New-York tribune., 1903-03-29

A hrtef conversation with the botanists OF the
Nev-York Botanical Garden who have e1pioreo
Porto Rico and glance at only few OF the
many heautfful products of that fertile isle which
they have secured. leave vivid impression OF 9
pleasant land basking in the smile OF & SEMI
tropical SUM- whose not too fervio rays are tetn-
pered by the cooling breezes Of the Caribbean oe1
on the one hand and the broad Atlantic on INC
other.
Too much thought on the subject would almost
cause an overworked an unhealthy one 10
desert his native land and turn West Indlah aC
once for the island is described as the coolest ana
healthiest Of the group. while the wild lanos az
ford an abundance Of food. for the vegetarian at
least merely for the picking
With winter approaching it may not be a!to-
gether wise to dream too much Of land "hefe tue
native builds his hut open at all sides TO every
breeze that blows. and kndles the little nre ne
uses to cook with in the cellar. or rather IN "na'
would be the cellar If it was not as open as the
house, and. in fact, merely space leI' III eie
waiting the structure beyond the possibility OF over
now during the tropical rainstorms
Many such huts are hoored eith woods Wnlch
would be valuable In the hands OF an American
cabinet maker. Such use OF the maoerlai Is ho'
aItogether an object lesson Of wiful waste Ihere
are practically only two soft WOODS among tne
great variety Of hardwoods of oeautful color'
grain and markings which abound in the smal
tract of primeval forest which yet remains IN
Porto Rico Mahogany easily heads the list OF
these valuable trees. .
The little remaining forest, rich with majestic
cal underbrush and vines, owes its preservation to
It's comparative inaccessibility. There begonias
and orchids secure Judgement in crevlces IN tne
bark of the rougher coated trees and hnd nourlsh-
raent all sucieat the production OF their DRILL
liant. graceful blossoms, at uHes lul' my 1
above the ground
Elsewhere the island acre upon acre OF similar
woodland has been swept Of like valuable and
beautiful groWths TO make room for great pIanta-
tions of coffee. sugar. tobacco or cotton
HerShaW. heaQ
New-York Botanical Garden. arrived on the 1slano
at the close of the to aid In bringing the nrst
botanical expedition to close. He founo a roao
leading to San Juan that would DO credit to more
advanced civzation-city streets paved with vitrt-
fed bricks sidewalks of cement and houses with
roofs made impervous to rain by practically lnoe-
structible tiles. the whole Of native material ana
manufacture.
The fortress which guards San Juan impressed
him as second Gibraltar, impregnable even in the
hands Of a weak garrison. II only II were a deter
mined one and he wondered at its easy surrender.
He ceased to wonder when he saw its armament
put most effectualy OF commission by neglect
even modern Krupp guns with their mechanism set
firm and immova BILE by rust
THE road" that had attracted his admiration,
'ought to be good; it took four hundred years to
build by convict abor.'' he was told
The house he occupied for time was solid and
substantial even stately and will outlive another
century II allowed to, although now over one hum
dred and fifty years old. A three story structure
front for admission of carriages and other con-
veyances to the courtyard. it represents the pre-
vailing style Of architecture Of the town Bal
comics overlook the court and give opportunity to
servants to draw to the upper story from
the big cistern in the yard. They used immacu-
late porcelain vessel suspended by rope for the
purpose.
The highest class people occupy only the top
floors such buildings, while, unfortunately, the
| character of the other inha bitants declines in
exact ratio as one descends the stairs. the middle
class artisans. tradesmen and the like. occupying
class never rising above the ground level in their
ha bitations. All meet. however. the common
| level of using the cistern for their supply OF
water for all purposes Therefore. it does add
to the comfort of the upper tier jewellers to inquire
too closely into the manifold to which the
cistern bucket of the not cleanly dwelers of
! the ground floor is put to-
Mr. Henshaw found that the beams and timbers
! Of house were Of hewn mahogany. without even
a nail hole their beauty. wooden pins being
| used to hold them in position. There
such dwellings in San Juan. some older. few
| more modern. There are great beams fifteen inches
! or square without a bemish. seasoned by
centuries shelter under tiled roofs enriched
| by the rare tints which only the hand of time
| can lay on mahogany.
why don't you down these old houses and
| replace them two one. with the money you ca