578 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  ANt)  COTTAGE  GAnDEHER. 
Cccetober  17,  1896. 
leaves  of  which  are  made  baskets,  fans,  matting,  hats,  and  other 
useful  articles,  whilst  the  stem  furnishes  a  beautifully  marked  wood, 
and  the  flower  spathes  yield  toddy,  very  refreshing  when  fresh,  but 
highly  intoxicating  when  fermented.  BertholleHa  excelsa,  the 
Brazil  Nut,  is  represented  by  a  fine  specimen  over  100  feet  high. 
The  fruits  containing  the  nuts,  from  ten  to  twelve  in  number, 
require  the  blow  of  a  heavy  hammer  to  break  the  shsll,  and  as  each 
entire  fruit  weighs  about  3  lbs.,  it  is  dangerous  to  walk  under 
the  trees  during  their  period  of  falling — the  autumn  months. 
The  Sago  Palm  (Sagus  farinifera)  is  near  at  hand,  also  a  low 
growing,  wide  spreading  specimen  of  the  Cingalese  Umbrella  Palm, 
Corypha  umbraculifera.  Beside  an  old  .Nutmeg  tree  is  a  plant  of 
the  handsome  Stevensonia  grandifolia.  Very  peculiar  is  the 
flowering  of  the  Cannon  Ball  Tree,  the  blossom*  being  produced 
from  special  flowering  branches  which  are  short  and  spring  direct 
from  the  main  stem,  bearing  subsequently  huge  fruit  with  a  very 
brittle  shell.  The  above  are  a  few  of  the  interesting  trees  which, 
with  innumerable  bright  and  diversely  coloured  Crotons,  adorn  the 
front  view  of  G-overnment  House  although  fine  specimens  of 
Araucaria  Cooki,  and  what  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  grandest 
plants  of  Amherstia  nobilis  in  the  western  world  must  be  included. 
East  of  Government  House  are  the  tennis  courts,  admirably 
situated  in  the  partial  shade  of  the  luxuriant  tropical  vegetation. 
Tennis  and  cricket  are  in  vogue  all  the  year  round.  From  here  a 
turn  to  the  right  leads  up  a  straight  avenue  of  Fan  Palms  to  the 
office  of  Mr.  Hart,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Botanic  Gardens. 
Before  entering  some  lovely  Orchids,  including  a  number  of  South 
American  Cattleyas,  are  admired.  A  knock  brings  a  turn  of  the 
lock,  or  rather,  the  bidding  to  enter,  in  a  courteous,  well  defined 
English  accent.  Mr.  Hall’s  appearance  after  his  twenty-one  years 
of  life  in  Trinidad,  speaks  volumes  for  the  salubrity  of  the  climate, 
and  if  further  testimony  were  required,  Mrs.  H.  biings  forward  her 
eons  and  daughters  of  tropical  growth.  Some  people  come,  stay  a 
few  days,  ask  questions  from  some  pessimist  perhaps,  and  returning 
to  England  give  injurious  reports  about  this  Eden  of  the  Tropics. 
With  society  as  refined  as  in  London  or  Paris,  and  English  officials 
as  courteous  and  obliging  as  one  could  meet  or  wish  to  meet  with, 
the  wonder  is  that  more  visitors  are  not  a'tracted  to  Trinidad. 
The  Superintendent's  office  contains  a  well-stocked  library, 
including  the  cream  of  botanical  literature,  all  arranged  in  cedar, 
mahogany,  and  teak  bookcases  made  from  wood  grown  here. 
Upstairs  is  the  herbarium,  comprising  over  10,000  specimens  of  the 
Trinidad  flora.  Native  rum  is  here  sampled,  and  appears  to  be 
both  “  g.  ateful  and  comforting.”  Again  in  the  outer  world  and 
choosing  another  route  we  make  our  way  amongst  graceful  snd 
noble  foliage,  interspersed  with  gorgeous  flowering  plants  with 
something  fresh  or  striking  to  admire  at  every  itep.  Here  the 
male  and  female  Ivory  Palms,  Pbytelephas  macrocarpa,  are 
flourishing,  and  what  is,  perhaps,  the  most  beautiful  walk  in  the 
gardens  is  now  before  u«.  This  is  called  “  The  Ravine,”  and  is 
densely  shaded  by  Nutmeg  trees,  with  Palms  over  100  feet  high. 
