16 



Stem, straight, light, and tough. " Lance wood Spars" are exported 

 for use by eoachbuilders. Probably it would prove remunerative to 

 pay some attention to planting and encouraging the growth of lance- 

 wood. 



BOCAGEA VIRGATA, B. & H. 

 Black Lancewood. ' 



Native of Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti. Similar to White Lancewood, but 

 the leaves are ovate ; used for the same purposes. 



" Grows straight to 20 or 30 feet in height, and 8 to 11 inches at 

 the butt, possesses great elasticity ; much used in carriage building, 

 for which purpose it is exported." (Harrison.) 



i( On the coast ranges, especially on the south side. A tall slim 

 tree, with a diameter of eight inches. The timber is very elastic, and 

 on that account it is exported for conversion into carriage shafts ; 

 Jamaica spars fetching higher prices in the home market than similar 

 produce from other sources. Exports past 20 years, 204,000, valued 

 at 31,275." (Hooper.) 



BOCCONIA FRUTESCENS, Linn. 

 Celandine, Parrot Weed, John Crow Bush. 



Native of W. Indies and tropical America. An erect shrubby plant, 

 with large oak-like leaves, and bunches of petal-less flowers. (Papa- 

 nrace.) 



Root "scraped and beat up into a pulp, is an excellent application 

 to foul ulcers. The juice of the root has been employed in cases of 

 chronic ophthalmia, to remove warts and fungous flesh, as an applica- 

 tion for tetters and ring-worm/' (Macfadyen.) 



Leaves the juice is used for ophthalmia. They are also used for 

 rubbing on floors of houses, as they get rid of insects. 



B(EIIMERIA NIYEA, Hook & Arn. 

 China Grass, Ramie. 



Native of Southern Asia. 



The plant belongs, to the nettle tribe (Urticaccc ), and grows best in 

 rich, fertile soil, with plenty of water. 



The fibre, obtained from the young shoots, is one of the strongest 

 and most beautiful. " It is glossy, tough and lasting, combining to 

 some extent the appearance of silk with the strength of flax." (Muel- 

 ler.) No machine or process has yet been devised by which the fibre 

 may be extracted easily and cheaply. The fibre is contained in the 

 bark which surround a hard woody core. It is easy enough to strip 

 off the bark in " ribbons," but a resinous substance becomes hard, and 

 complicates the process of extraction. "In 1871 a reward of 5,000 

 was offered by the Indian Government for a good extracting machine 

 for this fibre ; but although several competitors came forward, the 

 prize was awarded :o no one." (Watt.) There were trial competitions 

 carried on at the Paris Exhibition, but with no satisfactory result. 



