Cinchona Gardens in the hills of the Blue Mountains. Photo by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

"Are we there yet?"

The words are uttered with a groan as we leave Mavis Bank behind and enter Halls Delight on our way to Cinchona Gardens in the Blue Mountains.

In Halls Delight, the road becomes a track eroded by a mad sculptor. Seated in the back of a Subaru, we lurch as if seated on a bucking bronco.

It is only the skill of the driver that keeps us going, and later, the driver will plead with us to get out and walk so he can navigate sharp elevations. At the entrance to Cinchona Gardens he abandons u and we trudge the rest of the way in.

Soon, however, we forget our complaints as we walk into well-kept lawns, and a magical hidden garden.

We will say it as simply as it deserves. Cinchona is lovely. Ancient and simply arresting in its time-worn beauty. The area is one of Jamaica's most exotic gardens.

Raymond Ramden, superintendent of public gardens in the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, smiles with gratification (who wouldn't, after that bumpy ride?) when we gaze around in stunned appreciation.

Eucalyptus trees, bleached by the sun, lie in still beauty - trunks stripped bare of living foliage. Elsewhere, segmented chunks of other trees are used to add contrast to flowering beds, also providing seating for visitors.

Cinchona Gardens is located 5,000 feet above sea level, with annual rainfall of 110 inches and a cool average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The area is named after the cinchona plant, which was brought to the gardens in early 1870s. Cinchona is the source of quinine extract, used in the treatment of diseases such as malaria.

Quinine requirements

Initially, 40 acres were established to support quinine requirements in Jamaica and other British colonies, but the plantation failed because of inaccessible roads and competition from the East Indies.

Today, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, as part of its mandate to improve gardens in Jamaica, is in search of funds to upgrade the Cinchona Botanic Gardens. The project is estimated at J$13.87 million.

The provision of these funds will see the revival of a governor's dream - a place that, in its heyday, was the headquarters for botanical research in Jamaica.

It was in 1774 that the governor of the colony, Sir Basil Keith, came up with the idea of developing a hill or European garden, introducing the cultivation of European vegetables in the cool, moist hills of east rural St. Andrew. In 1868, the new governor, Sir John Peter Grant, established the farm with the new objective of cultivating Peruvian bark, coffee and tea.

Then, during 1874, the Jamaican Government established an experimental station at Cinchona which became the centre for botanical work in the island. Several species of the cinchona plant were planted on seven hectares of the 10-acre property.

Also in 1874, a doctor's residence, other dwellings, offices, laboratories and a greenhouse were constructed. A beautifully planned garden was also developed around the buildings and planted with sub-tropical and temperate zone plants. A plantation of Assam trees for tea and a European garden was also laid out.

In 1874, a Mr. Neck from Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom introduced cork oak, jalop, camphor, mulberry, rubber, green peas, carrots, Irish potatoes and cabbage, tomatoes, citrus and some fibre plants.

Research

In its prosperous years, Cinchona Gardens housed the botanical staff of the department of public gardens and plantations, who provided research for agricultural development in the island - later headquarters were moved to Hope Gardens.

The project for the area's revitalisation aims to renovate the Cinchona great house, manager's home, office, store-rooms and other buildings; establish a plant nursery; lay steps leading to the property, renovate the campsite and rehabilitate hiking trails.

While Mr. Ramden is optimistic that the funds will be approved, he remains concerned about the roadway leading to the gardens. In support of the rebirth, some six km of roadway leading to the garden will have to undergo extensive work.

We are eager to return to the peaceful and scenic location. Hopefully, the roads will be fixed soon.

- Avia Collinder