9 



The scheme proposed now to connect Kingston and Hope gardens by 

 -an electric tramway with cheap fares removes the objection that the 

 poorer classes of Kingston would not be able to make use of it. 



Dr. Morris left Jamaica in March 1886 to take up an appointment as 

 assistant director of Kew gardens, Sir H. Norman then referred to a 

 committee of the legislature the consideration of the condition of the 

 department, and the provision to be made for its maintenance in the 

 iuture. The committee submitted a report, which was adopted by the 

 ioouncil in October 1886. In it the committee state that they 



Fully recognize the importance to a purely agricultural colony of an 

 organized department for the giving of reliable and authoritative informa- 

 tion in matters of agriculture and cultivation and for the dissemination of 

 such knowledge. The importance of this is specially enhanced at the pre- 

 sent time when the depressed condition of our staple products in the markets 

 of the world suggests not only the application of all means of science and 

 invention to their more perfect and more economical production, but also 

 the encouragement of the cultivation of those so-called minor products for 

 which the soil and climate of this island are so fortunately suited. Courage 

 may be taken from the experience of Ceylon, where the effects of the failure 

 of its great staple of coffee have in a few years been largely diminished by 

 attention to the cultivation of tea, cocoa, and other products, which has 

 been materially benefited by the interest and fostering care of the botani- 

 cal department of that island. The influence of a trained and scientific 

 chief over such a department must be felt as well in the interchange and 

 in the consequent continuous and careful thought of the information and 

 experience of old and practical planters anc2 cultivators, as in the educa- 

 tion and training of the younger and inexperienced, and in the intelligent 

 and profitable application of means and labour of both peasant and proprie- 

 tor, to present and to new objects of cultivation. 



The work of the gardens department, its chief aims and possibilities, 

 have frequently been brought before the public of Jamaica in the pre - 

 sent director's annual reports. Thus in 1892 occurs the following : 



The two main divisions under which work in a colonial botanical de- 

 partment may be classed are : first, the supply of plants yielding products 

 new to the agriculture of the colony, or of a better kind, or such as are 

 not readily obtainable otherwise, involving experimental and nursery 

 grounds in such situations as are suitable : second, the providing of infor- 

 mation regarding the kind of soil, climate, etc., fitted for the plants, their 

 proper cultivation and preparation for the markets. The second division 

 is most economically and effectively carried on by means of printed mat- 

 ter combined wi h correspondence ; but practical demonstration of methods 

 in the gardens are advisable whenever they can be carried out. Both di- 

 visions imply considerable correspondence with persons in other countries 

 as well as a complete herbarium and a good library. 



During the past twelve and one-half years, from the time that Mr. Mor- 

 ris was first made director, to March 31, 1892, about 220,000 plants have 

 been distributed from Castleton alone, besides seeds which woul 1 produce 

 at least as many plants. This gives an average for a year of 17,600 plants 

 and includes those sent to Hope for distribution from that centre. ^ ^ 



Of those plants, about half the number were such as may be termed 

 •strictly " economic", such as cocoa, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, Liberiau 



