/' 
49 
V 
valved pod, which contains many oblong compreflfed, or fomewhat 
kidney-fhaped, feeds. ' . , n. 
This tree is a native of South America, and grows to the higheit 
perfedion at Campeachy, in the Bay of Honduras, whence the feeds 
were brought to Jamaica in 1715, with a view of propagating it 
as an article of commercial export. And though it does not appear 
to have anfwered this purpofe fo fully as could have been wifhed, 
yet we are told that in fome parts of the illand, efpecially where the 
ground is fwampy, this tree, in the courfe of three years, will rife 
to the height of ten feet, and by this quick and luxuriant growth, 
foon overrun and deftroy the neighbouring plants.^ The Logwood 
tree was firll cultivated in Britain by Mr. P. Miller in 1739 
fays, " 
who 
there 
are fpme of thefe plants now in England which are 
upwards of fix feet high, and as thriving as thofe in their native 
foil; 
7'c 
but this obfervation will not apply to the prefent time, for we 
have fearched in vain for this plant through mofl of the principal 
garden ftoves in the neighbourhood of London. 
The wood of this tree is of a folid texture, and of a dark red 
colour; it is imported into Europe principally as a dying drug, cut 
into junks or logs of about three feet in length ; of thefe pieces, the 
largeft and thickell are preferred, as being of the deepeft colour. This 
wood has a fweetifh fubaftringent tafte, and no remarkable fmell ; it 
gives a purplifh red tin£lure both to watery and fpirituous infufions, 
and tinges the ftools, and fometimes the urine, of the fame colour j 
but from the experiments of DuHamel and others, it does not appear to 
colour the bones of animals, as obferved of madder and fome otherplants 
of that clafs. It is ufed medicinally as an aftringent and corroborant* 
In diarrhoeas it has been found peculiarly efficacious, and has the 
recommendation of fome of the firft medical. authorities r** alfo in the 
latter flages of dyfentery, when the obftruding caufes are removed. 
* In fome parts of J 
the land -holders extremely." 
1^1 CJ ^ 
754. He alfo obferves, that " it makes an 
excellent and beautiful fence, which, if kept properly trimmed, grows fo ftrong and 
thick, that nothing can break through." 
•> Hort. Kew. 
Duncan, Zimmerman, Balding 
Dictionary abridged, fixth ed 
d 
Baker, Clark, Pringl 
to 
t/ 
<' 
\ 
