L A U 



L A U 



Marsden asserts that the Cassia tree grows from 

 fifty to sixty feet high, with large spreading ho- 

 rizontal branches, almost as low as the earth : 

 the leaves are about lour inches long, narrower 

 than those of the Bay, and more pointed, deep 

 green, with a smooth surface and plain edge : 

 the principal fibres or nerves take their rise from 

 the peduncle: the young leaves are mostly of a 

 reddish hue: the blossoms grow six in number 

 upon slender footstalks, close to the bottom of 

 the leaf: ihev are monopetalous, small, white, 

 and stellated in six points: the stamina are six 

 (nine), with one style growing from the germ, 

 w hich stands up in three brow nish segments re- 

 sembling a cup. It is a native of Malabar. 



The bark is commonly taken from such trees 

 as are a foot or eighteen inches in diameter, as 

 when they are younger, it is said to be so thin 

 as to lose all its qualities very soon. Those trees 

 which crow in a high rocky soil havered shoots, 

 and the bark is superior to that which is pro- 

 duced in a moist clay where the shoots are 

 green. Marsden has been assured by a person 

 of extensive knowledge, that the Cassia pro- 

 duced in Sumatra is from the same tree that 

 yields the true Cinnamon, and that the apparent 

 difference arises from the less judicious manner 

 of quilling it. Perhaps the younger and more 

 tender branches should be preferred; perhaps 

 the age of the tree, or the season of the year, 

 oughlTto be more nicely attended to; and it is 

 suggested, that the mucilage which adheres to 

 the "inside of the fresh - peeled rind, when 

 not carefully wiped off, injures the flavour of 

 the Cassia, and lenders it inferior to that of the 

 Cinnamon. 



The tenth species grows to the height of 

 thirty feet or more in the West Indies, and has 

 a trunk as large as common Apple-trees : the 

 bark is smooth, and of an ash colour : the 

 branches are beset with pretty large, oblong, 

 smooth leaves, like thoseof Laurel, of a deep green 

 colour, are succulent, and soft. The (lowers 

 are for the most part produced towards the ex- 

 tremities of the branches : the fruit is the size 

 of one of our biggest pears, inclosing a large 

 seed with two lobes, included in a thin shell. 

 It is held in great esteem in the West Indies: 

 the pulp is of a pretty firm consistence, and has 

 a delicate rich flavour; it gains upon the palate 

 of most persons, and becomes soon agreeable 

 even to those who cannot like it at first; but it is 

 so rich and mild, that most people make use of 

 some spice or pungent substance to give it a poig- 

 nancy ; and for this purpose, some make use of 

 wine) 6ome of sugar, some of lime-juice, but 

 most of pepper and salt. It is a native of the 

 West Indies. 



Vol. II. 



Culture. — The first s'-rt may be increased by 

 Seed, layers, and sucl 



The seed should be sown soon after the berries 

 Me ripe, or early in spring, either in beds, co- 

 vering than with earth near an inch deep, or in 

 drills half a foot asunder, the same depth : w hen 

 the plan's are come up, they should be supplied 

 with frequent waterings during summer, and in 

 winter defended from severe frost by the shelter 

 of mats, or some other covering, being tender 

 while young; and after having two summers' 

 growth in the seed-bed, in the spring following 

 the strongest should be removed into nursery rows, 

 one or two feet asunder, and a foot apart in each 

 row, giving water in dry weather, till they have 

 taken good root, and keeping them clear from 

 weeds. When thev are half a yard, or two or 

 three feet high, they are of proper growth for 

 transplanting into the shrubbery in autumn or 

 spring. 



The berries may also be sown in pots, 

 and plunged in a hot-bed in spring, which 

 brings the plants forwarder, being careful to 

 inure them to the full air in the summer 

 season. 



Some of the lower branches that are well 

 furnished with young shoots may be laid down 

 in the early spring, or in August, but the latter 

 is the better season ; each shoot being slit-laved : 

 they become rooted in one year, when in spring 

 they may be taken off, and planted in the nur- 

 sery, as directed for the seedlings. 



The suckers shoidd be taken up with good 

 roots in autumn or spring, and be planted in the 

 nursery like the seedlings and layers. 



It is also capable of growing by cuttings, 

 planted in the beginning of April on a moderate 

 hot-bed of tanners' bark covered eight inches 

 deep with rich loose fresh earth, rive inches 

 deep, and eight or nine asunder, rubbing off 

 their leaves, and watering them gently every 

 evening while the bed continues warm, co- 

 vering the glasses with mats during the heat of 

 the day. When the cuttings have shot roots, they 

 should receive all mild gentle showers, and the 

 evening dews. In the beginning of August, the 

 glasses mav be taken off, being replaced when 

 the weather begins to he frosty ; keeping them 

 open every mild day. In the beginning of the 

 April following, or as soon as the weather be- 

 comes temperate, both glasses and frames should 

 be removed, continuing frequent and plentiful 

 waterings during the summer months, as the 

 weather may require; and in the succeeding 

 April the plants will be strong, well rooted, 

 and fit for planting out. 



When tlie plants raised in these wavs arc re- 

 moved to the nurseiy, they should have their 

 H 



