JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



New Series.] SEPTEMBER, 1901. ^ ' — 



J Part 9. 



HISTORICAL NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS IN 



JAMAICA. 



By the Editor & W. Harris, F. L. S. 

 Introductory I. 



The following extracts from early authors may serve as a general 



introduction : — 



In " a brief description of the island of Jamaica * *," which forms 

 one chapter in " A Book of the Continuation of Forreign Passages * * * 

 moreover an attempt on the island of Jamaica", published in London 

 in 1657 (the earliest account of the island published after the English 

 took possession of the island), the following account is given of the 

 fruits, &c. : " and Dr. Heylin in his Description of the American 

 Islands [Heylin, John, D.D. " Microcosmus" — Oxon, 1622] saith of 

 Jamaica * * * well stocked with cattell, and no less plentifully stored 

 with most sorts of fruits, which either industry or nature have sup- 

 plied it with ; great store of cot ton- wool, and such abundance of 

 Jaccu-far Root whereof the savages once made their bread) that it was 

 deemed the granary of the neighbouring islands. * * * 



Severall sorts of Wood in this Country, 



1. Grandillio, of a reddish Mack colour, and heavy as ebony used 

 much is these parts for bedsteads. 



2. Cedar > the best in all the Indies, usefull for all purposes, as Oake 

 in England. 



3. Cawobena, a tree of six fathoms about, a fine red, excellent good 

 for beds, tables or buildings. 



4. Cittano, of a yellow colour, a fathome about, excellent for dying, 

 called in English, yellow Fu stick. 



5. Brasil and Brasiielto, excellent for dying, sold in these parts 

 at one pound seventeen shillings and sixpence per hundred. 



6. Guaicum y good for bedsteads, bowls and chairs, and Physicians 

 uses, three foot over, sold at Garthagena for two shillings par pound. 



The Country affords severall Fruits. 



1. Pepper smelling like Cloves, the North side of the Island is full 

 of it, wild, good for Chocolatto, sold here at sixpence per pound. The 



