m;i 



675. AMYRIS Sp. 



There is a species of Amyris growing in the arid [slands situated 

 at the entrances to the Gulf of Paria; the waters of which are 

 bounded on the east by Trinidad, and on the west, by Venezuela, the 

 highlands of which are plainly visible from the Town of Port-of- 

 Spain on a clear day. 



The plant grows luxuriantly on the rocky surface of these 

 Islands, and lias been referred hitherto., to the Amyris maritima of 

 Jacquin. 



The wood, leaves and (lowers possess an aromatic principle, and 

 small quantities of a strong smelling essential oil can be distilled 

 therefrom. 



This oil is said to be of medicinal value, and enquiries now in 

 hand will probably show whether any grounds exist for this 

 supposition. 



676. SWIETENIA MAHOGANI, L. 



A WEST INDIAN REMEDY FOR RHEUMATISM. 



Green wood and bark of the Mahogany tree has lately been 

 demanded of this Department for the purpose of boiling down to be 

 taken as a remedy for rheumatic swellings ol the limbs. It is said to 

 be used for this purpose in Barbados and other Islands. 



677, -A PURPLE-LEAVED CANE- 



Referring to our note on above in last issue, a correspondent 

 kindly informs us that a purple-leaved cane is largely grown in 

 Northern China. ____ 



678. -SHADDOCKS —{Citrus deeumana). 



This fruit and its variations, which are many and numerous, is 

 not largely grown in the West Indies, and only occurs for the most 

 part as seedlings in different districts. Some years since (December. 

 1896) a fine variety was brought to the notice of the Department by 

 Mr. McGillivray, who favoured us with " graft wood" from which we 

 successfully raised three plants. These were planted at the Experi- 

 ment Station, St. Clair, shortly after its formation in 1898, and have 

 produced fruit for the first time this year (November, 1904). The 

 first fruit ripened was of excellent quality, and of a fine pink colour 

 in its interior. In diameter the fruit measured nine inches. For some 

 time past our Nurseries have been able to supply good plants of this 

 kind budded on Seville orange stocks, and'advantage has been taken of 

 this fact by many of our cultivators. This class of fruit is also 

 known by the name of Pumelo, Pomelo or Pommelo in the East 

 Indies, and that name is also adopted here in some few instances. To 

 enable cultivators to discriminate between the plant distributed by 

 the Department, and others from outside sources, it proposed to name 

 it "The St. Clair Shaddock." and under that name it will be 

 distributed in future. 



