70 



The Banda Islands are the most important trade source of 

 Nutmegs. The "mace" (or the " Arflliis," which when fresh 

 is bright red) is also imported as a spice. 



Laurjneae. 



Persea gratissima, Gaertn. ; Avocado Pear. 



A tree, 20 to 30 ft. high, commonly cultivated in the Tropics 

 for the fruit. A trade under cold storage from Dominica was 

 suggested in 1888 {K.B., p. 209) and two consignments from the 

 Bahamas to New York and London (1910) carried with a loss 

 of only 2-9 per cent. (Bull. Dept. Agric. Bahamas, Sept., 1910). 

 The fruit comes occasionally into Covent Garden market and 

 fruits have been noted in Liverpool shops (K.B., 1908, p. 189). 

 Avocado Pears are exported from Hawaii to the United States, 

 and it is reported that shipments arrive at Chicago in very good 



condition. 



urn zeylanicum, Breyn. ; Cinnamon. 



A tree 20 to 40 ft., native of Ceylon, where under cultivation 

 the greater amount of bark is produced. Grown to a smaller 

 extent in India, Java, Seychelles, and French Guiana. The 

 bark, used chiefly as a spice, is imported from Ceylon (6359), 

 Seychelles (1008), British Possessions, not enumerated (7910), 



enumer 



"Bay Laurel " or "Sweet Bay" (Laurus nobilis, Linn.) 

 leaves are used in cookery ; they are often confounded with those 

 of the "Common Laurel," " Cherry Laurel " or "Magnolia- 

 leaved Laurel" (Prunus Laurocerasus, Linn.), which, although 

 sometimes used for flavouring in the same way, are known to 

 contain hydrocyanic acid and to produce injurious and even 

 fatal results, and their use should not be permitted. It is only 

 the u Sweet Bay " leaf that is safe to use. 



Etjphohbiaceae. 



Manihot utilissima, Pohl; Cassava, Man dioca, Tapioca. 



A shrub, 6 to 10 ft. high ; but varying according to variety, 

 of which there are many from about 3 ft. to the maximum 

 height. Native of Brazil ; cultivated more or less throughout 

 Tropical America, Asia and Africa. The flour or starch obtained 

 from the large tuberous roots is everywhere an important food. 

 The flour has somewhat the appearance of coarse oatmeal, and 

 " Tapioca," the preparation best known in this country, is a 

 pure form of starch which settles from the water in washing 

 the Cassava meal, and afterwards granulated on hot plates. 

 " Mandioca " or "Tapioca" flour is imported from Holland, 

 Java, Brazil and Straits Settlements — 720,509 centals in all for 

 1913, and "Cassava Powder" and "Tapioca" imports in the 

 same year came from the same sources to a total of 325,005 



cen 



tals. 



Two important (variations exist in the roots usually distin- 

 guished as " Sweet " (sometimes called M. palviata, var. Aipi) 

 and "Bitter" Cassava (M. utilissima). The last-mentioned is 

 found to be more or less poisonous, due to prussic acid content, 





