Macfadyeii^ s Flora of Jamaica. 595 



them an occasional coat of oil paint, or smearing them over with 

 a composition of lime, molasses, and salt. I may here remark, 

 that trees grown in the forests are the best adapted for splitting 

 into shingles ; for, in exposed situations, the stem is generally 

 twisted, and the woody fibres are seldom straight, from the many 

 branches which pass through them. This kind of cedar is 

 seldom employed in ship-building : sometimes, however, the 

 trunk of a large tree is hollowed out into a canoe. This is 

 easily done, as the wood is soft, and is cut out with great faci- 

 lity : the vessel itself is light, and carries a great weight. An 

 amber-coloured gum, resembling gum arable in its properties, 

 may be obtained in considerable quantities by making incisions 

 in the bark. This cedar grows readily from seed or cuttings ; 

 and even a fresh post, driven into the ground, readily takes 

 root." (p. 175.) 



Swietema. Mahagoni, the mahogany tree. The old Jamaica 

 mahogany is still considered superior to any that can be pro- 

 cured from any other country. " It was formerly so plentiful as 

 to be applied to the commonest purposes, such as planks, 

 boards, shingles, &c. ; now, however, although it is by no 

 means scarce, we employ inferior woods on such occasions." 



Wtis vinifcra, the common grape, is very generally cultivated. 

 It thrives best near the sea shore, producing fruit in considerable 

 abundance, and of a very good quality. 



Guaiacum officinale, the lignum vitse tree, seldom grows 

 higher than 12 ft. The centre of the wood is of an obscure 

 green, and is the part which contains the larger proportion of 

 resin. The sap wood is yellowish, and contains very little resin. 

 The gum guaiacum is procured by incisions in the bark and sap 

 wood. " It may also be procured by sawing the wood into 

 billets, and boring a hole longitudinally through them ; so that, 

 when one end of the billet is laid on the fire, the gum flows 

 readily from the other, and is collected in a calabash, or gourd. 

 It may also be obtained by boiling the chips, or raspings, in salt 

 water, when the gum will separate from the wood, and rise to 

 the surface." (p. 188.) 



M.angifera mdica, the common mango, although but of recent 

 introduction, is now the most common of the fruit trees of Ja- 

 maica. Ten varieties are in cultivation, of which the papaw 

 mango, the yellow kidney-shaped, and the green kidney-shaped, 

 are the best; and their fruit is esteemed by many as not inferior 

 to the pine-apple. The tree is raised from seed ; all attempts 

 at grafting having failed, from the quantity of gum resin with 

 which the bark abounds. " In order to obtain a good variety, 

 the only plan is to employ the seed of the desired sort; although 

 this is attended with uncertainty." ? Cuttings or layers. 



\J^lex curojicea, the common furze, is naturalised on high 



Q Q 2 



