No. 373.] BOTANICAL ASPECTS OF. JAMAICA. 39 
plants encountered, although at the summit itself the trees 
were somewhat dwarfed. Among the most characteristic trees 
_of the higher altitudes was a Vaccinium, V. meridionale Sw., 
and Podocarpus coriaceus Rich. Tree ferns abounded, but were 
not so fine as those somewhat lower down. 
From the peak fine views may be had in clear weather in 
both directions. On the north is the harbor of Port Antonio, 
and on the south that of Kingston. We did not enjoy the fine 
view very long, as a shower of rain came up which obliged us 
to descend sooner than we had expected, but not before we 
had time to get a good idea of the vegetation. 
A most enjoyable trip was one made by the writer in com- 
pany with the late Dr. Humphrey, in whose untimely death in 
Jamaica, shortly after our departure, botany has suffered so 
severe a loss. This trip was over the mountains from Port 
Antonio to Bath, the site of the first botanic garden established 
in Jamaica some hundred years ago, but now reduced to a frac- 
tion of its original area. It still contains some fine specimen 
trees, especially palms and Pandanus, but there are a number 
of other fine trees still remaining. The road over the moun- 
tains is a rough bridle path, which at the Cuna-Cuna pass 
reaches an altitude of about three thousand feet. It is pro- 
posed to make a carriage road, which will be, when complete, 
one of the most beautiful in Jamaica, as it passes through a 
most picturesque region, including the finest forests we saw 
anywhere. The whole district is one of very heavy rainfall 
and the vegetation wonderfully varied and beautiful. The 
road over the pass is through virgin forest of the most luxuri- 
ant description. Ferns in great variety abound, and in some 
places thickets of beautiful palms, Euterpe oleracea, formed a 
striking feature of the forest. These palms, with the tree 
ferns, large aroids, and epiphytic Bromeliads and orchids gave 
a thoroughly tropical aspect to the vegetation. There were 
numerous epiphytic orchids, but only a few in flower. Of 
these a yellow and brown Oncidium was most conspicuous, 
the great hanging panicles of flowers looking like a swarm of 
small butterflies. A great variety of showy Scitaminez, Heli- 
conia, Hedychium, Canna, and others were common, and among 
