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“... only native species, but also
introductions such as the oil palm of West Africa (Eleeis
guineensis), the talipot of Ceylon (Corypha umbraculifera),
the date palms and other species of Phoenix ; the grace-
ful bamboos ; the curious screw pines (Pandanus spp.)
supported on their stilt roots ; and the native cannon-
ball tree (Couroupita guianensis). Masses of colour are
provided in season by the flamboyant tree (Poinciana
regia), the Queen of Flowers (Lagerstrcemia flosregince),
the wonderful Burmese Amherstia nobilis, the tree
Cassias, such climbers as the gorgeous bougainvilleas,
the Shower of Gold (Bignonia), and the beautiful white
and gold Camcensia maxima near the Fern Houses.
Amongst the shrubs, the crotons, hibiscus, and poin-
settias, cannot fail to delight the visitor from temperate
regions. Scattered about the gardens are numerous ex-
amples of the umbrella-shaped saman or rain-tree (Pithe-
colobium saman), the finest example being one by the
west comer of...”
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“... realised
when it is said that they are each 1,000 feet long by no
feet wide, while their gates are steel structures 7 feet
thick, 65 feet long, from 47 to 82 feet high, and weigh
from 390 to 730 tons each. Ships do not pass through
the locks under their own power, but are towed by power-
ful electric locomotives, or “ mules ” as they are called,
running on tracks along the lock walls. To avoid risks
of vessels running amok and ramming the lock gates,
fender chains are placed on the up-stream side of the
guard gates, besides intermediate and safety gates.
These chains are lowered into grooves in the lock .floor
to enable vessels to pass, and are then raised again
by machinery. Special emergency dams of an elaborate
nature are also provided. The entire lock machinery is
operated by electricity generated by the overflow from
the Gatun Lake. The operation of opening the lock
gates, filling and emptying the lock chambers (each
containing from 3! to 5 million cubic feet, of water...”
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“...440 POCKET GUIDE TO THE WEST INDIES
or boucans. On these trays they are " danced,** that is to
say, the black labourers dance or trample on them in order to
remove the dry pulp, and the beans are then dried in the sun.
The boucans have sliding roofs, which are closed over them when,
as is often the case in the middle of the day, the sun is too power-
ful, or when it comes on to rain. In some cases artificial drying
apparatus is used. When the cacao is quite dry or “ cured,**
it is shipped in bags, each bag containing roughly ij cwt.
In the United Kingdom, Empire cacao enjoys a tariff prefer-
ence of 25. 4d. (56c.) per cwt., and under the trade agreement
with Canada (.see page 435) British West Indian cacao is given an
exclusive preference of $2.00 (85. 4d.) per 100 lbs. in the
Dominion.
THE BANANA INDUSTRY. In Jamaica the banana in-
dustry has assumed enormous proportions, over 23,000,000
bunches having been exported in a year. The bulk of them
go to the United States...”
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