754 JAMAICA. 



running ftreams. By the falling of the berries, and their difperfion 

 in the currents of water, near which they grow, as well as by the in- 

 duftry of birds, it has been very extenfively multiplied. To prepare 

 the tree for hoops, the fide-twigs and branches fliould be regularly 

 trimmed and lopped clofe to the ftem, as it proceeds in growth ; it is 

 fit for ufe in two years from the planting the feed. It may then be 

 cut, and the ftem fplit longitudinally into pieces of proper length and 

 thicknefs, and after being duly fhaved, the hoops are fmoak-dried on 

 a barbicue (formed by four forked ftakes, placed fo as make the angles 

 of a fquare, and crofs bars laid to bear upon the fork or crutch) over 

 a fire made with wood or trafh, till they appear well feafoned and fit 

 for ufe. They will prove fufficiently durable for fugar hogfheads, 

 coffee calks, and fuch like. 



Thefe trees are fubjed to be bored by a beetle of the fcarabaus 

 fpecies, which it is not ea{y-'"o deftroy ; but, perhaps, a compofition of 

 tar and aloes might defend them from it. 



The bark makes good ropes, for ordinary purpofes. 



6i. Logwood, — Hcematoxylum. 



It feeds in April. The feed is very perilhable, foon lofing its vege- 

 tative principle. The feafon for fowing it fliouId not be too wet, 

 otherwife it will rot in the ground. In the neighbourhood of Savan- 

 nah la Mar are fuch quantities of it growing wild, as to incommode 

 the land-holders extremely ; occupying that diftrift, as the opopinax 

 and cafhaw have the Southern parts of Middlefex county ; but the 

 logwood is fo luxuriant and hardy after it comes up, that it will over- 

 run the other two, and ftarve their growth. It was firft propagated 

 in this ifland in the year 1715, from fome feed brought from the Bay 

 of Campeche, with defign to eftablifli it as an article of export, and 

 prevent the necefiity of forming fettlements upon the bays of the 

 Spanifli Main, where the cutters were liable to great rifques, by work- 

 ing up to their knees in water, and conftantly harrafled by the flings of 

 innumerable mufquito gnats, and the adaults of the Spaniards ; but, 

 although the event did not fully correfpond with the benevolent in- 

 tentions of thofe who firft cultivated it here, it has aniwered many 

 ufeful purpofes. 



Exclufive of its merit as a dye, it poflefles other good qualities ; it 

 makes an excellent and beautiful fence, which, if kept properly trim- 

 med, grows fo ftrong and thick, that nothing can break through. 



The 



