6 



of those existing in Jamaica, Trinidad, and Demerara, is so evident that lately Botanic Gardens have 

 been started in Antigua, Dominica, Montserrat, and St. Kitts, Nevis, amongst the Leeward Islands, 

 under the direction of Mr. C. A. Barber, a Cambridge Botanist ; in Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent 

 amongst the "Windward Islands; and still more recently in British Honduras. 



The same movement is also going on in other parts of the world ; for instance. Botanic Gardens 

 have lately been established in Lagos, and the Gold Coast on the west coast of Africa. 



Botanic Gardens in the Tropics do the work on the plant side, of Agricultural Departments in 

 temperate climates. They are in themselves experimental stations ; and are much more efficient in 

 introducing new cultural products, and in distributing plants and imparting useful information than 

 most Agricultural Departments. 



The whole of the Botanic Gardens in the British Empire are more or less in communication with 

 one another, exchanging seeds, publications, &c., and all look up to the Royal Gardens at Kew as to 

 their head for advice and assistance. Imperial Federation is already in existence as regards the Bota- 

 nic Gardens and tbeir woik. If any special variety of a plant, or any new culture comes into notice, 

 information and plants are sought sometimes directly from the local gardens, sometimes througli Kew 

 as the Botanic Gardens' " Clearing House." The Director of Kew Gardens has at his disposal the ser- 

 vices of experts in every branch of botanical enquiry,and is always most willing to aid Colonial Gardens 

 in every way. Any intricate question that arises in chemistry, in diseases of plants, in insect pests, 

 in the value of products, &c., can be determined by reference to Kew. Colonial Gardens are therefore 

 not isolated, but are branches of an Agiicultural Department as wide as the British Empire itself. 



Mr. E. Campbell is still acting as Superintendent of Castleton. Some portions of the year have been so 

 dry that many plants have sufiered and some have died. During the year 145 . 35 inches of rain fell, which 

 is 35 inches more than the average ; but in July there were only 2.09 inches and during March only 

 1.92 inches. The heaviest rainfall was in May with 18.17 inches, and in October with 32.84 inches. 



Some portions of the borders have received a layer of fresh soil and manure. Old plants have 

 been removed and the vacancies filled up. All the borders have had an occasional forking besides fre- 

 quent hoeing. A great deal of pruning has been done, and in some places thinning has been necessary. 

 Portions of the walks have been regravelled where it was absolutely necessary. The various lawns 

 have been attended to, and the plantations of cacao and Liberian coffee have been billed out at intervals. 

 The two large Casuarina trees at the entrance gate have been removed, to make room for the Cohune 

 Palms. Special attention has been paid to nursery work, and a constant supply has been forwarded 

 to Hope Gardens. 



A new walk has been formed by the river, the former jungle having been cleared away. There 

 will be room in this portion of the grounds for several native economic plants not hitherto grown in 

 the garden. 



The following are the numbers of plants sold direct from the Garden : — 



Nutmegs, 991; other economic plants, 958; miscellaneous trees and shrubs, 1,306; roses, 683; 

 palms, 328 ; Total, 4,266. 



The following plants have been sent to Hope for distribution : — 



Economic plants, 1,055 ; miscellaneous trees and shrubs, 4,661 ; roses, 4,344 ; palms, 1,340 ; cro- 

 tons, 662 ; ferns, 433 ; Total, 12,495. 



Thus the whole number of plants distributed from Castleton is 16,761. 



Seeds to the amount of 93 packets have been collected in the Gardens, and forwarded for growing 

 at Hope, and for distribution to other Botanic Gardens ; also 178 cacao pods. 



For the purpose of training the boys at the Industrial School, Hope, in the curing of cocoa, 4,500 

 cocoa pods were purchased and forwarded to Hope. This has entailed a good deal of extra work, as the 

 settlers in the neighbourhood are not willing to sell their pods at prices offered, preferring to prepare 

 it in their own manner, and sell it to the Produce Buyer. 



The Superintendent has several times been out collecting plants for the Gardens and for the Her- 

 barium, and has also dried several specimens of garden plants. 



The nutmeg and the clove trees have borne heavy crops. The yield of one clove tree was esti- 

 mated at half a bushel. The Liberian coffee is in vigorous health and bears plentifully. 



The cocoa plantation is not in good soil, and would be all the better for a large quantity of man- 

 ure, if the expenditure were possible. One of the trees known as ebony, {Diospyros discolor, Willd.) 

 has produced fruit from which plants have been propagated. The Mangosteen {Garcinia Mangostana, 

 Linn,) produced for the first time a good crop of fruit. The largest tree of Eucalyptus citriodora has 

 made excellent growth, adding 12 feet to its height during the year. 



Of ornamental trees, Amherstia nobtlis, and Mesua ferrea have again flowered profusely, and a 

 small number of seeds were produced, from which plants have been raised. Ficus Vogelii has made 

 good growth, and Wormia Burbidgei is now a large shrub, and flowers profusely. The largest plant 

 of the Cannon Ball tree ( Couroupita guianensis ) and the Litchi (Nephelium Litchi) have flowered 

 for the first time but neither have matured fruit. The following palms have flowered for the first 

 time : — Caryota Blancoi, Arenga saccharifera, Ptychosperma gracilis, Verschaffeltia splendida, but no 

 eeed was formed. Two large specimens of palms have died, namely Rhopalostylis Baueri, and Acantho- 

 riza aculeata, — the latter has been replaced by a small plant, but there are no duplicates of the former. 



