317 



May be propagated by seed in nursery beds or bamboo pots, and 

 planted out in permanent places about 5 to 10 feet apart, when about 

 6 or 9 months old. 



In Montserrat, where the trees are found growing wild in various 

 situations, it is recommended under cultivation to grow the plants in 

 bush form, and seedling plants taken from mountain land and 

 grown on this principle, planted 3 feet apart, yielded after 2 years 

 growth at the rate of 2660 lbs. of leaves per acre, and after 5 years, 

 9110 lbs. of leaves per acre (Rep. Bot, St. Montserrat, 1909-10, p. 15). 



The oil is obtained by distillation from the dried leaves, and when 

 the leaves are shipped, drying is the only preparation required. In 

 consequence of the insufficient supply of good quality leaves genuine 

 bay oil has recently been very scarce (Schimmel & Co. Semi-Ann. 

 Rep. Oct-Nov. 1902, p. 13). The supply from wild sources is said to 

 be failing, owing to the inaccessibility or destruction of the trees, 

 and protection has been suggested, and the cultivation extended in 

 Dominica, Montserrat, the Virgin Isles, &c. (West Indian Bull. iv. 

 1903, p. 128). 



The natural beauty, and the fragrant leaves which scent the air, 

 make this a very desirable tree for ornamental purposes. 



In Oct. 1905, 29 plants of the lemon-scented form were sent from 

 Kew to Old Calabar. 



Ref. — " Volatile Oil of the Leaves of Myrcia acris" Markoe, in 



Pharm. Journ. [3] viii. 1878, pp. 1005-1006. " Pimmta acri*," 



in Med. PL Bentley & Trimen, No. 110. " West Indian Bay," in 



Odorograhpia, Sawer, pp. 56-62. " Oil of Bay," in the Volatile Oils, 



Gildemeister & Hoffmann, pp. 510-512. " Bay Oil and Bav Rum," 



in West Indian Bull. iv. 1903, pp. 119-122. " West Indian Bay," 



I.e. pp. 122-128 ; Dominica, Montserrat, Bermuda ; Protection and 



Cultivation. " Bay Oil and Bay Rum," I.e. pp. 189-194, including 



details of " Bois d'Inde Citron." " Bay Oil," Watts & Tempany, 



I.e. ix. 1908, pp. 271-275, including " Lemon Scented Bay Oil." 



" Fruits of Pimento, acris" in Bull. Imp. Inst. viii. 1910, pp. 1-5. 



"Real Bay Rum," Gordon, in Pharm. Journ. [4] xxxii. 1911, p. 655. 



Pimenta officinalis, Lindley, Coll. Bot. sub. t. 19. 



Tree, 23-30 ft. high. Leaves opposite, 4-6 in. long, elliptic- 

 oblong, glabrous, deep green above, paler below, minutely glandular 

 beneath. Flowers small, arranged in threes ; calyx segments 4, 

 fleshy, superior, persistent ; petals 4, white, caducous. Fruit a 

 berry about the size of a pea, 2-celled. 



III. — Bot. Mag. 1. 1236 (Myrtus Pimenta, var. longifolia) \ Tuss. Ant. 

 iv. t. 12 (M. Pimento) ; Hayne, Darst. Beschr. Gewachse, x. t. 37 

 (M. Pimenta) ; Nees von Esenbeck, Plant. Medic. Diisseld. t. 298 

 (M. Pimenta) ; Woodville, Med. Bot. iii. (1832) t, 194 (J/. Pimento) ; 

 Steph. & Ch. Med. Bot. t. 124 (if. Pimenta, vel. Pimenta vulgaris) ; 

 Wight, Illnst, t. 97*, f. 7 {Pimenta vuhj<tris) ; Bentl. & Trimen, 

 Med. PL t. Ill ; Kohler, Med. Pflan ii. ; Sawer. Odorographia, p. 52 ; 

 Freeman & Chandler, World's Comm. Prod. p. 377 (young plant). 



Allspice, Pimento. 



Native of the West Indies, extending to Central America, and 

 under cultivation in many tropical countries. 



The fruits are largely used as a spice, flavouring for culinary 

 purposes and in medicine. Oil of Pimento, obtained by distillation 