In  the  gardens  a  space  is  reserved  as  a  nursery  for  the  railing  and 
distribution  of  various  things,  which  may  be  purchased  at  a  small 
cost.  Many  plants  are  propagated  in  bamboo  pots  made  by 
cutting  tbe  canes  into  sections  at  every  joint,  and  for  this  purpoie 
they  are  admirably  adapted.  ~ 
A  red  flowered  variety  of  the  Star  Apple  (Ghrysophyllum) 
would  delight  anyone  when  seeing  it  sheeted  with  blossom,  and  a 
large  specimen  of  Brownea  latifolia,  locally  known  as  “  the 
Mountain  Rose,”  is  not  less  inter( sting.  Mimusops  disiecta  is 
esteemed  for  the  durability  of  its  wood,  and  the  Vanilla  flourishes 
either  on  trees  or  trained  to  trellises.  Cinnamon,  Cardamums, 
with  the  Breadfruit,  Artocsrpu^  integrifolia,  must  not  be  forgotten, 
nor  s  specimen  of  the  Pomme  Malac,  the  Malay  Apple,  which  is 
very  beautiful  in  its  purplish  crimson  flowers.  Nux  vomica  and 
Castillea  elastica  are  each  valuable  in  their  way,  the  latter  for  its 
rubber  production.  _ 
Near  the  gardens  is  a  trial  ground  for  Sugar  canes  that  planters 
may  note  those  varieties  the  most  profitable  to  cultivate.  It  is, 
indeed,  no  easy  task ,  although  it  is  but  an  endeavour  to  notice  some 
of  the  more  prominent  things  comprising  tbe  floral  and  sylvan 
wealth  of  this  island.  The  importance  of  the  economic  section, 
which  includes  cofEee,  cacao,  arrowroot,  and  sugar,  which  embraces 
tropical  fruits  in  profusion  and  of  superb  quality,  can  hardly 
be  over-estimated.  Food.«,  drags,  spices,  everything  in  addition, 
to  gratify  the  eye  and  to  olease  the  palate,  are  characteristic  of 
Trinidad.— (Extracts  from  “Brother  J.’s”  recent  letters  to“E.K., 
Dublin") 
SPIRAEA  JAPONICA. 
As  the  season  for  potting  clumps  of  this  handsome  and  nseful 
forcing  plant  is  with  ns,  a  few  notes  on  the  subject  will  not  be 
inapplicable  at  the  present  time.  Tbe  clumps  of  roots  are  so 
cheaply  obtained,  and  prove  to  be  reliable  in  flowering,  that  the 
method  of  securing  imported  clump*  is  the  best  for  insuring  good 
flowering  plants  over  a  long  period.  It  is  true  that  roots  dug  from 
an  open  piece  of  rich  ground  where  they  have  received  good 
cultivation  for  two  seasons  may  also  prove  excellent  in  every 
respect.  They  may  not  give  the  finest  spikes  of  bloom,  but  those 
that  are  afforded  may  be  utilised  for  cutting,  and  if  retained  on  the 
plant*  the  latter  will  supply  useful  decorative  specimens  for  the 
conservatory. 
Spirseis  are  ready  for  lifting  and  potting  inamediately  the  foliage 
dies  down  in  autumn,  which  usually  occurs  at  the  end  of  October. 
From  that  period  then  until  February  active  growth  is  practically 
quiescent,  though  there  is  plenty  of  force  stored  in  the  bold 
crowns  and  in  the  roots.  Fresh  young  fibres  are  emitted  freely 
from  the  older  when  these  are  in  contact  with  moist  soil  or  material 
of  any  kind.  For  instance,  if  the  clumps  are  not  immediately 
potted,  but  laid  in  clo.sely  together  in  damp  ashes  or  cocoa-nut 
fibre  refuse,  not  burying  the  crowns,  they  will  be  quite  safe  until 
finally  potted. 
