9 



Of terrestrial species, Phajus gi andif oliua is undoubtedly thor best wj huve. This orchid is said to 

 bo a native of China, and is supposed to have been introduced t) Jamaica, but I have found it ut all 

 elevations from oO'J to 5,000 feet, growing in ravines, and in virgin forests, mile-, away from any habita- 

 tion, so that I ara inclined to regard it. as. a native plant. If not native, it certainly as become thoroughly 

 naturalized, and is very plentiful. Blutia Shepherdii, B. purpurea, B. verecunda, and Cyrtopera Wood- 

 ferdii. All these should be grown in pots in a good loam, and they should have plenty of water till 

 rhev finish flowering, then they should be kept rather dry till they begin to make fresh growth. 



W. Harris. 



FREE GRANTS OF PLANTS. 



Free grants arc occasionally made from the surplus stock only to public institutions, but it will 

 save some correspondence, if information iu the following particulars are forwarded with the applica- 

 tion : — 



(1.) Are the plants required solely for the grounds of the public institution named? 

 (2.1 Are these grounds fenced securely against the intrusion of goals, pigs and cattle? 

 (3.) Do you undertake to keep the fences in proper order ? 



(4.) Is there any provision for watering the plants, and tending them while young by keeping 

 down weeds, &c ? 



(5.) Do you undertake to have holes dug for the plants before you send for them, and to have 



them planted at once when received ? 

 (6.) What is the area of the ground ? 

 (7.) Are there any trees or shrubs already growing? 

 (8.) Describe the situation and soil. 

 Carriage of the plants from the Gardens to Kingston must be paid for, before they are sent away. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF SEED. 



I imported a packet of seed of tho "Telegraph" Cucumber which after paying duty and other ex- 

 penses, cost, me one shilling and three pence. It contained six seeds, all of which germinated, but one 

 plant was accidentally destroyed. The remaining five plants were put in a bed about 7 feet long by 3 

 wide; the soil being a very sandy loam well manured with rotten horse dung. The vines were allowed 

 to run on Lignum Vitaj branches, which being very twiggy t,ive good hold for the tendrils ; thus the 

 fruits are kept off the ground and grow of a better shape. The plants were regularly and copiously 

 watered by means of hose and rose. They grew luxuriantly and began to bear in about two months, 

 yielding fruit from the end of January to the end of April. Many of the fruit were 22 inches long and 

 weighed over three pounds each ; frequently between two and three dozen fruit have been hanging on 

 the vines at one time. Until the showers earl} r in April these vines were free from caterpillars and 

 aphides; but then they soon lost their healthy appearance, aphides having attacked them and also a few 

 caterpillars of the moth Pbakellura hyalinata. 



At the same time that I imported the 'Telegraph' I also imported seed of a common field variety 

 of cucumber, " White Spine," obtaining for one shilling an ounce, containing hundreds of seeds, which 

 were treated in the same manner, and at the same time, as the more expensive kind. They germinated 

 very fairly, and the plants were set out in beds of the same soil similarly prepared as that which received 

 the 'Telegraph' plants; in fact, all the plants were treated alike. The ' White Spine' plants occupied 

 beds thirty or forty times as long as that, in which the 'Telegraph' grew. They grew well, but by no 

 means as luxuriantly as the finer kind ; they fruited fairly, but were soon exhausted, and were all dead 

 by the middle of March. The whole lot did not yield so great a weight of fruit as the five " Telegraph" 

 plants, while the fruit of the latter were in every respect far finer. 



I do not mention the above facts as condemning the ' White Spine', but as showing that under the 

 given circumstances the ' Telegraph' is far superior. There may be circumstances in which the reverse 

 would be the case, in which the more delicate variety would not be able to thrive, while tlie White Spine 

 would do fairly well. But the facts do show the supreme importance of good seed, using the word 

 4f good" to signify " adapted to give the best results under the particular ciicumstances of the case." 

 The six seeds cost. 25 per cent more than the common seeds, but gave fully that excess of weight ot 

 superior fruit, with but one thirtieth or fortieth of the labour in cultivation. S a rely there is no subjecf 

 better deserving the earnest attention of the Horticulturist and Agriculturist than the selection of 

 ' Good Seed' ; including in the term ' Seed' whatever is sown or planted. 



J. J. Bowrey. 



Note. — A subscription of 2s. will ensure the delivery at any Post Office in Jamaica of 12 numbers of the "Bulletin." 

 Application may be made at any of the Gardens, or by post to the Director of Public Gardens and Pantations, Gordon 

 Town, P.O., Jamaica. 



