128 
“could feed pga And, again, “ yams and sweet potatos 
“ are imported m St. Kitts from ‘he neighbouring Dutch island 
of St. Eu pie 
. There are unlimited supplies of fish in the waters around 
the islands, but fishing is regarded as of little or no importance. 
One i stated that “owing to this neglect, fish of the better 
“ kind a scarce commodity.” Live turtle is occasionally 
oa 
BOTANIC STATION. 
[AN account of the starting of the Botanic Station at St. Kitts 
is fully given in the Kew Bulletin, 1891, pp. 126—129. There 
was considerable difficulty in finding a aa site within easy 
reach of the town of Basseterre, but eventually it was decided to 
ened the garden to the west of the town, on a spot rather dry and 
e sea, but otherwise unobjectionable. Since 1891 a well- 
laid aie ornamental garden has been successfully established, and 
it has become a favourite eae for the Sateen population of 
Basseterre. In ipo t Np has been the means of raising 
and distributing many e c plants, s hk s 20,000 Arabia 
coffee, 5,000 Liberian coffee, ae 1 000 cacao o plants, while latterly 
“ee valuable new varieties of sugar cane also been distri- 
uted. The cost of maintaining this station on thio exceptionally 
ose in fact, less than that of any other station in the West 
Indies. The first Curator, appointed in 1889, was Mr. Charles 
Plumb, trained at Kew 
Mr. ree RS and laid out the garden and gical 
adapted it to the circumstances of its surroundings. Ther 
high a with a belt of trees to shelter it from ihe pag er 
and a strong fence of Furcrea to keep out trespassers. A plant shed 
contains an interesting collection of ferns and pot plants requiring 
special protection, while several plots of economic plants are also 
under cultivation. Mr. Plumb resigned charge of the station 
in 1893, and was succeeded by Mr. Joseph Wade, an English 
gardener, who had long been resident in St. Kitts, and for a short 
time in charge of the Botanic Station at Montserrat. 
In 1894 it was arranged to establish an experimental sugar 
station on the La Guerite estate, adjoining the Botanic Station. 
About 60 varieties of canes were placed under cultivation, eek 
40 manurial plots were prepared by the vio lero with t 
teagan of the Government Aiahigitent Chemist 
ing to the removal of the ee ec by an adverse vote of 
the Legislative Council in 1894, these experiments were not carried 
on,and since that time I regret to say nothing has beer. accomplished 
of a practical character. Taking into account the complete 
dependence of St. Kitts-Nevis on the cultivation of the sugar 
introduction of new canes or th ved yield by manu 
ene of canes already in the aiad should have dained 
80 little s rt. 
