rwexTA II OUT US JAMAICENSIS, &r 



beautiful appearanoe ; the bark is very smooth externally, and of a gfc-v colour; the 

 reaves vary in shape and in size, but arc commonly about tour inches 1o:)g, veined-, 

 pointed, elliptical, and of a deep shining green colour ; the flowers are proJuced in 

 bunches or panicles, and stand upon subdividing or trichotomous stalks, which usually 

 terminate the branches ; the calyx is cut cito four roundish segments ; the petals are 

 also lour, white, small, reflex, oval, and placed opposite to each other between tho 

 segments of the calyx ; the filaments are numerous, longer than the petals, spreading, 

 of a greenish white colour, and rise from the calyx and upper part of the germen ; the 

 afltheroe are roundish, and of a pale yellow colour ; the style is smooth, simple, and 

 erect ; the stigma is obtuse ; the germen becomes a round succulent berry, containing 

 two kidney- shaped flattish seeds. This tree is a native of Spain and the West India 

 islands. It flowers in June, July, and August. 



The pitnenta trees prow spontaneously, and in great abundance, in many parts of: 

 Jamaica, hut more- particularly op hilly situations near the sea, on tne northern sides 

 uf that islaod ; where they fcrm the most delicious groves that can possibly be ima- 

 gined; lilling the air with fragrance, an J giving reality, though in a very distant part 

 of the globe, to cur great poet's description of those balmy gales, which c'onvey to the 

 delighted voyager 



" Saboean odours from the spicy shore 



" OfAraby the blest. 



" Cheat'd with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles." 

 This tree is purely a child of nature, and seems to mock all the labours of man, ifi 

 his endeavours to extend or improve its growth ; not one attempt in fifty to propagate 

 ttie young plants, or to raise them from the seeds, in parts of the country where it is 

 not found growing spontaneously, having succeeded." The usual method of forming 

 a new pimenta plantation (in Jamaica it is called a walk) is nothing more than to ap- 

 propriate a piece of woodland, in the neighbourhood of a plantation already existing, 

 or in a country where the scattered trees are found in a native state, the woods of which 

 being fallen, the trees are suffered to remain on the ground, till they become rotten 

 and perish. In the course of twelve months after the first season, abundance of youn- 

 pimenta plants will be found growing vigorously in all parts of the land, being-, with- 

 out doubt, produced from ripe berries scattered there by the birds, while the fallen 

 trees,, etc. afford them both shelter and shade. At the end of two years, it will be 

 proper to give4.be land a thorough cleansing, leaving such only of the pimenta trees 

 as have a good appearance, which will then soon form such groves as those I have 

 described, and, except perhaps for the first four or five years, require very little at- 

 tention afterwards t 



Soon after the trees are in blossom, the berries become fit for gathering, the fruit 

 not being suffered to ripen 0{t the tree, as the pulp in that state, being moist and 



I 2 glutinous, 



* Birds eagerly devour tlie ripe seeds, and, muting them, propagate thesa trees in all parts of the wood:. 

 It is thought that the seeds passing through them undergo some fermentation, which fits them better for 

 vegetation tlian those gathered immediately from the tree. Long says he believes this to be tlie feet, for the 

 ripe berries will take with more'ceituinty after being laid together some days to sweat. Miller mentions a 

 circumstance of their being kept in a heap for two years, and, having fermented, grew in great abundance 

 with the first rains after they were sown. 



t It seems particularly fond of a white marly or chalky soil, having a shallow sitrraca of mould, and of the 

 teeky lands, which can scarcely be put to any other use; but it requires refreshing showers in its ihfaut 

 state, antd therefore is-traiaed with difficulty in the most southern hills near the coast. 



