Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 64.djvu/434

430 offices, a storehouse and a small building designed for lodging visitors to the station, the entire suite being admirably adapted for the purposes for which it has been secured.

The grounds contain a large number of introduced ferns, shrubs and trees, together with many native species. The valley of the Clyde River at an elevation of about 3,000 feet is within a mile; New Haven Gap and Morse's Gap, three miles distant at a level not much different from the station, furnish unequaled opportunities for the examination of a primitive tropical forest. The summit of John Crow peak may be reached from Morse's Gap, and here at an elevation of 6,000 feet the forest of tree ferns is so luxuriant that a view of the surrounding lower country is obtained with difficulty. The wealth of ferns, hepatics and other lower forms as well as of seed-plants that may be found here is remarkable. In addition, the flora of the coastal region of the island, and the vast collections in Hope Gardens and Castleton Gardens place within easy reach of the visitor an enormous number of species native to regions with a range of conditions from the most humid to those of extreme aridity. The algal flora of the coast is also easily accessible.

The government record proves the general climatic conditions prevalent at Cinchona to be very equable. Thus the lowest temperature reached in the winter of 1899-00 was 53.90° and the highest temperature of the following summer was 70.4°.

The station at Cinchona is in direct communication with Kingston, a city of 60,000 inhabitants, from which place nearly all supplies are obtained.

In addition to the facilities offered by the station at Cinchona, the government of Jamaica, by the courtesy of Hon. Wm. Fawcett, director of the Public Gardens and Plantations, has granted to the garden substantial privileges which will be of great value to visiting investigators. Among these may be mentioned the opportunities for study at Hope Garden, which lies near sea-level near Kingston, including the use of a table in the laboratory, and of the library of about twelve hundred volumes. Botanists are also to be allowed to withdraw books from this library for use at Cinchona under conditions imposed by Mr. Fawcett. Castleton Garden and the other plantations of the government are likewise open to the student.

All persons who may apply for permission to study at Cinchona must submit such evidence as the director-in-chief of the New York Botanical Garden may require that they are competent to pursue investigation to advantage. While in residence at Cinchona they will be under the supervision of the Hon. William Fawcett, director of Public Gardens and Plantations, to whose interest and advice the establishment of this American Tropical Laboratory is largely due.