307 



Tecoma serratifolia, G. Don. W Indies. 



Thrinax argentea, Lodd. Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Bahamas. 



T. barbadensis, Lodd. Barbados 



Vanilla africana, Lindl. Tropical Africa. 



Verscbaffeltia splendida, H. Wendl Seychelles. 



Wallichia sp. 



The elevation of this Garden was supposed to be 580 feet above sea- 

 level, but this appears now to be incorrect. 



After the readings have been reduced to the standards of Kew 

 ( — .005), gravity ( — .063) and 82°, and compared with the Kingston 

 readings, the height of Castleton appears to be 496 feet above sea- 

 level there being used the following approximate formula : 



B — B 



Height -48,727 + 58.3 (Tj + TJ ' ^' 



B, +B,. 



where T= temperature, and B= reading of barometer." (Weather 

 Report for January, 1898.) 



The average annual mean temperature is 76. 1° F., and the average 

 annual rainfall 113.29 inches for twenty-six years. The amount of 

 rain that fell during the year was 116.77 inches. 



The wettest months were April, May, September, October, and the 

 driest were June, January, February and March. 



The mean temperature for the year was 75.0° F. 



The Meteorologial tables for the different months are given on 

 page 317. 



Hill Gardens. 



The following Report is by the Superintendent, Mr Wm. Harris : — 



The usual work of manuring, forking beds and borders, pruning, 

 cutting lawn grass, sowing seeds, propagating, potting and watering 

 plants, was attended to during the year, and the gardens and surround- 

 ings were kept constantly in excellent order. 



In the maintenance of a good garden there are numerous matters 

 of detail requiring unrem'itting care, which would be tedious to enu- 

 merate fully in an annual report. The beds in the old nursery garden 

 have been renovated and planted with the better kinds of Geraniums, 

 Fuchsia, etc. These are intended to form stock plants to supply ma- 

 terial for propagating purposes. 



A portion of the lawn, in the garden proper, suddenly sunk consi- 

 derably below the proper level, thus forming a basin which was filled 

 with water during rainy weather. It became necessary to lift the 

 turf, level the ground, and re-lay the grass. This was done most suc- 

 cessfully. 



Orange Garden at Eesource. 

 The work of getting this garden into a good state of cultivation 

 has received special attention, and, so far, the results have been sa- 

 tisfactory. Weeds grow so rapidly that continual hoeing is necessary 

 and, as they are not allowed to seed to any extent, they will, in time, 

 be got under. 



Nearly all the plants have had a dressing of good rotten manure, 

 carefully forked in, and the surface then covered with litter to pre- 

 vent excessive evaporation. This treatment has had a most beneficial 



