274 TRINIDAD. 



Cloves (CaryopTiijllus aromaticus). The clove has also been 

 naturalised, and thrives well ; it requires a good, but rather dry 

 soil, and, contrary to the nutmeg, is injured by too much shade ; 

 it is very scantily cultivated. 



Cinnamon (Qinnamomum zeylanicum and 0. cassia). The 

 latter species, or variety, is cultivated here by several persons, but 

 a few only prepare cinnamon from it. There are to be found at 

 St. Ann's a few plants of the Oinnamomnm zeylanicum ; they look 

 very healthy, although planted in rather poor soil, and yield ex- 

 cellent cinnamon. 



Pimento (Eugenia pimento) . Though not indigenous to the 

 island, the pimento thrives admirably ; there are two distinct 

 species or varieties here. Pimento is largely exported from 

 Jamaica, and such might be the case with Trinidad also ; yet it is 

 only cultivated for its leaves or berries, which are used in culinary 

 or confectionary preparations. 



Black pepper (Piper nigrum) thrives very well indeed, but is 

 cultivated by a few individuals only, and more as an object of 

 curiosity than utility. 



Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum). All sorts of capsicums, 

 and the bird-pepper (Capsicum baccatum) especially, are so common 

 here, that the people take no care in preparing them for pre- 

 servation as a condiment. 



Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia). The vanilla grows wild in our 

 forests, but it is not the best kind. There are, it seems, two dis- 

 tinct species, distinguishable, not only by the size of the fruit, but 

 also by its fragrance ; the larger species is more fragrant, and also 

 more common. The vanilla grows on those trees which do not 

 shed their bark, generally creeping along the trunk in a straight 

 line, the extremity and divisions hanging downwards. Rats, opos- 

 sums, and squirrels, are very fond of the vanilla, and it is diffi- 

 cult to save it from their attacks, as they eat it as soon as it arrives 

 at maturity. The vanilla might be cultivated here to advantage, 

 although it eventually causes the death of those trees to which it 

 adheres. 



Ginger (Zingiber officinarum) ; Turmeric (Curcuma longa) ; 

 Guinea pepper (Amomum granum Paradisi). These plants are 

 only cultivated for domestic purposes, not for exportation ; but 

 they succeed very well. To the above catalogue of useful plants 

 might be added as great a number ; such as the musk ochro 



