Aug.  r,  1896.] 
THK  TROPICAL 
agriculturist. 
I2r 
BOTANIC  CARDENS,  GRENADA. 
From  the  annual  report  for  1895,  by  >V . L. 
Broadway,  Curator,  Vve  make  the  lollowing 
extracts 
GENEKAL  KEMAUKS. 
1.  The  Garden  was  founded  in  1886  (Annual  Re- 
port for  1391)  during  the  administration  of  Sir  Walter 
Sendall,  k.c.m.g.,  tlien  Governor  of  the  Island,  and 
sine  e its  ex  stonce  has  made  on  the  whole  consider- 
able progress.  If  remarks  from  disinterested  persons 
are  worthy  of  notice,  similar  ones  to  the  following 
are  not  uncommon — “ a crab  hole  a few^  years  ago,  a 
respectable  garden  at  the  present  time.' 
Though  one  becomes  accustomed  to  tlie^  rapid 
growth  of  plants  in  tropical  countries,  yet  it  is  often 
hard  to  realize  that  plants  and  trees  could  assume 
such  proportions  in  the  shoit  space  of  time  since 
their  first  being  planted,  and  trees  which  wore  at 
first  intended  for  shade  purposes  have  had  to  be 
thinned  out  as  they  cramped  one  another.  Eucaly- 
ptus, Samaus,  Ficus,  and  various  Palms,  have  many 
of  them  grown  into  large  trees. 
From  the  main  entrance  one  cannot  but  notice  the 
healthy  Oreodoxa  palms  on  each  side,  which  form  a 
very  pretty  avenue.  Passing  the  nurserie  on  the  left, 
one  continues  along  a straight  road  until  the  notice 
board  to  the  oMce  is  reached.  .no  ’ 
p'  oiu  the  office  one  gets  a fine  view  of  St.  George  s 
shi  rping  in  the  Careuage,  the  wharf,  Govefunieiit 
bnipdings,  the  Fort  and  its  flagstaff.  From  the 
seciond  entrance  to  the  gardens,  one  walks  up  an  avenue 
of  small  palms  and  a selection  of  different  varieties 
of  Crotons.  This,  again,  leads  on  to  tlie  colfeo  plania- 
tion  on  the  right  and  to  the  orchard  on  the  left. 
INSECT  TESTS. 
2 Two  large  Cassia,  ilovida  trees  have  been  done 
away  with,  as  every  plant  growing  under  their  shade, 
or  near  them,  have  been  coiitiniially  covered  oy  a sooi- 
like  substance.  On  examination,  the  cassia  leaves 
proved  to  be  the  abode  of  numberless  scale  insects 
which  we  take  to  bo  the  source  of  all  the  mischief. 
Specimens  of  these  have  been  sent  to  Mr.  I.  W. 
Urich,  F.E.S.  of  Trinidad,  for  determination,  witn 
other  kinds  of  plant  pests.  , . , 
Another  pltiiit  for  like  attack  is  the  Goveruoi 
Plum.  Trees  of  this,  which  form  both  a screen  and 
wind  brake  in  front  of  the  office,  are  covered 
with  a black  coating.  On  the  under  side  of  the 
leaf  several  scale  insects  resembling  the  cassia 
one  alluded  to  above  may  be  observed.  Scale  insects, 
mealy  bugs,  and  black  stinging  ants  are  a scourge  to 
the  Garden,  each  and  all  exist  in  unlimited  niiinber.s. 
Grubs  in-  fruit  on  the  other  hand  are  uuknovyn, 
and  caterpillars  scarce,  owing  probably  to  the  riiiantity 
of  birds  and  lizards  in  the  Garden. 
A Ceylon  tree  (a  species  of  Cinnamomuni)  has 
during  the  past  eighteen  months  been  a disfigurement 
to  the  Garden,  due  to  its  dirty  black  appearance. 
It  stands  in  a prominent  section  near  the  rose  beds, 
audits  proximity  toother  plants  affects  those  nearest 
to  it  with  the  same  blight.  We  are  trying  to  remedy 
this  by  removing  the  old  soil  from  the  surface,  four 
feet  from  the  base  of  the  tree  trunk  outwards,  and 
to  a depth  of  a few  inches,  ami  by  digging  a trench 
around  the  outer  extremity.  Manure  and  rotted 
vegetable  refuse  replaces  the  old  soil  removed,  and 
it  is  to  be  hoped  this  may  in  time  have  the  desired 
effect  in  ridding  the  tree  of  Rs  unnatural  coating  by 
inducing  a more  vigorous  root  growth. 
In  the  determination  of  the  Coccida,  we  beg  to 
thank  Mr.  Urich  for  ready  assistance  already  given 
in  this  direction. 
PKOFESSOU  .1.  B.  HAimisON's  VISIT. 
3 The  services  of  Professor  Harrison,  the  Govern- 
ment Analyst  of  British  Guiana,  having  been  ob- 
tained by  the  Government,  ho  visited  the  colony 
during  the  month  of  January  for  the  purpose  of 
selectin''  sample  soils  from  different  districts  of  the 
colony,  °anl  in  so  doing  to  enable  by  reporting  on 
them  to  advise  planters  as  to  the  deficiencies  in 
their  soils  and  the  best  manures  to  apply  to  them. 
