7IO JAMAICA. 



roofs of buildings, from that deftrufiive infefl the wood ant; nor 

 would a preparation of the aloes be lefs efficacious in fecurlng books 

 from the depredations of thtfcarabceus, which, in its reptile-ftate, 

 is a great enemy to all that are newly bound. If in binding books 

 mtended for this ifland, and other parts of the Weft Indies, a fmall 

 quantity of the aloes tlnfture, made by folutlon in fpirits of wine, was 

 mixed up with the binder's pafte, it would effeftually prevent the at- 

 tacks of this infeft. 



The quantity of aloes exported from Jamaica, Is extremely incon- 

 fiderable at prefent ; but, as an article of growth, and as it may be 

 prepared for different demands in commerce, at very little expence and 

 trouble, and is to be propagated in almoft any foil, it could not with 

 propriety be omitted ; more efpecially fince in the variety of foil here, 

 the fettler may turn the different parts of his land to the culture of 

 fuch plants as appear beft appropriated to them. 



10. Great American Aloes, or Coratoe, — j^gave. 



This plant Is found In moft parts of the ifland, but is moft frequent 

 In the rocky hills of the South fide, and near the fea coaft ; it 11 kewife 

 grows very luxuriantly in the richer foils of the mountains, always 

 preferring thofe which are moft rocky. When defigned for cultiva- 

 tion, it is to be obferved, that it bloffoms in the fpring, and the top 

 is then covered with a multitude of little plants, which are to be care- 

 fully gathered as the ftems wither, and planted from eight to ten 

 feet afunder in any foil. The lower leaves of the moderate-grown 

 plants may be cut off for ufe, without Injury to the others, 

 care being taken not to lop away io large a quantity, as to prevent 

 the plants from vegetating and flowering ; the nutriment received, 

 from rains and dews, being chiefly colleded by the expanding leaves^ 

 and tranfmitted to the root. 



The leaves of this plant are extremely large and fucculent ; after 

 being cut, they are paffed between the rollers of a mill with their 

 point foremoft; and the juice being conduced into wide, (hallow re- 

 ceivers, through a coarfe cloth or ftrainer, in thcfe receivers it is fuf- 

 fered to lie cxpofcd to a hot fun, like the other aloes, until, the aque- 

 ous contents being exhaled, it is reduced to a thick conftftence. It 

 I may 



