JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] DECEMBER, 1896. V ° L 



J Part 12. 



Report of the Director on the Department of Public Gardens and Plan- 

 tations for the Year ended 31st March. 1896. 



" In a purely agricultural country like Jamaica a well organized De- 

 " partment of Gardens and Plantations is invaluable, not only for in- 

 " troducing and propagating such plants as are most suitable to the 

 " climate and soil, but also for the dissemination of the knowledge re- 

 " quisite to cultivate the products of the Island to the b°st advantage." 

 Royal Finance Commissioners' Report. 



Contents : 



Page 



I. Introduction: Objects ... 265 



II. On the Gardens ... 268 



III. Educational ... 272 



IV. Popular Lectures ... 278 

 V. Herbarium ... 285 



VI. Library ... 286 

 VII. Superintendents' Reports — 



(a) Hill Gardens ... 289 



(b) Hope Gardens ... 293 



(c) Castleton Garden ... 301 



(d) King's House Gardens and Grounds 305 



(e) Public Garden, Kingston ... 306 



(f) Bath Garden ... 307 

 VIII. Reports on (a) Free Grants ... 30' 



(b) Onions ... 308 



IX. Meteorologioal Tables ... 311 



I. INTRODUCTION: 



Objects. 



The quotation from the Royal Commissioners, which is placed at the 

 head of this Report has always been the guiding motto of the Depart- 

 ment. All the officers have thrown themselves into all and every work 

 which might be helpful to the agricultural progress of the Island. 

 We have not confined ourselves by any means to botany and horticul- 



