364 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



nature, and seems to mock all the labours of man, in 

 his endeavours to extend or improve its growth : not 

 one attempt in fifty to propagate the young plants, or 

 to raise them from the seeds, in parts of the country 

 where it is not found growing spontaneously, having 

 succeeded.' The tree was introduced into this country 

 in the early part of last century, but the fruit does not 

 ripen. It is delicate and difficult to manage, requiring 

 at the same time warmth and a great deal of air. 



The flowers scarcely fade and give place to the 

 berries, ere these are fit for gathering ; since, if the 

 fruit be suffered to ripen on the tree, it loses its 

 pungency and becomes valueless. While yet green, 

 therefore, the berries are carefully picked by hand ; 

 one person on the tree gathers the small branches ; 

 and three others, usually women and children, find 

 full employment in picking the berries from these. 

 The produce is then spread on terraced floors, and 

 exposed to the action of the solar heat for about a 

 week ; in the course of this time the berries lose their 

 green hue, and become of a reddish brown. When 

 perfectly dry, they are in a fit state for exportation. 



In a favourable season the pimento crop is enor- 

 mous. ' A single tree has been known to yield one 

 hundred and fifty pounds of the raw fruit, or one 

 hundred weight of the dried spice ; there being 

 commonly a loss in weight of about one-third in 

 curing.' This return is not, however, of very usual 

 occurrence, as the produce is variable ; a very plen- 

 teous harvest seldom occurring above once in five 

 years. 



Pimento combines the flavour and properties of 

 many of the oriental spices, hence its popular name. 



