104 



we were informed, makes this possible. The air is much less 

 humid and its bracing qualities are soon apparent. A prolonged 

 stay in the low lands during the summer time is very depressing, 

 and we northerners greatly enjoyed the tonic qualities of the 

 mountain air. 



One cannot adequately convey the impressions received during 

 a trip of this kind, only a personal visit will do this. The coun- 

 try is a strange one, almost unknown, is dominated by the negro, 

 a condition not existing elsewhere in America, and botanically 

 it is practically a virgin field. It was my first visit to the tropics, 

 so not only was my interest constantly aroused by seeing in their 

 perfection plants which we strive with much care to raise in our 

 conservatories, but added to this was the excitement engendered 

 by exploring a country rarely visited by white men. The inhab- 

 itants were generous in the extreme, and hospitable ; child-like 

 and simple we found the people of the mountains, as easily 

 angered as a child, and as easily placated, and so with all the 

 child's uncertainties. 



SHORTER N0TF:S 



Two-iiRACTED Dogwood. — The effect of the severe winter, 

 just passed, on our native plants would prove an interesting 

 study to one favorably located for its pursuit. The common 

 dogwood, Cornus florida L., shows in a most striking manner 

 that it did not escape unscathed. On all the trees examined by 

 me, numbering about a dozen and growing in a variety of situ- 

 ations, nearly all the flower-clusters are subtended by but two 

 normal opposite bracts, the outer pair remaining simply bud- 

 scales or perhaps showing white for a quarter or a half of an 

 inch. In numerous clusters all four bracts have remained unde- 

 veloped. Edw.\kd W. Bekrv. 



Passaic, New Jkrsey, May, 1904. 



Savia Bahamensis .sp. nov. — A shrub about 2 m. high with 

 ascending branches, similar to S. crytliroxyloides Griseb. of Cuba. 

 Leaves oblong-obovatc, thick, obtuse and rounded at the apex, 

 narrowed at tlie base, 6 cm. long or less, 1-3 cm. wide, dark 

 green, shining and strongly reticulated above, pale green and in- 



