108 TRINIDAD. 



pose of binding the leaves of the Carat and Timite-thatch to the 

 Roseau laths. 



From two plants of the genera Bauhinia and Brownea, viz., 

 Pata de Vaca and Palo-Rosa, superior hoops have been obtained ; 

 and I have no doubt some of our Bignonias, and the indigenous 

 or prickly Bamboo (Bambusa) , might answer a similar purpose. 



The Bois Immortel (HJrythrina) is invaluable as affording 

 shade and protection to the Cacao, on which account it has been 

 called by the Spaniards " Madre del Cacao," " Mother of the 

 Cacao." There are two species of the JSrythrina, the coccinea, or 

 Anauco ; and the umbrosa, or Bucare. The former is a very soft, 

 light wood, rather brittle, and perfectly useless as timber or fuel ; 

 the latter is not exactly so soft or brittle : they are propagated by 

 slips or cuttings. 



The family of Graminaceee furnishes excellent fodder, and 

 various species from the genera Paspalum (Herbe-lancette) , so 

 called from the form of its leaves, which resemble the blade of a 

 lancet. Panicum (Herbe-fine) , Andropogon (Couch-grass), 

 Qynodon (Bahama-grass), Oplismenus, Pennisetum, &c., form, in a 

 great measure, the basis of our pasture-grounds. The Guinea- 

 grass, Bamboo, Guinea-corn, and Job's tears, are excellent fodder 

 for all sorts of cattle ; cows thrive well on the Cow-grass (AUer- 

 nanthera), arid the Liane-douce (Convolvulus) the latter eagerly 

 sought by swine ; to which may be added the Herbe-grasse 

 (Qommelyna vulgaris), and several plants of the Amarantacese 

 family. 



From the fibres of the Mahoc (StercvUa), Carata (Bromelia 

 carata)^ and Agave are made excellent ropes; and I have no 

 doubt very useful textile fibres would be procured from various 

 Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceee, among others, from the Asclepias 

 Curassavica, and also from the Balais, or Broom-plant (Sida) , and 

 the Mallow (Malachra) ; they should be thickly sown in a good 

 soil, so as to prevent their growth into branches. 



Many of our plants are of a poisonous nature, whilst others 

 furnish useful medicinal matters : of those belonging to these two 

 classes, I have but a limited knowledge. 



Poisonous Plants. The Brinvilliers, or Pink-root (Spigelia 

 anthelmintica) ,is a small plant, very common, and generally growing 

 in newly-cleared lands : it is fatal to animals as well as man ; and 

 yet it is a powerful vermifuge, when administered with caution : 



