JONES — ON THE VEGETATION OF THE BERMUDAS. S51 



persons that even a close approach to it is sufficient to cause a 

 severe attack of inflammation of the face, while others may han- 

 dle it, or even rub the leaves on their faces with impunity. 

 R. radicans is merely the climbing variety of this species. 



Mangifera INDICA, X. **Mango." Hab. East Indies. A fine 

 specimen some forty or fifty feet high, and nearly seven feet in 

 circumference at base, grows in Mr. Robert Lightbourne's gar- 

 den in Warwick parish. Fruit weighing 13 ozs. each have been 

 taken from this tree. 



Anacardium occidentale, X. «' Cashew-nut." Hab. W.In- 

 dies and tropical America. 



VITACE^. 



ViTis yiNiFERA, X. *' Grape Vine." Hab. Asia. The cultiva- 

 tion of the grape in the Bermudas dates back as far as the year 

 1615, when the original Bermuda Company sent out cuttings 

 with the following instructions to Governor Tucker i ' ' Wee have 

 sent you vynes and vyne cuttinges to be put in the grounds. 

 Lett them be fenced from cattle and conies, and kept clearefrom 

 weeds, and multiplye them by puttinge all yor vyne cuttinges 

 everye yeare into the ground, that you may have many acres in 

 severale places planted with them 8 or 10 foots asunder. You 

 may leade them alonge or upright upon- poles, or lett them^ 

 runne from tree to tree, at pleasure." 



Whether the early settlers carried out these instructions, and' 

 formed vineyards, history does not relate, but it is very clear 

 that in the year 1764 the cultivation of the grape was not view-- 

 ed with much interest, for we find that in that year one Chauvet 

 who merely petitioned the Governor in Council to allow him a 

 small grant in aid of grape culture, was ordered to attend the 

 bar of the House for his presumption. 



That the grape vine grows freely and produces abundantly in 

 the soil and climate of Bermuda, when planted in a favourable 

 situation and well manured and watered, is well known ; but as 

 the only fresh water supply comes from the clouds, and the soil 

 is often subject to severe droughts, cultivation on an extensive 

 scale would not succeed. 

 5 



