New-York tribune., 1909-05-02
HUNTING TROPIC FLOR4.I
Results of Trip of DR.. Britton in
Jamaica and Cuba.

lands for rare or unknown trees, shrubs, fruits
and flowers. DR.. N L. Britton, director in chief
Of the New York Botanical Garden, has spent
the last two months, and he has prepared re-
port of the results attained which makes inter-
esting reading ''In continuation" he tells the
scientific directors of the garden "of botanical
exploration and collecting in the West Indies
and tropical Continental America, was absent
from the garden from February 20 to April II,
1909 L was accompanied by DR.. Marshall A
Howe. curator of our museums, and by Mrs
Britton-
1--WE reached Kingston, Jamaica, on February
., and devoted two days TO studies at the Hope
Botanical Gardens where we were cordially re-
ceived by the Hon h. H. Cousins. Director Of
Agriculture, who facilitated work in many
ways We had q pleasant interview with his
exceIIency, Sir Sydney Olivier. and are grateful
to him for his interest in Investigations
"'Our principal object in visiting Jamaica was
the exploration of the difficult John Crow Noun
tain Range, near the eastern end Of the island
We proceeded by carriage from Kingston, and
q number OF interesting plants was found IN
thickets and woodlands along the road. among
them fine climbing vine of the genus Paullinia,
of the soap berry family, covered with snowy
fruit of which museum specimens were OBJ
tanned
sOur first penetration Of the John Crow Noun
tains was accomplished March ., 3 and 4 Leav-
ing Mrs Britton to care for the collections, AR.
Harris, Superintendent Of Public Gardens and
Plantations IN Jamaica, and drove to Bache-
Ior's Hall, and with five men climbed into the
northeastern foothills of the range, traversing
cleaned and cultivated slopes up to about nine
hundred feet altitude, succeeded by the wonder
fully attractive virgin forest. composed of many
kinds of tail trees, among them magnificent
specimens OF the Mammee apple CMamrnea
Americana). widely distributed in the West In
dies, here reaching splendid development, and
the local and little known Lunania polydactyia,
OF the F7acourtia family. of which excellent
specimens were collected. The underground of
the forest Is composed of many kinds Of small
trees and shrubs several of them seen here by
US for the first time, together with many ferns
and a fine growth of the long thatch palm
CGeonoma), among which camped at twelve
hundred feet elevation, using the leaves for bed
mattresses and for a roof
Starting soon after sunrise the next morning.
We climbed steep slopes Lp to a plateau known
as the Big Level about twenty-five hundred
feet elevation The collections made were sent
out by one of the bearers for preservation We
were disappointed in finding that the forest on
the Big Level had been practically destroyed
by the hurricane which devastated much of ia
ing il by hunters trails, and by slow climbing
through fallen logs reached 2,620 feet altitude
by aneroid barometer reading. the crest Of the
range being apparently at least four hundred
feet higher On March 4 explored the forest
in the vicinity. which proved 10 be the best col
Iecting ground, yielding specimens Of many in
teresting species the most elegant being vine
of the Meadow : eauty family, with great
masses of rose pini- flowers We returned well
satisfied with the results Of the trip.
HOn March a study was made of the coast
bIlIsjdes near Bowde- on March a horseback
trim was made to the Cuna Cuna Gap, and the
following day was given to collecting in the
coastal woodlands and the thickets at Holland
Raw and Morant Point Many interesting spe-
cies of trees and shrubs were found on these
trips and large collections were made
~Our second penetration Of the mountain
range was made on March 9, 10 and H. with
the kind corporation Of the Hon Commander
Edward Codrington Hall, r N ctstos OF the
parish OF Portland, who placed his mountain
camp at our disposal. This excellent base Is 10
Lated o1 the eastern slope Of the southern end OF
tb. Holm Crow Mountains. at an altitude SHOWN
bv the aneroid barometer to be about sixteen
hundred feet Although not more than five miles
distant from our camp Of the previous week. the
Forest trees and other plants were quite differ
ent well illustrating the peculiarly local distri-
button of many elements Of the west lndian