72 



Three of the Superintendents, Messrs. Harris, Cradwick and Thom- 

 pson are first rate in their particular business as gardeners, and as 

 gardening is the highest branch of plant cultivation, they are well 

 able to give practical information to agriculturists. Their technical 

 knowledge is such as can only be acquired by years of practical work 

 in the best gardens in England. They have all given demonstra- 

 tions which have been appreciated, and constantly give information to 

 visitors to the gardens. 



***** 



LIBRARY. 



The Library is quite as essential for carrying on the work of the 

 Department as the Herbarium. It is not intended for the use of the 

 Public, though, as a matter of fact, such works as can be spared are 

 loaned to planters and students, and the catalogue of books added to 

 this Library each year is published in the Annual Report for general 

 information. 



The Library of the Jamaica Institute contains a large collection of 

 books on Agriculture. These works are always accessible to the public, 

 and there is therefore no need to have a duplicate set in Kingston. Each 

 Garden has already a small Library in the Superintendent's office, and 

 these books are available for consultation by visitors. If it is thought 

 desirable, these collections of books can be added to, and provision 

 made for such increase on the Estimate^. 



The catalogue of the books added during the year is to be found in 

 Appendix T. page 89. 



HERBARIUM. 



This is a collection of plants, carefully dried, mounted on paper, 

 named and arranged in regular order in cabinets. It is an essential 

 element in every Agricultural Department, and it was recognised as 

 such in the early days of the Botanical Department in Jamaica, for one 

 of the chief duties assigned to the Island Botanist was " to collect, 

 class, and describe the native plants of the Island." 



If a plant is known to have an economic value, it is necessary to des- 

 cribe, class, name it, and keep dried specimens for ready reference. For 

 instance, a planter in the Island supplied a Firm in the United States 

 with a quantity of a certain bark, one of our native drugs. The Firm 

 at first refused payment on the ground that it had not the appearance 

 of the bark wanted. Application was made to me to certify the scien- 

 tific name of the bark sent as deduced from specimens of flower, fruit 

 and leaf ; and on receipt of this certificate payment was at once made. 



A Herbarium must be added to indefinitely. 



A collection of those plants only that are known to possess useful 

 properties is not by any means sufficient. Those species may be so si- 

 milar in appearance to closely allied, but worthless species, that it re- 

 quires careful comparison to enable one to state their distinguishing 

 marks. A complete Herbarium is required for the study of economic 

 Botany ; and it is indispensable for the sake of reference when a 



