SPICES. 363 



foliage. In the months of July and August a pro- 

 fusion of white flowers pleasingly contrast with the 

 dark green leaves the whole forming an object of 

 vegetable beauty rarely surpassed ; while the rich 

 perfume which is exhaled around, and which is wafted 

 by the gentlest breeze, renders an assemblage of these 

 trees one of the most delicious plantations of even a 

 tropical clime. When the leaves are bruised, they 

 emit a fine aromatic odour as powerful as that of the 

 fruit ; indeed it is said that they yield by distillation a 

 delicate oil, which is often used in the dispensaries as 

 a substitute for oil of cloves. 



The pimento tree grows spontaneously in many 

 parts of Jamaica ; it abounds more particularly on 

 the northern side of that island, in elevated spots 

 near the coast. When a new plantation of these is 

 to be formed, no regular planting or sowing takes 

 place ; it is usual to appropriate a piece of land either 

 in the neighbourhood of a plantation already formed, 

 or in a part of the woodlands where these trees are 

 scattered in a native state. The land is then cleared 

 of all wood but these trees, which are left stand- 

 ing, and the felled timber is allowed to remain where 

 it falls to decay and perish. In the course of a year 

 young pimento plants are found springing up on all 

 parts of the land ; produced, it is supposed, in con- 

 sequence of the ripe berries having been scattered 

 there by the birds, while the prostrate trees protect 

 and shade the tender seedlings. At the end of two 

 years the land is thoroughly cleared, only those 

 plants being left which promise a vigorous growth ; 

 these come to maturity in about seven years from 

 the first formation of the plantation, and usually at- 

 tain to the height of thirty feet. But though appa- 

 rently of so easy propagation, it is only in those parts 

 where the tree is of spontaneous production. Ed- 

 wards observes, that ' this tree is purely a child of 



