VIII PIMENTO 189 



of land in the neighbourhood of already existing pimento 



trees to become overgrown with bush, which, in the course 



of time, is found to contain numerous pimento seedlings, 



grown from seeds devoured by birds and deposited there. 



When the plants are of a certain size, the bush is cleared, 



and the pimento trees allowed to grow up." In places where Thinning 



the trees are too close together, the surplus ones must be ^r^es"^^ 



removed, and some of them may be planted in situations 



where vacancies occur. In order to ensure good crops the Distances. 



trees should not be allowed to grow closer than twenty or 



twenty-five feet from each other. 



Crops. — In about seven years small crops may be Returns. 

 gathered ; and, until the trees attain their full height 

 and spread, the crops will usually increase year by year. 

 The green berries are collected, soon after the blossom falls, 

 in the following manner : Persons climb the trees and break Gathering 

 off the young branches, with the fruit attached, which are ^ ^ ^^^'^^' 

 thrown down to women and children under the trees who 

 pick off the berries from the stalks and carry them to the dry- 

 ing places. The man up in the tree can usually keep three 

 persons fully at work below. Care must be taken to separate, Rjpg berries 

 as far as possible, all ripe berries from the green ones, for ^^^^^ ^^p^" 

 otherwise the produce will be deteriorated. 



The green berries brought in by the women and children Drying the 

 are dried in the sun in the same manner as is coffee, on ^P'*^^' 

 barbecues or in trays, the drying process varying from three 

 to twelve days. In wet weather the system employed in 

 smoking cloves may be adapted to the drying of pimento? 

 or an American fruit evaporator can be used. The proper 

 degree of dryness is ascertained by the wrinkled appearance, 

 the dark colour of the spice and the rattling noise made by 

 the seeds when they are shaken. The spice is then packed 

 in bags or in casks for shipment. 



The returns from the plantation depend on the seasons Crops, 

 and the state of the markets. Sometimes the crops are 



