31 



Medicinal Plants. 



being small. In the report of the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 1889, he 

 says. " The ' Jamaica Sarsaparilla ' of commerce is the produce of Smilax officinalis. 

 It derived its name ' Jamaica ' from being formerly brought from Central America 

 to that island, whence it Avas exported to Europe. Of this plant next to nothing 

 is known, but a Smilax has been cultivated in Jamaica itself for many years, and 

 affords a sarsaparilla which is exported to a small extent. A local nurseryman 

 having recently forwarded a sample grown in Ceylon from plants of this kind 

 imported from Jamaica, attention has been again called to the plant, of which 

 several specimens from Kew are in cultivation at Peradeniya. Sir J. Hooker has 

 expressed his opinion that the cultivated Jamaica sarsaparilla and S. officinalis 

 will prove, when their flowers are known, to be different species." 



In January, 1890, a sample of Jamaica Sarsaparilla roots grown in Ceylon 

 in pots was submitted to Dr. Trimen, who wrote as follows to the Ceylon Observer :— 

 "There are some curious points connected with this product, which has been 

 cultivated in Jamaica for many years past. The plant is not native there, and its 

 geographical origin is not ascertained ; nor has it ever been botanically determined 

 with certainty. Moreover, this drug, though certainly a Sarsaparilla from Jamaica, 

 is not the ' Jamaica Sarsaparilla ' of commerce. This latter is a product of Central 

 America, and obtained its name in consequence of coming by the way of the West 

 Indian Island. It differs from the kind before us in the dark reddish-brown colour 

 of the root-bark which has very little starch in its structure, or, as it is termed 

 in the trade, is ' non-mealy.' It is this sort that is most sought after by druggists. 

 The sort grown in Jamaica is much paler in colour, more starchy (' mealy ') and 

 is less valued in the English market. Its cultivation, however, is still carried on 

 there to a considerable extent and is said to be very profitable ; the export in 1870 

 was 1,747 lb., and in 1871, 1,290 lb. I have seen no later returns. I do not think the 

 culture of Sarsaparilla advisable here, at least on any large scale. The reputation 

 of the drug, once very high, has been falling for many years, and by many thera- 

 peutists and practitioners it is now regarded as almost if not entirely inert. 

 Careful chemical analysis has not revealed the existence of any alkaloid with 

 important properties, and the use of this once famous tonic is steadily diminishing." 



The Jamaica product is still put on the London Market, and the latest market 

 report to hand quotes the following for December " Red native Jamaica obtained 

 9d. to Is. per lb. according to quality." Sarsaparilla is also exported to London from 

 Honduras and Guatemala, but whether this is from cultivated plants or the wild 

 product it is difficult to learn. At the sales referred to above " Honduras was 

 bought in at Is. 3d. per lb.," and " ordinary Guatemala at Is. per lb." 



Cultivation and Curing.— Prom a back number of the Tropical Agri- 

 culturist (1887) we quote the following note : — 



In cultivation, the plant is produced from the vine or stem, which is lifted 

 clear from the ground. The soil is then loosened, the vine is buried slightly into 

 it, roots freely, and forms new stock with new roots. Were the plant once 

 established in open scrub land, its nature and habits induce us to believe that it 

 could be made a valuable product with comparatively little trouble. It is also 

 propagated from the seeds, which fall around the parent plant in great numbers, 

 when they fall in loose and rich soil. This seed is enclosed in a fruit or globose 

 envelope, which hangs in branches from the vine like grapes. Each berry encloses 

 a pit of the size of a pea. It turns black upon falling and its envelope is red. 

 Each plant bears twice a year. Sarsaparilla can also be made to root by cuttings. 

 This method is more prompt than by the seed. According to the trials which have 

 been made with it, the roots by this method attain full size in two years ; by the 

 seed three years are necessary. Sarsaparilla, cultivated with skill, would give a 

 yield of twice what it does in its wild state. It is estimated that if on the space 



