No. 373.] BOTANICAL ASPECTS OF JAMAICA. 37 
While in Kingston we were entertained at Mr. Fawcett’s 
charming home in the Hope Gardens, about six miles from the 
town. This garden is comparatively new, but is becoming 
rapidly a most beautiful and interesting experimental station. 
Extensive plantings are being made which will add greatly to 
its attractiveness and usefulness. 
The first trip made by us was to Castleton, the seat of the 
most interesting of the botanical gardens of Jamaica. We 
drove from Kingston, about nineteen miles, over a most pictur- 
esque road, the vegetation becoming more and more luxuriant 
as we approached the garden, where there is an average rain- 
fall of about one hundred inches. A few hours only were 
spent at this time at Castleton, but later Professor MacDougal 
and myself returned for a stay of several days, during which 
we became better acquainted with the many attractions of this 
most beautiful garden. It is situated at an elevation of about 
six hundred feet, and contains a remarkable collection of palms - 
and other tropical plants. Of the former there are about one 
hundred and fifty species, and among the other notable plants 
was a fine collection of cycads, comprising many magnificent 
specimens, which appear to thrive to perfection; screw pines, 
tree ferns, and many pretty epiphytic orchids, as well as innu- 
merable showy flowering trees and shrubs, made the finest 
display we encountered anywhere. Of the flowering trees 
Amherstia nobilis, with its hanging clusters of gorgeous scarlet 
flowers, was, perhaps, the most beautiful ; but among other 
showy trees were noticed a Lagerstroemia, with big, lilac- 
colored flowers, and a Spathodea, whose flame-colored cups and 
deep green leaves formed a magnificent spectacle. 
The country all about is very mountainous, and a trip to the 
higher regions yielded a number of most interesting ferns and 
liverworts, as well as many flowering plants not found on the 
lower levels. | 
A trip was made later to Blue Mountain Peak, the highest 
point in the island, rising over seven thousand feet above sea 
level. This excursion, which was taken in company with Mr. 
Fawcett, was in all respects a most enjoyable one. The trip 
was made from Kingston, and after the first nine miles was 
