272 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
The following fruits and vegetables grow in El Valle and at Asuncion 
though sparingly, not being cultivated to any extent: Annona reticulata, 
the custard-apple; Malpighia punicifolia a small fruit not used much; 
Cajanus indicus, the pigeon pea; Dolichos sp., a pea; P Be, 
vulgaris, a bean; Psidium guajava, from which guava jelly is made; 
Passiflora laurifolia, the belle-apple; Dioscorea alata, a yam; Cutie : 
mis Melo and C. Anguria, both small melons; Physalis perwvana, 
_ the “tomato”; Tamarindus indica, the tamarind, quite abundant 
in El Valle. ‘ 
The foregoing plants may be considered as the only ones of much — 
economic importance to the inhabitants; that is, they are the only ones 
that are cultivated or made much use of. As a matter of fact the 
number of plants that are found growing on Margarita and that are 
important commercially on the mainland and elsewhere is rather large. 
The list contains a few specimens of timber trees, of medicinal plants, — 
of plants producing resins and gums, and other products such as dyes — 
and tannins. The fact that these do grow upon Margarita suggests 
that they might be cultivated in greater abundance. That they at 
not found in greater quantities, while of course due largely to the 
physical conditions of the island, is also owing to the ignorance and 
lack of care on the part of the inhabitants. This is strikingly illus 
trated in two or three small private haciendas where such things 2 — 
grapes, egg-plants, tomatoes, and peppers are successfully cultivated. : 
The fact that so many of the plants furnish useful products suggests : 
the possibility that Margarita may be made more productive than 118 — 
at present; for that reason it is desirable to enumerate them here 
together with their uses. : 
Material for the following has largely been drawn from La Exposk — 
cion nacional de Venezuela en 1883 by A. Ernst; the World’s Colum- 
bian Exposition in Chicago — Venezuela; and Medicinal plants of 
Caracas by A. Ernst in Seemann’s Journal of botany for 1865. 
WOODS. 
ANACARDIUM OCCIDENTALE. Wood strong and durable. -Little 
used, as its fruit is of more importance. ‘Trees scarce. 
Acuras Zapota. Nispero. Wood very hard, strong, and heavy, 
of a reddish color and taking a beautiful polish. Chiefly valued for 
its fruit. Trees abundant. 
