18 



T HE CUB A R E V I E W 



A Small Clump of Cocolobis Uvifera. 



nevertheless, frequently the subject of inquiries, and, as the information published 

 regarding it is somewhat scanty, it may be useful to record briefly a few of the more 

 important facts relative to this little-known product, the methods of obtaining it 

 and its uses. 



The so-called West Indian kino is variously known also as gum kino, American 

 kino, American extract of rhatany or false rhatany extract. Kino is a comprehensive 

 trade name applied to a number of astringent resinous substances obtained either 

 by tapping the trunks or by extracting it from various parts of the tree. The tap- 

 ping is accomplished by making a V-shaped incision in the bark. The exuding ma- 

 terial is usually led into a container at or near the base of the tree. For this pur- 

 pose an open, perpendicular channel is cut. connecting the liases of the V-shaped 

 incisions. The product may be extracted from the wood, hark and leaves by boiling 

 and evaporating it down. The residue is at first thin and red, but it rapidly be- 

 comes thick and dark brown. It is a brittle product that may be easily reduced to 

 a powder of a rich, ruby-red color. In the market it occurs most commonly in 

 grains of a shining aspect. 



At one time there was a small trade in this West Indian product. It was first 



