35 



COWHAGrE See Mucuna prlriens. 



CO WITCH. See Mucuna pruriens. 



CRABS EYES. See Abrus precatorii>. 



CRESCENTIA CUJETE, Linn. 



Calabash. 



Native of W. Indies and tropical America. A tree ; leaves narrow, 

 4-8 inches Long; flowers 2 to 3 inches long, variegated in colour ; fruit 

 pulpy with a hard shell. 



Wood i< tough, light and elastic, but as it is of a crooked growth, it 

 is only i >r small work, such as the felloes of wheels and in carriage 



building generally, cattle yok - and a variety of small articles. 



The shell o\ the fruit makes excellent drinking cups, vessels for 

 carrying water, dish covers, &c. 



Fki it. Expressed juice of the pulp purgative ; aho a demulcent 

 and peel oral. 



CROTALARIA JUNCEA, Linn. 

 Si nn Hem i', Bombay Hemp. 



Native of [ndia, Malay Islands, and Australia. An annual shrubby 

 plant, belougingtothe Pea Family, (Leguminosoe,) of erect habit, growing 

 sometimes as high as In feet, with bright yellow flowers. It is natu- 

 ralised in Jamaica, but is not anything like as common as Crotalaria 

 retusa, which is cultivated for fibre in Madras. 



The soil must be rich and friable. To obtain stems without branches 

 for fibre, the seed is sown close. The plant is sometimes grown for 

 fodder, especially for milch cows, and then seed is sown at greater in- 

 tervals. The plants are ready for harvesting in 4 or 5 months. If a 

 soft fibre is wanted, the plants are pulled in flower ; if a strong fibre 

 is desired the plants are left until the seeds are almost ripe. Retting 

 is necessary and takes 3 days. The stems are then bent so as to break 

 the wood, and they are beaten on the surface of the water, until the 

 fibre comes away. It is hung up to dry, and finally combed out. The 

 fibre is used for cordage, coarse cloth, and the waste fibre for paper. 



CUCUMBER, WILD. See Cucumis anguria. 



CUCUMIS ANGURIA, Linn. 

 Wild Cucumber. 

 Native of West Indies and tropical America. 



A climbing plant, with tendrils; leaves five-lobed ; flowers yellow, 

 small; fruit spiny. (Cucurbitaccce.) 



Fruit. A wholesome vegetable, also used in pickles. 



CUPANIA EDULIS, Camb. 



Akee. 



Native of tropical West Africa. Naturalized in Jamaica, A tree ; 

 c 2 



