234 



There are also many species the uses of which are local or limited, 

 or which do not commonly enter into commerce. A brief state- 

 ment of their uses added to the label would in such cases be of 

 value to every visitor. But these remarks must not be con- 

 strued as criticisms: the garden is not intended for public ex- 

 hibition, and visitors, while welcome, are exceedingly few in 

 number. 



The garden occupies apparently about 120 acres of quite level 

 land, arranged in three sections of about equal size, which are so 

 placed that they form three quarters of a square. The two 

 sections nearest the city are attractively laid out in rectangular 

 beds, closely planted with a great variety of species, and inter- 

 sected with well-kept gravel walks. The third section, lying 

 farther to the north, is devoted chiefly to experimental plots for 

 rice, tapioca, sugar, and other plants of local importance, and 

 are neither very accessible nor very attractive to the visitor. 



Fig. 23. Old trees of Ficus elastica. The scars on the trunk are made by 

 tapping for rubber. 



The botanist, however, will be interested in the numerous 

 varieties of rice and tapioca, if in nothing else. Both of these 

 species are very common in the fields near Buitenzorg, but ap- 

 parently only one variety of each is cultivated. Here in the 

 garden there is a great variation in the height and color of the 



