112 



wood is quoted in the London Market at £2 to £12 per ton, while for 

 other "West Indian Islands the produce ranges from £3 to £9, 



Lignum Vitse is a slow growing tree and takes some years to 

 attain to any large size, but as it practically costs nothing for cultiva- 

 tion during the period of growth, small sums can be very economi- 

 cally expended in planting up estates' pastures, with trees which will 

 ultimately afford such a valuable pi'oduct. 



Not only is the plant valued for its wood, but the gum obtained 

 from the stem is used in medicine under the name of Besina guaiaci, 

 which is reputed as a diaphoretic and alterative, and is prescribed in 

 cases of goiit and rheumatism. It Avas also held in great repute in 

 former times for the treatment of many other diseases, but in the 

 modern practice of medicine, it is not so frequently prescribed. 

 The bark is used in Trinidad for preparing an eifervescing drink 

 locally known as " mawbee," and vendors of this production may be 

 commonly seen at the street corners disposing of the drink to passing 

 workmen. 



The wood is principally used for turnery purposes, and is made 

 into " sheaves" or wheels in ships' " blocks," caulking mallets, 

 skittle balls, Bowls for the game of " Bowls," and for many like pur- 

 poses. Sometimes it is used for machine bearings and for similar 

 purposes, where its quality of hardness and durability renders it 

 preferable to metals of any kind. 



The gum may be readily extracted from the wood by making an 

 incision in the middle and the building a fire at both ends of a log. 



The tree thrives well in Trinidad, especially in the drier districts, 

 it grows readily from seed, and is really a very valuable and orna- 

 mental plant. 



164.— GrING'ER.— Zingiber officinale, L. 



Ginger has hitherto not been generally cultivated in Trinidad, 

 but it has been clearly shown by experimental cultures at the Convict 

 Depot, Chaguanas, and by several trials at the Royal Botanic Gardens 

 that there is nothing whatever to hinder the production of a fine 

 quality of ginger, fit for the European or American Markets. 



Mr. Fawcett, the Director of the Botanical Department in 

 Jamaica, has reported (5th April, 1894) that the export from that 

 Island has gradually increased from 9,927 cwt. in 1887 to 14,932 cwt. 

 in 1894, and that a considerable area of new land is cleared each year 

 for this crop. 