It 'is  not  advisable  to  pot  Spirasas  in  les*  sized  pots  than 
6  inches  diameter.  The  smaller  clamps  with  a  limited  number  of 
crown*  are  usually  large  enough  to  fill  the  pots  in  question  ;  7- inch 
pot*  will  accommodate  the  larger  clumps.  So  long  as  they  can  be 
placed  in  tbe  pots  and  worked  low  enough  down  into  positior  they 
will  be  right.  Frequently  there  is  but  little  room  left  for  adding 
soil ;  bnt  this  is  a  matter  of  minor  importance,  because  Spirieas  do 
not  depend  so  much  on  the  food  obtained  from  the  fj-esh  additions 
of  soil  for  the  roots  to  work  in  for  producing  abundant  flowers  as 
upon  an  ample  and  continuous  *upply  of  moisture  from  tbe  time 
the  foliage  begins  to  develop.  However,  any  narrow  interstices 
that  need  filling  up  after  the  clumps  are  placed  in  tbe  pots  may 
have  compoit  carefully  worked  in  with  a  potting  stick. 
The  pots  do  not  need  much  drainage,  one  large  hollow  crock 
placed  over  the  centre  hole  with,  at  most,  a  few  surrounding  it, 
being  ample.  Over  the  drainage  spread  a  lajer  of  manure,  sprink¬ 
ling  upon  that  a  little  soot,  a  moderate  dusting.  For  pot  culture 
an  elaborate  compost  is  not  required.  The  materials  for  forming 
it  may  consist  of  loam  aud  leaf  soil,  adding  to  and  well  intermixing 
with  each  bushel  about  a  pound  of  some  concentrated  manure.  After 
potting  a  cold  frame  is  the  most  suitable  place  to  stand  the  pot*. 
Here  they  may  remain  until  either  they  are  wanted  for  forcing,  or 
the  natural  growth  developing  indicate*  that  a  more  roomy  struc¬ 
ture  would  be  better  for  them.  It  it,  of  course,  important  that  the 
clumps  are  perfectly  moist  when  potted,  and  mainteined  so  in  the 
pots  while  in  the  frame.  Rootlets  may  be  actively  forming  if 
there  is  no  viiible  movement  of  the  crowns,  and  the  active  formation 
of  young  roots  has  a  powerful  influence  in  promoting  a  vigorous 
start.  Nevertheless,  tbe  material  must  be  previously  stored  there 
by  the  well- nourished  foliage  of  the  previous  summer. 
Sphajas  do  not  respond  very  readily  to  forcing  before  the  a  ’vent 
of  the  new  year.  They  are  then  more  easily  excited  into  growth,  and 
are  more  and  more  susceptible  to  increasing  light  and  the  approach 
of  spring.  When  introducing  the  earliest  plants  into  heat,  it  is  best 
to  proceed  gradually,  commencing  with  a  genial  temperature  of  50° 
to  60°,  afterward*  in  a  bottom  heat  of  65°  to  75°,  finishing  off,  if 
necessary,  with  a  little  more. 
The  pots  are  best  plunged  to  the  rim  or  over  in  moi*t  cocoa- 
nut  fibre  refuse.  This  will  both  equalise  the  temperature  and  the 
moisture,  causing  a  steady  and  progressive  development.  As  the 
flower  spikes  show,  the  roots  will  have  become  very  active  indeed,  and 
recourse  may  be  had  to  affording  stimulating  food  in  tbe  shape  of 
liquid  manure  and  solutions  of  artificial  manures,  given  alternately 
with  clear  water.  Feeding  in  this  way  may  be  continuous,  avoiding 
too  strong  doses,  which  may  be  difficult  for  the  plants  to  appropriate. 
More  care  is  necessary  for  the  early  plants  than  the  later,  assimila¬ 
tion,  peihaps,  not  being  quite  so  thorough. 
When  the  plints  are  coming  into  flower  they  take  up  the 
maximum  quantity  of  water,  and  continue  the  same  for  tbe  whole 
time  during  which  the  foliage  is  most  active.  In  order  that  the 
plants  may  not  suffer  from  inadequate  supplies  of  moisture  it  is  a 
good  plan  to  stand  the  pots  in  saucers  of  water,  so  that  the  roots 
may  always  have  moisture  for  absorption.  Without  this,  or  fre¬ 
quent  attention  in  the  hot  sunny  days  of  spring,  the  available 
moisture  in  the  pots  is  soon  gone. 
The  later  plants  do  not  require  bottom  heat,  but  to  bring  them 
on  steadily  a  moist  warm  atmosphere  is  beneficial,  strictly 
attending  in  all  caie*  to  the  supply  of  water  to  the  roots. 
— E.  D.  S. 
