Mr. Oakes Ames-2. 
The general vegetation in Salvador is interesting, and 
there are at least a few undescribed species represented. 
The flora is like that of western Guatemala, (which is practi- 
oally unknown), and, X presume, like that of Pacific! 
Hlcaragua. I found there good many species which were known 
previously only from Costa Rica and Panama. The climate is 
pretty dry, and that is the reason for the paucity of orchids 
and ferns. The highest volcanoes reaoh about 8,000 feet, but 
the volcanoes, unfortunately, are planted with coffee, often 
to their very summits. 
In Guatemala 1 spent about a month, chiefly on the United 
fruit Company’s-properties around Quirigui. There it is as 
wet as Salvador is dry, and the plants are much more inter¬ 
esting. I got over 1,500 numbers, including some orchids. 
The officials of the Fruit Company were certainly very kind, 
and furnished every facility for work there, including all 
accommodations without any charge for them. 
The collections obtained will add materially, I think, 
to our knowledge of Central American vegetation, and will help 
enormously in the preparation of the flora. I specialised 
somewhat in economic data and vernacular names, and secured a 
large quantity of these. About a year from now I should like 
to go back again, to either Honduras, Nicaragua, or Costa 
Rica, although the plans are somewhat dependent upon what Mr. 
Maxon may do that winter (1923-24). With the experience I 
have gotten on the last trip, it should be possible to do 
better upon another trip. 
There is one matter that I might mention here. When I 
was in Guatemala, Mr. Gooch, of the United Fruit Co., had a 
plant of the white-flowered form of By caste skinneri which 
he had obtained for Mr. Victor M. Cutter of the United Fruit 
Company in Boston, who wished to present it to Mr. Preston. 
Mr. Gooch could not bring it into the States himself, and as 
he had been very helpful in my work in Guatemala, I offered 
to bring it in myself, thinking there would be no difficulty. 
When I tried to get the plant passed here by the Horticultural 
Board, all sorts of difficulties were encountered. I finally 
put it with some others (from Colombia?) whioh were being sent 
to you. I understand that the plants have been forwarded to 
you, and if the Xycaste can be turned over to either Mr. Cutter 
or Mr.Preston, with a note of explanation, I should appre¬ 
ciate it very much. It was Mr. Cutter who was responsible for 
the favors extended by the Fruit Company. 
