May i, 1882.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
99 r 
of li 
bed, 
the adv 
culture 
simpiy 
and tin 
growth 
But I v 
Large a< 
ormed a mos 
:hc3 and bury 
: think. Wd 
due course 
the fruit 
was required, 
was obviously 
had very likely 
•aspberry would 
ind of soil, and 
sight of a hod 
an alder swamp 
dl was therefore 
for vegetables, 
erably vigorous 
was tho result. 
to start afresh, reserving the old plants for present 
exigencies. 
In making the new bed particular attention was 
given to ensure a robust growth, which in the rasp- 
THE ESPIRITU SANTO PLANT. 
Of all the orchidaceous plants that grow on the 
ithmus of Panama, there is none that appeals to the 
digious sentiment and popular imagination SO strongly 
3 the celebrated dove plant or Etmtritu Santo orchid. 
spread wings, 
While other ai 
dov< 
it exhibits a 
ie projecting 
ery striking 
w hence the 
white waxy flowers, yielding a v 
On looking at the flower the c 
column which, with its summit 
gland of the pollen masses, be 
resemblance to the liguro of ; 
English name of the genus. 
The Spanish ladies, with that r 
of the Roman Catholic Church, 
takes so prominent a place, asso 
the bird selected by the Holy 
Baptism of our Saviour, and by 
known. To call it the Holy Ghost flower sounds 
harsh and even irreverent to Protestant ears. The 
effect of tho Espfritu Santo flower is at once devotional 
aud poetical. That it should form a striking subject 
for 1 he exercise of some of the Spanish American poets, 
who have seeu the plant in its native wood is natural 
and to be expected. They have not only celebrated 
t for the imagery 
which the dove 
:1 the name with 
it to wituess the 
I his name it is still 
(he 
rev in their verses f 
hire and fragrance 
and mourn over tl 
idiom the gift seem 
its 
>eauty, 
seized 
f poets 
liked for a dessert fruit. 
"It was reasonable to 
preparation of the bed 
und for culinary 
but as it is not 
not be generally 
careful 
tionate 
expect 
of the 
end 
results, but I must confess I certainly did i 
to see anything like the extraordinary vigc 
first year's growth. Not only did tho ro 
over the trenches, but they quickly met and became 
interlaced in tho alleys, the entire surfi.ee soon bristling 
with suckers, which could only bo kept under by 
repeated hoeings. Tho canes left to' grow in the 
rows were wonderfully robust ; and the old canes, 
which had been shortened to about a foot at the 
time of planting, put forth some shoots bearing such 
good fruits as to cause one to regret having shortened 
them so much. I do not, however, think it good 
practice to leave the canes of a now bed uupruned 
as is sometimes done, but would always reduce them 
to 1ft. or 2ft. In autumn when tho leaf had fallen 
two wires were strained along each row, one 2ft. 
from the ground, and tho other aboui 3ft. 6 in. : the 
canes wero then pruned a uniform height of 4ft., 
tied upright to the wires, aud the work was complete. 
"Tho bed has now been in full bearing for two 
season?, tho fruit being both abundant and fine. A 
hoavy annual top dressing of manure is given fco the 
alleys. Tho soil is never disturbed, t ut remains intact 
just as it was left after the planting. As the fruit 
ripens tho bed receives ono or two thorough soakiugs 
of wa'er or some liquid manure, which provi vms 
beneficial to tho crop, making the latest pickings of 
fruit quito equal to tho first in sjjse aud colour." 
— A lutritlumm. 
poi try, and di 
Santo flower 0 
two last veraci 
t) rest in the 
JL'unama, addressed to a lady. In the 
he expresses a hope, when be is laid 
grave, that although ho expect no ono 
to shed a tear to his memory, some kind hand will 
lay on the black pall that covers his coflin a few 
flowers of the Espfritu Santo. The verses are as follows: 
"Ah! Onando a fuerza de tormentoa horridos 
Cese de palpitar mi corazon : 
Cuando deje esta vida triste y mfser.i, 
Para dormir tranquilo en el panteon, 
Yo so que nadic vertera una lagrima; 
I ojalii que siquiera por favor, 
Alguicn coloque en mi enlutado feretro 
Del Espfritu Santo alguna flor.'*' 
Tho love of flowers is very common in Panama, 
aud few balconies are without them. 
The Espfritu Saulo plant or Peristeria data was a 
favourito of the Nuns, but cauont be made to go on 
flowering in Panama. The bulbs may ho preserved 
alive for a long time, but they refuse to produco 
llowrs. They must have a period of rest in a com- 
pan ively cool atmosphere, but during thoir growth 
and flowering they require a cool and very moist 
atm sphere. Tho hot und dry seasons send thotn to 
slei p, and Bleep on they will in the air of the const 
and city, while such conditions of the requisite mo-lure 
and temperature are kept from them. 
Tho supply, however, is kept up by several Jamaica- 
men, who make it a business to feek for them in tho 
forests that skirt tho higher regions through which 
Railroad passes, especially about Lion Hill Station. 
They aro not found so **ar u wo know iu Wraquaa 
or Chiriqui, though tho Cordill arsof both the e depart- 
ments abound iu exquisite Mid raro orchids, Theso 
