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TROPICAL SPICES 



more uniform appearance when thus prepared, it fetches a 

 higher price.* ^ 



Jamaica is the chief seat of the Hiagnificent 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 white flower-, 

 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 

 or 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 where 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 



Importations of Spices in Great Britain during the first eight months of the 



