> Thanks Neil, A note of interest here is Anderson sailing to Guiana in search of plants in 1791 - one of these curators was captured by a French privateer on his way to the Caribbean - I wonder if this was Anderson as the dates sure are turbulent times in those islands. Valentine Morris got along well with the French but by this date he's doing time in the King's Bench. Hmmm...just seems like this is a weird time to be seeking out plants in hostile times... of course, the worst was yet to come by a few years. Very interesting. Fascinating times. > > > "In 1791 Mr Anderson sailed to Guiana in search of valuable plants, > where his zeal was amply rewarded". He now received a degree of M.D. > from a scotish university and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society > of > Edinburgh. The Society of Arts presented him with their silver medal, > elected him a corresponding member in 1798. > > "Mr William Lochead, who succeeded Dr Anderson in July 1811, introduced > several Nutmegs from Cayenne and other plants which he had nursed in > Trinidad. These were transported by Captain Dix of his Majesty's sloop > Cygnet in 1809." (However as I noted in my first posting Dr Anderson is > credited with introducing Nutmegs to Saint Vincent.) > > In a letter dated Nov.18 1803 Dr Anderson stated "The two nutmegs are > thriving luxuriantly: my sincere wish is, that they may be male and > female. I think it rather strange, that plants of them, as well as > other > useful productions of the East, have not been before now sent to these > colonies. Except the two nutmegs here, I believe there is not another > individual in any of the British Islands on this side of the Atlantic. > To the French we are indebted for all the most valuable of the East > India plants we at present possess." > > > My father in law, John (Jackie) Manning Cave, from Barbados, was either > Deputy Superintendent or Superintendent of the Garden in 1950 to 1956. Cool. > He and his family (including his daughter Elizabeth, my wife) lived in > the old house in the garden. There was a tree, (the Spakea Perforata - > but don't trust my spelling) found on the slopes of Soufriere that had > been transplanted to the garden. It was reputed to be the only one ever > found. They were looking for another to propogate it with. > Does anyone know the outcome of that? > I believe the Soufriere Tree you speak of is the only one still in existence. I'll be there sometime next week - will try to get an honest answer for you. Thank you again for this post. best wishes, Cindy > Neil