As  Curator  of  the  Botanic  Garden,  the  Government 
permitted  me  to  accompany  the  Professor  through- 
out bis  tour  of  Grenada  and  Carriaoou,  which  gave 
me  a splendid  opportunity  of  meeting  planters  and 
proprietors  and  to  note  the  agricultural  position  of 
tho  colony.  As  there  has  been  no  fitting  oppor- 
tunity hitherto,  I make  use  of  my  present  report  to 
thank  the  following  gentlemen  for  their  kind  hospita- 
lity and  cordiality  shown  me  when  undertaking  the 
tour  in  question: — 
Mr.  George  Whitefield  Smith,  Bell  Vue;  Mr.  A. 
J.  Best,  Carriere ; Mr.  G.  Setoii  Browne,  Dunferm- 
line; Mr,  F.  Harford,  L’Esterre;  Hon.  William  H. 
Lascelles,  Annandale ; Mr.  R.  J.  Graves,  Minorca ; 
Hon.  F.  Gurney,  Mount  Felix;  Mr.  Win.  Copland, 
Tufton  Hall,  (since  dead  I am  sorry  to  say) ; Mr. 
G.  DeFreitas;  Corinth;  Hon.  D.  S.  DeFreitas,  Dou- 
g.ildston  ; Dr.  Latoiir,  Gouyave;  Mr.  Henry  LaMothe, 
Grand  B.icolet ; Hon.  James  Paterson,  Carriacon. 
When  visiting  Carriacou  the  Hon.  James  Paterson 
most  kindly  went  to  the  trouble  of  showing  us  over 
BO  much  of  the  island  as  wo  could  see  during  the 
hours  at  our  disposal.  Professor  Harrison’s  report 
has  recently  appeared  in  the  Official  Gazette, 
January  13th,  1896.  He  remarks  on  the  Jiotanic 
Garden: — •*  This  soil  is  deficient  in  phosphates, 
potash,  and  available  lime.  Its  retension  power 
for  water  is  low,  I would  recommend  that  the  soil 
ought  to  be  dressed  with  “ mild”  lime,  i.e.,  slake  lime 
exposed  to  dry  air  until  it  has  ceased  to  be  Caustic, 
in  quantities  of  about  h ton  to  the  acre.  It  requires 
the  addition  of  large  quantities  of  farm  yard  or  pen 
manure.  Its  deficiency  in  potash  will  be  best  met 
by  the  use  of  Ohlendor'ff’s  early  cane  manure  or  similar 
preparations.” 
FOUESTRY. 
4.  The  rapidity  with  v/hich  Grenada  is  being 
denuded  of  its  forest  trees  has  assuined  alarming 
proportions. 
A circular  referring  directly  to  this  sub- 
ject was  publish  by  the  Hon.  Edward  Drayton 
when  administering  tlio  Government  of  tlie  colony 
last  June. 
The  Governor,  Sir  Charles  Bruce,  k.c.m.g.,  is  giving 
this  subject  serious  attention  and  in  the  near  future 
we  hope  to  liave  plants  prepared  for  the  replanting 
of  forest  trees  in  a systematic  manner.  In  Decem- 
ber we  planted  on  tho  Moriic  Rouge  estate,  wliich 
has  recently  been  escheaoed  to  the  Government,  sixty 
small  teak  plants  which  may  be  regarded  as  the 
beginning  to  the  forestry  scheme. 
The  valley  at  tho  back  of  the  dwelling  house  at 
Morue  Rouge  oug'nt  to  prove  suitable  as  an  orange 
cultivation,  as  suggested  by  tho  Governor,  the  soil 
appearing  fertile  judging  from  the  vegetables  (“pro- 
visions ”),  bananas,  and  plantains  leaired  from  it,  and 
also  on  account  of  its  being  screened  from  high  winds. 
The  estate  of  Morne  Rouge  is  accessible  from  town 
by  either  sea  or  land,  and  distant  only  some  two 
miles. 
Subsequent  to  the  teak  planting  at  Morne  Rouge, 
the  Spout  Lauds  iiave  undergone  a partial  cleaning, 
and  logwood  planted  there.  Eventually,  tho  wliolo 
of  these  lands  will  be  planted  out  in  logwood.  'The 
Spoilt  Lauds  are  under  the  control  of  the  Curator  of 
the  Botanic  Garden. 
CARRIACOU. 
6.  Six  hundred  Liberian  Coffee  Plauis  have  been 
given  to  Mr.  J.  McNeilly  on  the  Dumfries  Estate  for 
trial  purposes  in  the  Island  of  Carriacou. 
At  present  the  main  products  of  that  Island  ap- 
pear to  be  cotton,  ground  nuts,  and  ground  pro- 
visions (vegetables  ) 
It  is  also  used  for  rearing  sheep,  cattle,  and  horses, 
for  sale.  Should  this  venture  prove  a success  and 
coffee  and  cacao  become  established  at  Carriacou, 
it  will  be  of  immense  advantage  to  the  island,  and 
Mr.  McNeilly  v/ill  be  deserving  of  the  thanks  and 
gratitude  of  the  Carriacou  residents. 
The  Hon.  J.  Paterson,  of  Carriacon,  is  making 
efforts  in  a similar  way.  Daring  the  dry  weather 
Carriacou  looks  as  though  a fire  had  swept  over  it, 
the  grass  becomes  parched  or  dries  up  altogether 
o.ving  in  a great  measure  to  the  hills  having  been 
denuded  of  their  tree  growths,  and  as  fast  as  sap- 
lings spring  up,  the  continued  destruction  of  these 
for  fuel.  In  trying  to  establish  permanent  cultiva- 
tions of  coffee  and  cacao  in  a place  like  Carriacou, 
it  would  appear  moat  essential  to  have  ready  before- 
