18 \ 

 Foreign Students in^the Gardens. 

 Harvard University. 



In March 1892, the Botanic Gardens of the Harvard University, Massachusetts, sent two repre- 

 sentatives to collect and study at the Botanical Gardens in Jamaica. Mr, Rudolf Blaschka is engaged 

 in making for the University, glass models of flowers, fruit, &c., and their dissections, in order to 

 illustrate the science of Botany, He spent his time here in making accurate coloured drawings of 116 

 different species; and Mr. Robert Cameron, the Curator of the Gardens, made a large collection of 

 dried plants of the same, and other plants for their Herbarium. Professor Goodale wrote, on their 

 return, expressing his appreciation of the facilities afforded them for their work, and of the success 

 which they had attained. 



Apprentices from Lagos. 



Mr. Cradwick supplies the following report on Leigh and Dawodu, who were sent by the Govern- 

 ment of Lagos to be trained at Hope Gardens to lake charge of Botanic Stations in their own coun- 

 try :— 



"The two apprentices have been working under my own special superintendence. Particular at- 

 tention has been paid by me to them, especially in trying to make them smart and workmanlike and 

 to prevent them falling into careless, shiftless ways of working. They have paid special attention to 

 the raising of economic plants, and the careful methods required in germinating seeds, and in protect- 

 ing young seedlings from the many ills which they are subject to. I am pleased to' say that I can 

 now leave either of them in charge of any operation, and know that they will do their beet, not onlv 

 to carry out my instructions, but to use their judgment in the event of any circumstances arising 

 which it was impossible to foresee. In short, they now undei stand what I trv to impress upon every 

 employee under my charge, that a great deal more depends on their takmg an intelligent and thinking 

 interest in their work, than in learning a few rules of thumb, which so often are palmed off for practice 



They have entire charge of all the sowing of the seeds, also care of the orchids. They have had 

 lessons in the curing of cocoa and in the proper planting of it. 



They have also been taught how to properly prepare a pot for the reception of a plant, and how 

 to put the plant into the pot, technically crocking a pot, a very much more important operation than 

 it is usually thought to be, — and lastly pottmg a plant. 



The collecting of seeds is looked after by them, the proper entering of seeds collected, received 

 and sent away is now understood by them ; and also the keeping of the other books necessary in a 

 garden. The meteorological observations are carried out by them. 



I may here mention that if they are industrious and painstaking, when they return home tbev 

 may be placed in charge of a Botanical Station with perfect confidence." ' 



Bulletins, 



m- 



Bulletins Nos. 22 to 29, have been published during the year, containing 33 articles, besides 

 formation in the annual Report, on cultural industries, either quite new or such as might be greathr 

 extended ; on diseases of plants, on soils, and on native plants. ^ 



The following are the contents : — 



No. 22, July 1891.— Report on Fibre Machinery. Cofiee leaf disease. Dr. Burck's method of 

 treatment of the coffee leaf disease in Java. Ferns : Synoptical List: IV 



No. 23, Septr. 1891.~Cocoanut disease at Montego Bay. Cocoa : Samples from London Market. 



Potatoes from Canada sown at Cinchona. Cola-nut or Bissy. Ferns : Sy- 

 noptical List : V. 



No. 24, October 1891. — Nutmegs. Experiments in the cultivation of Vegetables. Soils. The Man- 

 gosteen. The Jamaica Forget-me-not. Sisal Hemp in the Bahamas and 

 Florida. 



No. 25, Nov. 1891. — Ferns: Synoptical List : VI. Curing Nutmegs. Experiments in the culti- 

 vation of Vegetables. 



No. 26, Dec. 1891.— Ferns : Synoptical List: VII. Dried Bananas and Plantain Meal. Gin- 

 ger. Phasmidse or Stick Insects. Cinnamon. Arrowroot. Bay Rum. 

 Nutmegs. 



Nos. 27 & 28, Jany. & Feby. 1892.— Report of the Director of Public Gardens and Plantations for 

 the period ended iJ 1st March, 1891. 



No. 29, March 1892. — Strawberry Cultivation, Liquorice. Cassava. Vegetables. Bay Rum. 



Ginger. Ferns: Synoptical List : Vli£, 



The Bulletin is supplied free of cost to residents in the Island and is a most useful agent in the 

 dissemination of information amongst all classes. Testimony is frequently received of its value to 

 people ill Jamaica ; and it is found useful even by planters in other countries. The following from the 

 Jiditor of the Planter's Monthly, Honolulu, is an example of what is often written I appreciate 

 «' very much the service which you are rendering to progressive agriculture, in the well prepared ar 

 «' tides which appear in the Bulletin which cannot fail to do much good." 



