154 



erara, and published in a Report by Messrs. Jenman & Harrison on 

 the agricultural work in the Botanical Gardens for 1890. 



Composition of ripe Baman or Guango (Pithecolobium Baman) beans 



(pods and seeds): — 



In 



fresh state. 



dried at 130° F. 



Water 



54*08 



9 26 



biucose 



10-85 



21-45 



Gums, pectose, etc. 



8-89 



17-58 



Albuminoids 



7-: ; 



14-44 



Oils, fats, etc. 



76 



1-51 



Starch and digestible fibre 



13-73 



27.07 



Indigestible fibre 



2-96 



5-85 



Mineral matters 



1-43 



2-84 





100-00 



100-00 



Containing nitrogen ... 



1-16 



2-31 



A plantation might be made of the Breadnut tree which also grows 

 well in dry situations. Small branches make an excellent fodder, and 

 so do the nuts which are produced in large quantities in September and 

 October. The Ramoon might be grown also for the same purpose. 



Leguminous plants which send down their roots long distances, like 

 Alfalfa, are well worthy of a careful trial, as they stand drought very 

 much better than grass. 



HISTORICAL NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS 



IN JAMAICA. 



By the Editor and W. Harris, F.L S. 

 III. Bananas. 



Bananas and plantains, whether edible, or ornamental only, belonging 

 to the genus Musa, are all natives of the Old World. Sloane says : — 

 " This tree was no native in the West Indies, but brought thither 

 " from the Canary Isles by one Thomas di Berlanga, a Friar, to Santa 

 " Domingo in the year 1516, from whence they were sent to the other 

 " Isles and Main, and they being very useful and taking extremely, 

 " were planted everywhere. Oviedo, lib. 8 cap. 1, but in all proba- 

 " bility this plant came first from Guiana to the Canaries " 



The edible varieties cultivated, now at Hope Gardens have almost 

 all been received from Kew Gardens, either directly, or from the 

 Botanic Gardens at Dominica. The following is a list : — 



1 Almeido pisang. 



2 Apple. 



3 Champa. 



4 Chinese or Dwarf. 



5 Cinerea( Saharanpur). 



