84 
THE TEOPICAL AGRICDLTUEIST. [Aus. 1, 1900. 
TRINIDAD BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT : 
(extracts from the ANNt AL RRPORT OF THE 
SUPERINTENDENT ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, 
(J. L. HART, ESQ , F.L.S.,) FOR 1899.) 
Establishment. — Mr. Millen acted as Assistaut 
Superintendent from November to March when he 
was succeeded by Mr. W Leslie from Boyal Garden?, 
Kew. JVIr. Milien took up tlie duties as Curator of 
the new Botanic Station which was started in Tobago, 
in March. 
The staff is now aa follows :— 
1 Superintendent, J H Hart, VX..S. ; 2 Curiitor, 
Tobago, H Millen ; 3 Assistant Supfcriiitcndent, 
Leslie ; 4 Clerk, H O Massy ; 5 Gardner, G .vern- 
ment House, J Bailey ; 6 Cacao Iiistruistor, Tobigo, 
W E Gaines ; and 7 Herbarium Assistant, Pauline 
McLean. 
"Meteorology, — The rainfall of the year was very 
small, and tbe driest since 1885, only 46'7(5 inches 
having fallen. In 1885 only 43-22 inches fell. 
Herbarium. — Over 200 sheets of specimens h=i.ve 
recently been returned from Kew where they had 
been sent for determination. Among the plants new 
to Trinidad, are several Mainland species, as was 
to be expected. Last year I recorded the determina- 
tion of a new species of Lacuma, and I have collected 
seed spacimens during the year which show that 
there is yet another undescribed species, of this genus 
to be registered for Trinidad. Growing seeds were 
secured, and we have numerous young plants at f'^.e 
Experiment Station at St. Olair where the plants 
can be grown on to maturity. Oacao disea-se has 
demanded attention, and a repDrt received from 
Mr. Massee of Kew shows that in all probability 
the diseases prevalent in Trinidad are similar, if 
not identical with those of Ceylon. The disease 
causing the death of Tangerine oranges has also 
, been studied during the year and found to be due 
to a micro-fungus which attacks the stem of the 
plants at the ground line. -This was sent for ex- 
amination to Kew. Mr. Massee's report runs as 
follows :— . 
Deceased Orange Tree erom Trinidad. — The tree 
has been killed by a fungus called Botryodiplodia 
diplocarpct Ellis & Everht, v.'hich appears on the 
surface of the stem under the form of black warts 
that have burst through the bark. The fungus was 
first observed attacking orange trees at Pointe a la 
Hach, La, U. S. A, (Signed) George Masses, 
8lh January, 1900. 
This fungus is most destructive to varieties of 
Citrus nobilis (Tangerine, Manderine, &o.) and 
also the St. Michael's. It is less so to the Seville 
or bitter orange. It is probable therefore, that by 
grafting on the latter stock, the effects of the 
disease may be largely mitigated. In some districts 
in Trinidad it is almost impossible to get the 
Tangerine to live but for a short time, and many 
trees are suddenly killed out, which a few weeks 
previous were pictures of health. The disease is 
seldom discovered until it has gone beyond remedy, 
and I would therefore counsel frequent examination 
of the stems at the ground line, and when found 
to be effected they should be dressed with awash 
of sulphate of copper and lime, which we have 
commenced to use apparepitly with success. 
Margravia eleyans, Kr. & TIrban ; M. JIartii, 
Kr. et Urban ; Dnguetia lucida, Urban, and 
Inoa, Tlortii, Urban, are the names of four new 
species sent on to us from the Berlin Herbarium. 
Polypodium tijuccanmn, Radd., was also regist- 
ered for the first time n.s a Trinidad plant during 
the year by our cinifrvre of British Guiana, G S 
Jenman, Etq. In 1895 I r(:ported that the Herbarium 
Cabinets were full, but as yet no new ones have 
been added. This work will be more conveniently 
carried out at St. Clair, and will bo commenced 
I trust during the ensuing year. Our Cabinets are 
from trees cut upon the Establishment, and are 
made by the regular employes of the department. 
Considerable intei-est has lately been shown in 
connection with leguminous plants as agents by 
which nitrogen is made available in the soil for 
the use of other plants. 
Several genera and species have been examined, 
and the nodules containing the nitrifying bacteria 
have been examined, the bacteria found, coloured, 
and mounted for future reference. The " Saniaii " 
tree, Pithecolohiuiii Samaii, has been found to pro- 
produce nodules containing abundant bacteria. 
A very large number of specimens of the local 
flora h i vs been brought in during the year, dried 
and mounted ; and our work in the old quarters is 
now cramped for vv-ant of room. His Excellency 
the Governor has authorized a provision on the 
estimates ot £500, for the erection of a new office 
and Heibarium at St. Clair, where ample room will 
be arranged for. The Herbariura will be transferred 
as soon as the new quarters are ready, and subse- 
quently all office work of the Department will be 
done at St. Clair. Provision has also been made oa 
the Estimiites for a new microscope of modern 
pattern with apparatus for biological work ; and ia 
the new quarters a suitable room will be provided 
for its use. Tiie microscopic work on the cacao 
fungus, carried on during 1899 in the Trinidad Her- 
barium, elicited commendations from the Director 
Royal Girdens in the Kew Bulletin, when report- 
ing work on the fungus by the Kew Staff. 
Reports on the above vyere published in the Tri- 
nidad Bulletin at the time they were received. The 
main points were, first : That a fungus, PJiy- 
tophthora omnivora, was found to be very destruc- 
tive to full grown cacao pods ; second : A fungus 
Ncctria Baiiiii was also found upon the pods, whether 
parasitic or not has not been determined : third : 
Upon the bark of cankered trees another species 
of Nectria was also found which is anpposed to be 
similar to that causing canker in Ceylon. (Signed) 
— George Masses. 
Espebiment Station, St. Clair. — All the work on 
the new establishment was la»t year recorded under 
the head " Economic Section." The new station is, 
however, primarily, an establishment for carrying 
out the larger portion of the work of the Botanical De- 
partment, and embraces Agricultural, Horticultural, 
Arboricultural and Botanical duties, vpith various 
sub-divisions. The station itself is divided into 
three principal sections. The Ist or eastern sec- 
tion is principally devoted to fruit culture. The 
2nd division is being laid for Botanical purposes 
chiefly, and will contain the new offices of the 
Department (shortly to be erected) and all cultiva- 
tions of Botanical interest, or of scientific and 
decorative value. The third division is laid out in 
trial plots for the various economic plants, and for 
the raising and testing ot seedling canes. It con- 
tains the nurseries, tool houses, experiment and pot- 
ting sheds, propagating houses, stables and work- 
yards, &c., &o. 
The work carried on by the Department when all 
arrangements are completed will be as follows ; — 
1. Agricultural and Horticultural experiments 
and trials including the raising and testing of seed- 
ling canes. 
2. The propagation and distribution of timber 
trees, economic and decorative plants (by sale or 
otherwise.) 
3. The cultivation and trial of different classes of na- 
tive and imported trees and plants of Botanical interest. 
4. The study of diseases of plants, occasioned by 
insects, fungi, &c, cfec. 
5. The collection from forest and roadside of 
Botanical specimens, in view of the preparation of 
. a Flora of the island of Trinidad, and for scientilia 
reference. 
C. Collecting, importing, and growing the beat 
varieties of tropical fruits, to prove their value fot 
Triuida^. 
