incomplete but at a later visit was in condition 
for carriages the entire length. Less could be said of the road 
to Lares which we traversed two days later. A mere mountain 
path often obscured or grown up with undergrowth, always more 
or less muddy, was at this time especially so from recent heavy 
rains, it was a problem of gymnastics both for the sure-footed 
little stallions universally use for riding in the island, and for 
their less experienced riders. The road bed most of the wa 
the water it received and having an adhesive power that wa: 
tremendo ften seemed a question when the horses put 
their little hoofs into it whether they would be able to pull the 
tian passed over a day later was of much the same character 
both as to its Peaaion of passability and its botanical features. 
Every hill and ravine appears to be somewhat different from 
every other, and one of the most sane. sae of the flora 
impressed on us during our visit was the fact that the distribution 
of many plants appears extremely local. This was conspicuously 
true of the ferns to whose collection more particular attention was 
