PEPPER. 203 



The best white peppers are supposed to be the finest berries, 

 which drop from the tree, and, lying under it, become somewhat 

 bleached by exposure to weather ; the greater part of the white 

 pepper used as a condiment is, however, the black merely steeped 

 in water, and decorticated, by which means the pungency and 

 real value of the spice are diminished ; but having a fairer and 

 more uniform appearance when thus prepared, it fetches a 

 higher price. 



Jamaica is the chief seat of the magnificent myrtle (Myrtus 

 'pimenta), which furnishes the pimento of commerce. This 

 beautiful tree grows to the height of about thirty feet, with a 

 smooth, brown trunk, and shining green leaves resembling those 

 of the bay. In July and August a profusion of w^hite flowers, 

 filling the air with their delicious odours, forms a very pleasing- 

 contrast to the dark foliage of its wide-spreading branches. It 

 grows spontaneously in many parts of the island, particularly on 

 the northern side, in high spots near the coast. 



When a new* plantation is to be formed, no regular planting 

 jor sowing takes place, for, as Edwards (' History of Jamaica ') 

 observes, ' the pimento tree is purely a child of 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. For this reason, a piece of land is chosen, either in 

 the neighbourhood of a plantation already formed, or in a part 

 of the woodland w^here the pimento-myrtles are scattered in a 

 native state. The land is then cleared of all wood but these 

 trees, which are left standing, and the felled timber is allowed 

 to remain, where it falls to decay, and perishes. In the course 

 of a year, young pimento plants are found springing up on all 

 parts of the land, produced, it is supposed, in consequence 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, and none 

 but the most vigorous plants, which come to maturity in about 

 seven years, are left standing.' 



The berries are carefully picked while yet green, since, when 

 suffered to ripen, they lose their pungency. One person on the 

 tree gathers the small branches, and three others, usually women 



