s 



have since been made. I was sorry also not to have had an opportunity of correcting the notes for the 

 press, as I notice several misprints in them. 



You were correct in your belief that the name " Abba" is applied to all arboreous fig-trees in this 

 neighbourhood. Of these there is a remarkable variety. I will at a later date send specimens prepared 

 as you so kindly direct me. 



An enterprising firm of Lagos merchants, who have lately establkhed a branch house in Badagry, 

 have made a fair begining in the rubber business. 



So far as I can at present see, West African rubber will never be reliable so icnj as the natives have 

 the preparation in their own hands. The milk bears transport well, keeps well, and pah easily be tested, 

 by letting a sample (mixed with water) stand for twelve hours in a glass vases' . Unless merchants em- 

 ploy reliable men to buy and coagulate the milk, I fear that tha "brade will be of > very ephemeral nature. 

 Yet on the other hand it seems clear, from the large numbers of rubber-giving fig-trees, that a properly 

 conducted trade would be a considerable source of future prosooriiy to She whole coatjt. The present palm 

 oil and kernel trade may be said to depend upon the continuance of eiavery, and is indeed in many ways 

 •n injury to the people. 



The Governor of the Colony, with is usual insight, is encouraging cocoa-nut planting and other similar 

 industries, which will do much to improve the general prosperity. He has already proved that the india- 

 rubber industry is by no means the least important of these branches of commerce.* 



Altan MillsoK. 



PLANT NOTES. 



Beaumontia grandiflora, Wall. This handsome, strong-growing climber is now (November) flower- 

 ing profusely in many gardens. It belongs to the Order Apocynacera and is a native of northern India. 



The flowers are bell-shaped, I or 5 inches long and about 4 inches across, pure white in colour, 

 and delicately scented. They are produced in cymes, and I have counted ao many so 30 flower buds, 

 and expanded flowers in a single cyme. The plant is seen to the best advantage when trained over a high 

 fence, or allowed to grow naturally over a spreading tree. It is easily propogated by layers. Branches 

 20 or 30 feet long may be laid on the ground pegged down at intervals, and covered with soil just at 

 the joints. The soil should be kept moist, and in a few weeks it will be found that roots have been 

 thrown out from the under surface at almost every joint, while the buds, or young branches on the 

 upper surface, receiving increased nourishment from the newly-made root3, quickly develop and make 

 plants of a nice size. 



When 8 or 9 inches high they may be severed from the parent plant or branch. This should be 

 done by cutting the branch through with a sharp knife, leaving half an inch to an inch of the old 

 branch on each side of the young plant. 



It is just as well to allow the young plant to remain in the ground for a few days after being 

 severed, then they should be taken up carefully and potted, or plsated in a permanent position, as may 

 be desired. A good sandy loam will be found to suit this plant best, and it should have a fair supply 

 of water. 



There is a plant of Beaumontia Jerdoniana, Wight, at Caetleton. It has smaller leaves, and is not 

 such a robust grower as B. grandiflora. Its flowere too, which are not produced in such profuseness, 

 are funnel-shaped, white in colour, but slightly suffused with pink. 



Barleria cristata, Linn. This is a very attractive, free-flowering shrub, nstive of the East Indies. 

 It appears to thrive well in any ordinary garden soil, and requires little attention. Its funnel-shaped 

 flowers, which vary in colour from light purple to pinkish-mauve, are produced in great profuseness 

 nearly all the year round. The plant stands the sun well, and is easily propagated by cuttings. 



Strobilanthes coloratus, T. Anders. This is also an East Indian plant but, unlike the preceding, it 

 does not thrive in the sun. It has ovate, serrated leaves, dark green above and purplich-claret colour 

 beneath. The flowers are tubular, about one and a half inches long, pale purple in colour, and are pro- 

 duced in panicles, several hundreds in each panicle. The plant should be grown in a shady situation, 

 and it requires good rich soil, and should never be allowed to suffer for want of water. When carefully 

 treated it produces its beautiful flowers in great abundance. This very desirable garden plant was sent 

 to Jamaica from the Royal Gardens, Kew, about two years ago. Cuttings root readily. 



Orchids. These magnificent plants have received so much attention at the hands of English and 

 other cultivators for so many years that it is surprising in Jamaica, the home of manybeautif .il species, one 

 Seldom meets with them in plant collections. Our native orchids are not so gorgeous as the wonderful 

 Cattleyas, Leelias, Dendrobiums, Vandas, &c, found in other parts of the world, but nevertheless 

 we have several really pretty species that are well worth growing. It must be borne in mind that the 

 ahowy orchids mentioned above are often valued at scores of guineas. 



As a rule our native orchids require little or no cultivation; if fastened on a Calabash, Mango, or 

 ■Ginep tree, and given a little water occasionally during dry weather till they throw outfresh roots, and 

 take hold of the tree to which they are fastened, little more io required. Those that may be treated in 

 this way are :— - Epidendrum fragrans, with its sweet-scented flowers ; E. cochleatura, E. polybulbon, 

 Broughtonia sanguines, with blood-red flowers; Oncidium luridum, 0. tetrupetalum, 0. triquetrum, 

 Schomburgkia Lyonsii, Brassavola cordata, Aeranthes funalis, lonopsis utricularioides, a charming, 

 profuse flowering species; Brassia macuiata, B. caudata, Pleurothalli3 lougitsima, &e. 



Species that grow in the woods at 4,000 to 5,000 feet elevation should be kept in cool, shady places, 

 and the atmosphere should be kept moist. Those requiring this treatment are : — Oncidium pulchel- 

 lum, without a doubt one of the most beautiful little orchids knov n ; Laelia monophyila, a plant that 

 has been much sought after of late years by connoisseurs in orchidology, it [.ro luces orange coloured 

 flowers nearly an inch across ; Epidendrum jamaicense, Ornithidium confertum, Maxillaria palmifolia, 

 Comparettia falcata, another beautiful species, but seldom seen ; Macradenia lutescens, &c. 



