The leaves of this common shrub are brewed to pro- 
vide a liquor which is applied externally to relieve pain. 
Also pieces of the large fruit are heated and put on sores 
or inflamed regions. (See also under bait). 
PLANTS WHICH PROVIDE ESSENTIAL OILS 
Pimenta racemosa (Mill.) J. W.Moore. (Amomis 
caryophyllata (Jacq.) Krug & Urban). Myrtaceae. 
Bay TREE. 
Oil of bay is distilled from the leaves. Plantations of 
this tree are on the mountains at the eastern part of St. 
John. Although the shape of the bay tree is naturally 
beautiful, the regular harvesting causes stunted and com- 
pact growth. There is a striking variation in the quality 
of the essential oil from individual trees. This is so pro- 
nounced that certain specimens are considered by the 
natives to be closely related but not the true bay. No 
attempts have been made to select high quality and high 
yielding trees for propagation. 
Virgin Island bay rum is compounded in St. ‘Thomas 
from the essential oil of St. John. Only five per cent of 
bay rum imports into the United States have this origin. 
Better distilling methods and better care of the trees 
would increase the yield of bay oil. The industry has 
never been considered important enough to carry on ge- 
netic and propagation studies with a view to improving 
quality and yield. 
Coleus amboinicus Loureiro. Labiatae. 
Wintp Thyme. 
Very strongly aromatic. In other parts of the Ameri- 
can tropics this is called Spanish ‘Thyme and is common- 
ly seen in the markets. 
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