15 



If the number of gardens in the Island were reduced, there ought to be, at any rate, three at 

 these elevations with a heavy annual rainfall. _ 



It is of course advisable that there should be experimental gardens representing other climatic 

 conditions, one for instance for plants suited to the southern division of Mr. Maxwell Hall's weather 

 reports with an average annual rainfall of 52| inches, and for such an experimental station the garden 

 at Hope is admirably situated. • i t i j u 



The design to make Hope Garden the chief, if not the only Botanic Garden m the Island, has 

 always seemed to have been advanced without any sufficient reason. With the small average rainfall 

 of 52.83 inches, it can never be thoroughly successful as a Botanic Garden, even with abundance of 

 water for irrigation. But when it is found that the water ia liable to be withheld in order that the 

 wants may be supplied of a large area like the Liguanea plains including the capital, Kingston, with 

 an ever increasing population ; when a drought may necessitate the diverting of the whole of the 

 water to supply the needs of human beings, with the consequence to the garden of the death of num- 

 berless valuable plants, and the destruction of the work of years : then it seems wise to pause, aud to 

 consider whether it is prudent to continue a large annual expenditure on this garden. 



It is desirable and even necessary to have a garden where plants may be cultivated to represent 

 the dry lowlands such as Sisal Hemp and grapes. But the attempt to make Hope the chief garden 

 must lead to disappointment, and when it is known that it is difficult to propagate even roses in it, it 

 is evident how hopeless is the idea to constitute it the only garden. 



The Public Garden in Kingston, and the garden and grounds at King's House, are attached to 

 the Department as a matter of convenience rather than of necessity. And, although the community 

 would in any case pay for their maintenance, yet if their cost of over £1,000 were deducted from the 

 total cost of the Department, the actual expenditure for Botanic Gardens would at once be seen to be 

 considerably less than is generally supposed. 



Questions of Locality for Head-Quartbrs of the Department. 



The Report adopted by the Legislative Council on 13th October, 1886, provides for the Director 

 a " house at such place as may hereafter be determined on as the best in the common interests of all 

 the Gardens." It further adds that, " in the proposed continuance of provision of a Director, the 

 Committee has recognized the absolute necessity for keeping up a scientific department for the diffu- 

 sion of information and for the distribution of plants, and is decidedly of opinion that its head-quarters 

 should be within as easy reach as is practicable of all classes and accessible from Kingston. The Com- 

 mittee thinks that all requirements will be best met at Hope, and is mindful that extensive buildings 

 will be necessary, in a residence and office for the Director, in a herbarium, in nurseries, and out- 

 offices." 



During the Session of the Legislative Council in March and April, 1892, the following Message 

 from His Excellency the Governor was read : — 



" Honourable Gentlemen — I beg to remind you that the Select Committee of yonr body whose 

 proposals for the future working of the Botanical Department were adopted by you on the 13th 

 October, 1886, recommended as a part of the scheme for constituting Hope Garden the central estab- 

 lishment of the Department, that buildings should be provided there as a residence and office for the 

 Director. 



As it appeared to me that the scheme in question was now so far advanced that the Director 

 should take up his residence, I caused Estimates to be prepared of the cost of providing a residence 

 for the Superintendent, so as to leave the present building at Hope in which the Superintendent now 

 lives available for the Director. The estimates and plans of the residence for the Superintendent hava 

 just been received, and I submit for your favourable consideration that the cost. Six Hundred Pounds 

 (£600) be voted for the current financial year, the estimates for which have already been passed." 



The sum of £600 was thereafter passed ; on the receipt of representations from me His Excel- 

 lency was pleased to appoint a Board, consisting of the Director of Public Works, and two medical 

 men to inspect the Superintendent's house at Hope. They reported unfavourably of the house, both 

 as regards its structure, and its nearness to the Reservoirs, and I was therefore informed that a sum 

 would be placed on the estimates for next year for the erection of another house. 



I had the honour also to represent to His Excellency that to transfer the head-quarters from 

 Cinchona to Hope, it is necessary first to provide several buildings, as was recognized and insisted upon 

 by the Select Committee, all of which are already provided at Cinchona. 



The Herbarium is of vital importance in carrying on the work of the Department, as reference is 

 made almost daily to the collection of dried plants. The building containing it should have a room for 

 the Herbarium-cabinets, microscopes, &c., for the purpose of study, and a room for the assistants for 

 drying plants, changing drying papers, mounting dried plants for the cabinets, &c. 



The Library and Director's Office should be in a separate building from his private residence. 

 The Library may be used by the gardeners, and it must be in immediate connection with the Director's 

 Office for the sake of the references which have constantly to be made to books. 



An office for the Clerk is necessary. It should be distinct from the Director's Office, and be large 

 enough to hold presses for filing correspondence, holding departmental account books and printed 

 papers, stationery, &c. 



^ Quarters for the Clerk and Herbarium- Assistants are absolutely necessary considering the inac- 

 cessibility of Hope Gardens, and the want of accommodation in the neighbourhood. The distance 

 from Kingston is 6 miles. 



The buildings at Cinchona for all the above purposes are rather small, but in the heat of the 

 plains, it would not be possible to use buildings unless constructed of much more ample dimensions. 



