THE FARMER AT IOME. 



261 



beauty of coloring, firmness, and duralility, may therefore be easily 

 accounted for ; and a large quantity of balks and planks is brought 

 from the Spanish American coasts to Jamaica, to be shipped from 

 thence to Great Britain. This wood is generally hard, takes a fine 

 polish, and is found to answer better than any other sort, in all kinds 

 of cabinet ware. It is a very strong timber, and was frequently used 

 as such in Jamaica in former times. It is said to be used sometimes 

 in ship building ; a purpose for which it would be remarkably adapted, 

 if not too costly ; being very durable, capable of resisting gun shots, 

 and burying the shots without splintering. 



MALT LIQJJORS. Malt liquors contain a considerable portion 

 of nutritive matter, and a less proportion of spirit than wine ; and 

 they also contain a bitter principle derived from the hop, with some 

 soporific properties. Those who use much malt liquor generally grow 

 fat. They have the muscular strength increased, and the general 

 health for a time improved ; but if carried to excess, and if proper 

 exercise be not taken, a fulness of the system is induced, and it is 

 rendered liable to all the diseases which such a state brings on. As 

 very concentrated nourishment will not be well digested, because the 

 stomach requires a certain bulk as well as quality of food, in order to 

 the production of good chyme, malt liquors agree best with those in 

 the poorer walks of life, whose food, though bulky, is not very nutri- 

 tive, but whose stomachs are enabled by the stimulus of the hop to 

 extract a good deal of nourishment from what they eat. Malt liquors 

 are infinitely preferable to spirits for the laboring classes ; but those 

 who live well, and indulge in a variety of dishes, have no need of 

 the stronger kinds of malt liquors ; though table beer would assist 

 their digestion very considerably. The principal kinds of malt liquor 

 in use are. beer, ale, and porter. 



MAMMEE TREE. Mammee tree, or West India Apricot ; a 

 large arid beautiful tree, native of tropical America, and interesting 

 from the qualities of the fruit, which is highly esteemed. This fruit 

 is large, roundish, and contains a bright yellow, firm pulp, which is 

 enveloped with a thick, leathery rind : within this outer rind is a 

 second very delicate one. closely adhering to the pulp, which should 

 be cautiously removed, otherwise it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, 

 not very strong at first, but gradually increasing, and continuing for 

 two or three days. The taste is peculiar, sweet, and very agreeable, 

 and is accompanied with an aromatic and pleasant odor. The leaves 

 are oval, obtuse, very entire, smooth, and six or eight inches in length. 

 The flowers are white, an inch and a half in diameter, and diffuse a 

 delightful perfume. 



MANCHINEEL. A West Indian tree, celebrated for the poi- 

 sonous qualities of the milky juice which abounds in every part of it. 

 When a drop of this juice is applied to the skin, it causes the same 

 sensation as a burning coal, and quickly produces a vesicle. The 



