^i'2 ^^H CRT us JAMAICENSTS. e^"%kc 



TIXCTOUIA. DYING. 



Morns frucluviridi, ligno sulphureo tinctorio. Sloanr, v'2, p. 3,'t. 

 J 53, f. 1. Lactcscens ; Joliis oblongis acutis, paginis cxUrioyibus 

 produciioribas, ligno citrino. ^Browne, p. 339. 



Leaves oblong, more produced on one side ; spinesaxillarj^ 



This is a tall branching tree, growing forty cr fifty feet, higli, with a light bro^^ 

 t)ark. It Hbounds wiih a slightly giutinous milk of a 3-ellGw colour. The wood is firm, 

 solid, and of a yellow colour, an excellent timber-wood,: and used in dying, for which 

 purpose it furnishes an article of export. '.The branches spread on every iiand, some 

 cf ti)eni hiiving a le^v awl-shaped solitary spines, and some none. -The leaves are acu- 

 minate, serrate, veined, distich, on short petioles,- of various sizes, and of a dark 

 green colour Aments solitary, penduiousj axill;!.ry between the petiole and the spine, 

 two or three inches in length, cyliudric, and very close ; female flowers collected into 

 a ghjlie; their receptacles axUlary, glaucous green, solitary, \\\t\i short petioles; 

 among them are some chafty bodies, which perhaps were flowers suffocated by their 

 neighbours, and dried up -Fruit yellowish-green, as large as a nutmetc, roundish, 

 Contaming flat, brown, small, seeds, like linseed ; befoia it ripens niiiky and not 



Eleasant ; but when come to maturity it, has a pleasant taste, and is chiefly eaten by 

 irds. Tliis tree is of a quick growth", Sl'>ane saysije saw trees thirtv or forty feet high 

 only seven or eight years old. ' It grows commonly in every part of Jamaica, and yields 

 a yellow and hritili jesin. Barham says the fruit is astringent and cooling, and makes 

 excellent gargles for sore mouths and tiiroata. It is said that the salt made out of the 

 ashes of us wood, ten grains with treacle or mithridate, given for three or four days 

 successively, gives immediate ease in the gout and rheumatism, for which purpose 

 Pommel asserts that no luediciiie is like it. 



This.is one of the most valuable trees in tiie island, whether we consider its use ia 

 dying, or the excellence of its timber ; the latter quality, indeed, has proved fatal to 

 many of them, that, unless care is taken to propagate from the seed, it is likely fa 

 become very scarce. The fruit in size, -colour, and shape, resembles the white mul- 

 berry ; it is ni perfection in March and April. 



' It is painful to reflect on the vast number of these, and other valuable woods in the 

 ..island, which have been annually cut down, for burning and other trifling purposes; 

 for which many other trees, of less worth, would have been equally fit. Tnis devas- 

 tation is so inconsiderably made, and so extensive, that the whole class might, by this 

 time, have been exterminated from Jamaica, if the birds and other animals had not re- 

 plenished it, in the less frequented parts, with young plants. 



Thus much may be said for the settlers ; that, upon opening land for a plantation, it 

 is necessary to clear the whole wood away ; which is not the case in forming pasture 

 grounds ; but, when the consideration happens which trees shall be cut down, and 

 which spared, such a crowd is found of what are valuable and tiseful, for some or other 

 important purpose, that the choice is difHcult. Yet, as most estates are possessed of 

 waste land, what deserves to be recommended is, the planting nurseries of the most 

 useful trees on such lands ; which, if any number of persons were to do, the several 

 .species would soon be propagated, by birds and other means, in most parts of the 

 island, where, at present, they are scarce, or not to be met with ; and, at a small ex- 

 pence^ a sure foundatiaa laid of great future profit. Long, f, 8i9. 



iTke 



