'Mr Wallen's plantation in the mountains'
The Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, from Their Commencement, in 1665, to the Year 1800: 1785-1790
The British Critic, Volume 2
F. and C. Rivington, 1793
page 149
Art VI Edwards’s History of the West Indies
.
Art VI Edwards’s History of the West Indies
.
. . . . and we cannot resist the opportunity of presenting a view of Mr Wallen's plantation in the mountains, as it announces circumstances of high curiosity to those who are not fully apprised of the peculiarities sometimes found even in Tropical climates.
“ At Cold Spring, the seat of Mr Wallen, a very high situation six miles further in the country, possessed by a gentleman who has taste to relish its beauties and improve its productions, the general state of the thermometer is from 55 to 65°. It has been observed so low as 44°; so that a fire there, even at noon day, is not only comfortable but necessary a great part of the year (h). It may be supposed, that a sudden transition from the hot atmosphere of the plains, to the chill air of the higher regions, is commonly productive of mischievous effects on the human frame; but this, I believe, is seldom the case, if the traveller, as prudence dictates, sets off at the dawn of the morning (when the pores of the skin are in some measure shut) and is clothed somewhat warmer than usual. With these precautions, excursions into the uplands are always found safe, salubrious, and delightful. I will observe too, in the words of an agreeable writer [Brydone] that on the tops of high mountains, where the air is pure and refined, and where there is not that immense weight of gross vapours pressing upon the body, the mind acts with greater freedom, and all the functions, both of soul and body are performed in a superior manner.” p. 184
(h) Cold Spring is 4,100 feet above the level of the sea. The soil is a black mould on a brown marl; but few or none of the tropical fruits will flourish in so cold a climate. Neither the nesberry, the avocado pear, the star apple, nor the orange, will bear within a considerable height of Mr Wallen's garden; but many of the English fruits, as the apple, the peach, and the strawberry, flourish there in great perfection, with several other valuable exotics; among which I observed a great number of very fine plants of the tea-tree and other oriental productions. The ground in its native state is almost entirely covered with different forts of the fern of which Mr Wallen has reckoned about 400 distinct species. A person visiting Cold Spring for the first time, almost conceives himself transported to a distant part of the world; the air and face of the country so widely differing from that of the regions he has left. Even the birds are all strangers to him. Among others peculiar to these lofty regions, is a species of the swallow, the plumage of which varies in colour like the neck of a drake, and there is a very fine songbird called the fish-eye, of a blackish brown, with a white ring round the neck. I visited this place in December 1788 the thermometer stood at 57° at sun-rise and never exceeded 64° in the hottest part of the day. I thought the climate the most delightful that I had ever experienced. On the Blue Mountain peak, which is 7,431 feet from the level of the sea the thermometer was found to range from 47° at the sun-rise to 58° at noon even in the month of August. See Med. Comment. Edin. 1780.
“ At Cold Spring, the seat of Mr Wallen, a very high situation six miles further in the country, possessed by a gentleman who has taste to relish its beauties and improve its productions, the general state of the thermometer is from 55 to 65°. It has been observed so low as 44°; so that a fire there, even at noon day, is not only comfortable but necessary a great part of the year (h). It may be supposed, that a sudden transition from the hot atmosphere of the plains, to the chill air of the higher regions, is commonly productive of mischievous effects on the human frame; but this, I believe, is seldom the case, if the traveller, as prudence dictates, sets off at the dawn of the morning (when the pores of the skin are in some measure shut) and is clothed somewhat warmer than usual. With these precautions, excursions into the uplands are always found safe, salubrious, and delightful. I will observe too, in the words of an agreeable writer [Brydone] that on the tops of high mountains, where the air is pure and refined, and where there is not that immense weight of gross vapours pressing upon the body, the mind acts with greater freedom, and all the functions, both of soul and body are performed in a superior manner.” p. 184
(h) Cold Spring is 4,100 feet above the level of the sea. The soil is a black mould on a brown marl; but few or none of the tropical fruits will flourish in so cold a climate. Neither the nesberry, the avocado pear, the star apple, nor the orange, will bear within a considerable height of Mr Wallen's garden; but many of the English fruits, as the apple, the peach, and the strawberry, flourish there in great perfection, with several other valuable exotics; among which I observed a great number of very fine plants of the tea-tree and other oriental productions. The ground in its native state is almost entirely covered with different forts of the fern of which Mr Wallen has reckoned about 400 distinct species. A person visiting Cold Spring for the first time, almost conceives himself transported to a distant part of the world; the air and face of the country so widely differing from that of the regions he has left. Even the birds are all strangers to him. Among others peculiar to these lofty regions, is a species of the swallow, the plumage of which varies in colour like the neck of a drake, and there is a very fine songbird called the fish-eye, of a blackish brown, with a white ring round the neck. I visited this place in December 1788 the thermometer stood at 57° at sun-rise and never exceeded 64° in the hottest part of the day. I thought the climate the most delightful that I had ever experienced. On the Blue Mountain peak, which is 7,431 feet from the level of the sea the thermometer was found to range from 47° at the sun-rise to 58° at noon even in the month of August. See Med. Comment. Edin. 1780.
Hortus Jamaicensis, Or, A Botanical Description, (according to the Linnean System) and an Account of the Virtues, &c., of Its Indigenous Plants Hitherto Known, as Also of the Most Useful Exotics,
Volume 2
John Lunan
Printed at the office of the St. Jago de la Vega gazette, 1814
The Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement, Volume 13
John Claudius Loudon, 1837
John Claudius Loudon, 1837
from The botanical cabinet, vol. 3:(1827) [G. Loddiges]
|
Macfadyen's Flora of Jamaica.
Thea viridis, the green tea plant, “was introduced into the garden at Cold Spring by the late M. Wallen, Esq. The house had for many years fallen into decay, and the garden was neglected, and allowed to grow up in weeds. Notwithstanding this, on clearing the land, for the purpose of planting it with coffee, about two years ago, the tea trees were found to have survived, and young plants to have grown up. They are now in a very thriving condition, flowering, and perfecting their seeds; and a supply of young plants may at any time be procured.” (p. 119.) |
CARIBBEANA, Volume IV
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS FROM
"THE COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MISCELLANY"
Published in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1796-1799
JANUARY, 1797
DIED:
At Cold Spring, in Port Royal Mountains, Matthew Wallen, Esq., Member of Assembly for Port Royal.
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS FROM
"THE COLUMBIAN MAGAZINE OR MONTHLY MISCELLANY"
Published in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1796-1799
JANUARY, 1797
DIED:
At Cold Spring, in Port Royal Mountains, Matthew Wallen, Esq., Member of Assembly for Port Royal.
