of blacl^ 3b4e,/,10QQ'fB<5t m thickness, overlaid by a trappean series, all 

 of which' ail3[ placdd'Ji^i^J^ in the Eocene age. Then follow the 



yellow limestone of Miocene times, white limestone of very recent age, 

 and marl, coast lime, and alluvium of post Tertiary times. 



The differences in elevation from sea level to the 7423 feet of the 

 Peak, the various exposures to sunlight, the abundance or the want of 

 rain and dew, the geological formations, all have their influences on 

 plant life, and make the conditions of existence of the most diversified 

 character, and the cultivation of economic plants from all parts of the 

 world an easier task than in most other places. 



HISTORY OF THE GARDENS. 



The first botanic garden in Jamaica was formed about 150 years ago 

 by a private individual, Mr. Hinton East, on his property near the 

 present village of Grordon Town, nine miles from Kingston. After it 

 had been in existence for some years, in 1774 Sir Basil Keith became 

 governor, and determined on ths formation of two government botanic 

 gardens, one a " European garden," and the other a " Tropical garden." 

 In December of the same year a committee of the legislature recom- 

 mended that £700 be appropriated for the purchase of a piece of land 

 proper for a botanic garden, and that £300 sterling be provided for the 

 annual salary of a botanist. 



In 1775 a property named Enfield, adjoining Mr. East's garden, was 

 purchased and Dr. Thomas Clarke came out at the particular instance 

 and request" of Sir Basil Keith, as island botanist, and to take charge 

 of the gardens. Dr. Clarke introduced in 1775 the china tea plant, 

 camphor, litchi, Cycas circinalis (the sago palm"), and Desmodium 

 gyrans ; in 1778 Blighia sapida (Akee) ; and in 1779 the clove tree. 

 Enfield being a " steep hillside," proved unsuitable, and in 1778 a law 

 was passed to purchase land for a botanic garden at or near Bath. The 

 botanic garden at Bath was founded in 1779 and placed under the care 

 of Dr. Thomas Clarke. 



In June 1782 Captain Marshall, of H. M. S. Flora, one of Lord 

 Rodney's squadron, captured a French ship bound from Mauritius for 

 Haiti, carrying a number of plants of economic value. The ship was 

 sent as a prize to Jamaica, and Captain Marshall " with Lord Rod- 

 ney's approbation" deposited the whole collection in Mr. East's garden. 

 Man}" plants were new introductions, and amongst these were the 

 mango, cinnamon, and jack fruit. 



On Mr. East's death in 1790, the Liguanea garden was offered by 

 his nephew to the assembly as a public garden at their own price. 

 It was purchased under the authority of an act of the Assembly, the 

 preamble stating that the garden in Bath was insufficient in extent, 

 and was besides liable to be carried away by the river which had des- 

 troyed two-thirds of the town. 



In 1793 Captain Bligh in H. M. S. Providence brought several 

 hundred plants of the breadfruit and other valuable plants from Ota- 

 heite for the West Indies. These were distributed to the gardens at 

 Liguanea and Bath, and to other centres, and committees were ap- 



