New-York tribune., 1903-05-11
PLANTS OF VEST INDIES.
Fine Specimens IN Botanical Gardens
-ErpIorati0n Treasures.

D. N L Britton Of the Botanical Museum.
talked most Interestingly OF the vegetation Of the
West Indies yesterday afternoon. in the lecture
course which is being given Saturday afternoons
at the museum The museum has been oeVoung
itself TO the botanical exploration Of these islands
for two years past, keeping some one IN the helo
most OF the time and constantly adding fine spec-
mems TO the greenhouses The richness OF the west
indies as g botanical field Of all proportion
70 thefr extent for scarcely any other portion OF
the earrh's surface produces so many species NOT
found elsewhere on the globe. On the little Island
of ST Kits. for instance. not SO large as staten
Island. fifteen species have been discovered which
are not known outside this little bit OF uopic
earth In the mountains Of Jamaica ntty-siI
species have been discovered not known elsewhere
The most curious feature OF the case Is tha6 no
Two islands are alike. and one viii have plants
quite unknown IN the next one This makes IL
necessary to explore each separately and care
fully. in order 10 know the whole
In all the islands there is e marked difference
between the vegetation OF the mountains and the
coast. The mountains intercept the trade winds
and other air currents, and the result is tropical
Jungle while often the coast ss n The case OF
the southern coast q Cuba. viii more nearly re-
senble the arid plains CT the Southwest In an
island as small as Porto Rioo the rainfall varies
from 180 inches in sections 70 scarcely more
than 40 inches which is the rainfall Of New-York.
The soils too are formed simply OF the disintegra-
ZION Of the rock OF which the island is composed In
distinction TO the soil OF the mainland. where the
sceEnEs or the glacial peTlOO D-O1st-L OO"4A anu
mingled the soils OF widely separated territories
These conditions are probably responsible for the
unique botanical conditions often found
In many respects. however. the islands resemble
che another II landing upon the sandy beach OF
an one OF them the sand dunes would be found
covered with mass OF morning glory vines, single
plants often creeping Yards IN length The stln
sp.kes OF Spanish bayonet. 2 tree some thirty
feet nigh. with bayonethke leaves. also guaro
every coast line, while Lne sea grape, with Its
great tropical leaves and its foot long punches Of
E-apeHke fruit is a striking feature Of seashore
veCeracton On St. Kits where hrewood is scarce,
This sea grape furnishes the only fuel they have
70 some twenty thousand colored people
This is the harbor for the sake OF which our
government attempted purchase the Danish
West Indies last year" said Dr.. Britton. as ne
threw z picture Of St Thomas on the screen
Tt IS the best harbor east OF Cuba The entrance
Is not more than one thousand feet from shore TO
sbore. and II would securely shelter feet ten
tines the size Of our NoTth Atlantic squadron
work Of the botanical experiment stations IN IN tne
British West Indian islands = hey nave ave Oseh ser sf
rs5Ifshed By the home government. sald ne - -
iTyasr5zere the botany of the islands, stuoy pant
diseases and INTRODUCES new aAo pT9htaDie rf IN
cuba would be worth millions TO that island N a ne
cultural methods in Cuba are primitive IN the e&
r. sve-v river where the salt water meets the
fresh will be found in the EaangroEe s%is @ |" Ie- |
crtote habit u terminating its young pant Oh ~
trunk whence II drops on ano @ laHTs T.tf@e among
r.
rists another plant peculiar in its naolts oL - re-
1-o51,g-icr Is the bamboo. II is really a go
F-ass me largest % all the grasses GROWING So
@ee. nigh on the h5lisides and walls OF tne
- rF~eouently IL flower and fTlit tlat a.
E1eCes are moi even named botanica4ly, Dec1-s
firssorns and seeds nave never Dseh seer
19-5t4o- zskea 2 man who had lived Tor man. yoe
tesfSs = hsrrtoo grove II ne had ever seen II 49,
T5e T-ar ~erIied that he had not. anG ttat Il We
generally heId thai region tLat pan 49,
4overe6. much as old Jack Tar VIII ssseL' 10
Mother Csrey's chickens never 90 70 iAHN' ~
hs-Oh their chickens under their wings o., .z 49,.
s.C5g eoi5rse the bamboo does mower, , saiu -. "a
.-esirey ,1t al extremely long ana Irregular a. ~
rsrvals A grove Of them was Low. II -,-oeo
~-1s~L lived sixty years without nowerins I Mnel
suddenly j. fruited SO pSo1uSe's H" ~
vgss covered With the seed. ...s s4.,sre
slr ne island Of Jamaica he continued. -
sre i've hundred different varieties OF ferns an & .n
v-sv from a plant less than an men hIgh Sy a -.
serr towering sixty feet above the earih. . toa 81
SCI arvthins YOU want IL the fern Inc DseNeS-
those IN Jamaica - 4,,.s., a4 the
Professor Tnderwoods eTrano 10 Jamaica a. a "a
-reserf ting is TO make more compete eApl4,
sioD ~ the fern life OF the island IN the punilr
ssrse- 81 CssrleIon Jamaica. there Is iiot i.
r.@ceuf avenue Of tree ferns "iASH 49,
f-ouRFr IN from the mountains afo pi'1i-teu syrS
There are many fine specimens OF tiest - ~t-ls-5-9
fn tbe greenhouses their branching IoHus .lao7 a ~
rrses Of delicate green laceTork tnh'!--L.s .bo ~
forty feet circumference + or a los @ - t-ens-
-res,Ir srsTF vas unable 10 discover now 70 =
ror+ The ferns alive But after nuch kPeIidgI1-
Il was found that the big fern insisted on = ,,S
s. lust ore wav and other II lus s ies ,n near
-oos vzere removed and its trunk wfa -
lraev, II dry cool. Il Woulu coia---' -