The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-05-08
A Few Notes on Jamaica.

LACIdHSC udS DCCll W UlC 1Sld1lu Ol
Jamaica and gives quite an interest
ing account OF the country and what
it produces. While it is by no means
all devoted to the floral beauties of the
Island, yet it seems more appropri-
ate in this department than else
where. 1t is quite long and was
printed in two parts in different pa
pers. We shall divide it into at
least two, possibly more parts.
The recent earthquake calamity has
brought Jamaica before the eyes of
the whole civilized world, but so far
as [ have seen very little has been
said about the natural conditions and
vegetation of the island, and this be-
ing SO, as [ spent some busy weeks
there a few years ago, maybe a note
or two horticulturally on this most
lovely West Indian land may inter-
est few Of your readers.
Jamaica lies about 90 miles south
OF Cuba and is somewhat turtle shap-
ed, and about IA miles long by near
ly 50 miles wide; it has a surface area
Of over 1900 square miles, equal to
over 2,o02,5OO acres. 1t is familiar
ly termed "The Gem Of the Antilles,'
and we'll so, for it is one of the most
beautiful spots on earth. Near the
sea and here and there inland near
the rivers there is a good deal of
comparatively level land, but most
of the interior is exceedingly noun
famous Blue Mountain peak is
7,423 feet above sea level and this is
higher than any mountain peak on
the North American continent east
Of the Mississippi River.
The south side of Jamaica
Kingston ISIS somewhat hot and
dry; the north side is more salubrious
and moist, the rainfall there being
100 to 100 inches "a year Jamaica is
thoroughly English, the English lan-
guage is the only one spoken and
the money is {. S. d. The island is
densely populated about 100000 peo-
pie live there. Of these $1,000 are
said to be true whites, $4,000 or $1,000
East Indian coolies, and 100000 col
ored people varying from darkest
Africa to white-skinned, blue-eyed n.y.
birds. The color line as we know it
is unheeded, niscegenation troubles
no one; in churches, at balls and par
ties colored and white appear on
equal footing. Some 81 per cent. of
the children born in Jamaica are il
legitimate!
The whole island is one of extrav-
agant beauty and the tropical luxur-
lance of the north slopes is only ex-
celled by Trinidad. At the same time
everywhere I was struck by the alb
sence of big forest trees. The Ceiba
was the greatest and it Rugged the
lOWlands and as individuals mostly.
Along the roadsides the Bread fruit
abounded and it is the most tropical
looking tree in the West Indies; but
it is not native there, it comes from
the South Sea Islands, Next is the
Akee apple from West Africa and
the Mango from India. The Mangoes
are naturalized everywhere Com
mon also are Star apple trees, Gala
bash, Poinciana, Mahoes, Rain tree,
Kola trumpet tree (spathdoia), I'M
mortelle tree (Erythrina umbrosa),
cedar (Cedrela odorata), etc. I saw
enormous bamboos in MANY places,
notably at Bog Walk, but little use
IS made of them, the wood is so per-
ishable.
The Principal Gardens
Private gardens are not preten-
tious, nor is there much attempt at
tasteful effect Spottiness prevails,
and too often the plants are allowed
:: choking .go,,as-you..please. DISPOSE
ton. This is disappointing in land
of infinite variety.
The Parade Garden, or public park,
at Kingston is fairly we'll shaded with
1..4 - IL