The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-03-13
Porto RIco's Flora.

New Workers Will soon have an
opportunity Of reviewing the row-
ers. shrubs. plants. ferris and trees
% III. United states new po..ss-
sion. Thanks 10 Cornelius Wander
biit. who 10 supplying IN. funds. A.
A. Heller h now In Porto Rico In
charge Of an expedition which IL
thoroughly exploring the iiera OF the
island. and win gather every possible
specimen for the New York notan-
ieal garden In iironx park. Mr.
Heiier's work will be supplemented
by that 81 Samuel Henrhaw. head
gardener Of the botanical gardens.
sho viii leave FOR Porto Rico within
few weeks
Flora Of Porto Rico. accordinef 20
Prof. Nathaniel f.or,f Britton, direc-
tor In chief Of the botanical garden.
are next 10. unknown. The Span
iards never had energy enough 20
undertake a study Of Porto Rlcan
fora. and they distracted foreign
scientists. who. they thought. might
be harbortng revolutionary designs
under the guise u navants Two
German botanists. however, BY a
liberal bribing OF the Spanish on
ciais. did succeed I'm making n linn
tied survey and collection of the no
ra- One Of them was Herr schwaen-
exc. who visited Porto Rico In 1880.
the other was Herr sinternis. who
went partially over the island about
20 years ago. The studies q these
two men comprise about all that IL
known OF Porto Hican fora
We anticipate not Less than 20. :
900 specimens from Porto Rico. .
said Prof. Brftton. THAT In the
minimum estimate. These estimates
vii include woods. seeds. fruit
trees and plants. fbres and vexet-
able products Of every dlscoverable
kind. Many samples Of every kind
will be taken. We intend 60 get as
species in order to exchange with
other institutions. both national and
foreign. for specimens Of the plants
Of other tropical countries that we
do not possess."
Prof. Britton added that II IL be-
IIeved some Of the rarest orchids In
the world are growing unknown In
the interior OF Porto Rico. There
are iuxuriant tree palms one hun
dred feet In height. rich ferns Ror-
geous flowers Of all descriptions.
banana. orange. lemon and other
plants.
Each Of the Porto Rican plants.
Prof. flritton said. would be treated
according To its nature. Some Of the
fern and other roots can be packed
in sawdust aud sent here. The saw
dust gets moist and acts ne n protec-
tive Of the roots. Not more than n
week IL required TO get them from
Porto Rico 30 New York. From 9th
er plants and trees cuttings will be
made. and the full grown product
will be developed here. Stili other
flowers, shrubs and plants will be
raised from seeds gathered by Hell
Ter and HenHhaw.
The Porto Rican fora will be pre-
ciseiy the same degrees Of heat here
that prevail in their home. The
heating in the greenhouses will be
under perfect control. admitting Of
temperature I'm every building Of
10 degrees Fahrenheit during the
coolest weather. The radiating SUR
face Of the pipes viii be so Waived
that this temperature can be de-
creased and regulated at win.
I'm addition to the Porto Rican
greenery I'm the horticultural build
lngs." said Prof. Britton. I'VE will
have an abundance of logs of Porto
Rican trees and specimens Of fruits,
nbers, and vegetable products,
which Will be placed In the museum
building Altogether we thing the
collection will be such as To make
the New York B0utanical garden
the finest in the world."-New York