77 
disappears some distance before it reaches the coast, and finds 
its way to the sea. In floods, however, the water comes down 
with singular force and volume, filling the rocky bed, which is 
200 yards across, where the highway passes it from bank to 
bank. The water is described as advancing in huge waves, like 
the “bore” of a tideway. On these occasions it is very 
destructive, and it has already washed away many acres of 
cane land on its right bank.’ 
The slopes of the higher mountains are scored with deep 
ravines, and during the rainy season white clouds hover over 
them day and night. Here the vegetation partakes largely of 
an arboreal character, with an abundant undergrowth of ferns, 
and on the margins and banks of streams, species of 
Scitamineue, Avroideae, Cyperaceae, and some palms. Of tree 
ferns there are four species of Cyathea, two species of 
Hemitelia, and three species of Alsophila. At all elevations 
on mountain slopes are numerous open glades, showing the 
sites of former cultivation—the provision grounds of the 
natives—-that have become covered with coarse grasses and 
dry-loving ferns. The characteristic fern of such localities is 
Gleichenia. 
In the lowlands, in valleys and on easy slopes, the original 
vegetation has been for the most part cleared for the 
cultivation of sugar-cane, arrowroot and other plants. On 
rocky cliffs are found numerous bushes and trees of stunted 
growth, some of them overhanging the sea. With these are 
an Agave and Bromeliaceae. 
St. Vincent is singularly free from swamps. Hence, there 
is nowhere any large extent of the tangled vegetation so 
characteristic of swampy districts in the tropics. The 
mangrove trees are only sparingly distributed. The manchineel 
tree (Hippomane Mancinella) and the sea-side grape (Coccoloba 
uvifera) are found on sea beaches. 
‘The climate is, of course, tropical. The temperature is 
singularly equable and averages between 75° and 85° degrees. 
It is tempered by the N. E. trade winds during nine months of 
the year. During the months of August, September and 
October, the winds become variable, and not infrequently veer 
to the south or south-west. Hurricanes or heavy gales are 
rare. St. Vincent is one of the most healthy islands of the 
West Indies. The slope of the land causes a natural drainage, 
and there are no swamps or marshes,’ 
In 1890, the Assistant Director of the Royal Gardens [now 
Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies] 
visited St. Vincent during a term of inspection throughout 
the West Indies, made at the instance of the Secretary of State. 
His report, which embodies many particulars regarding its 
present economic position, will be found in the Kew Bulletin 
for 1890 (pp. 140-5). 
In the last century St. Vincent was remarkable for 
possessing the first Botanic Garden (founded 1765), certainly in 
the West Indies, and perhaps in any tropical part of the world. 
An account. of this garden is given in the Kew Bulletin for 
