430 



PIMENTO. 



The pimento, Eugenia Pimenta (Myrtus Pimento), is a native 

 of Mexico, and the West Indies. It flourislies spontaneously 

 and in great abundance on the north side of the island of Jamaica ; 

 its numerous white blossoms mixing Mdth the dark green foliage, 

 and with the slightest breeze diffusing around the most delicious 

 fragrance, give a beauty and a charm to nature rarely equalled, and 

 of which he who has not visited the shady arbors and perfumed 

 groves of the tropics can have little conception. This lovely 

 tree, the very leaf of which when bruised emits a fine aromatic odor, 

 nearly as powerful as that of the spice itself, has been known to 

 grow to the height of from 30 to 40 feet, exceedingly straight, and 

 having for its base the spinous ridge of a rock, eight or ten feet 

 above the surface of the hill or mountain. A single tree has fre- 

 quently produced 150 lbs. of the raw, or 100 lbs. of the dried fruit. 



The fruit has an aromatic odor, and its taste combines that of 

 cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves ; hence its common name of allspice. 

 The fruit of Eugenia acris is used for pimento. 



The trunk is of a grey color, smooth and shining, and altogether 

 destitute of bark. It is luxuriantly clothed with leaves of a deep 

 green, somewhat like those of the bay tree, and these leaves are, 

 in the months of July and August, beautifully contrasted and 

 relieved by an exuberance of white flowers. The leaves yield by 

 distillation a delicate odoriferous oil, which is said to be sometimes 

 passed off for oil of cloves. 



The berries are gathered before they are ripe, and spread on a 

 terrace, exposed to the sun for about a week, during which time 

 they lose their green color, and acquire that reddish brown tint 

 which renders them marketable. Some planters kiln-dry them. Like 

 many of the minor productions of the tropics, pimento is exceed- 

 ingly uncertain, and perhaps a very plenteous crop occurs but 

 once in five years. 



In 1800 there were 12,759 bags and 610 casks of pimento 

 imported from Jamaica ; in 1824 there were 33,308 bags and 599 

 casks shipped from the island ; in 1829 the quantity exported Vv^as 

 6,069,127 lbs. 



In the year ending October 1843, the export of pimento from 

 Jamaica was 29,322 bags and 156 casks; in the year ending 

 October 1844, 12,055 bags and 88 casks; in the year ending 

 October 1845, 233 casks, valued at SOs. each, and 59,494 bags, 

 valued at 203. 



Erom 1st January to 1st August, 1851, 128,277 lbs, pimento 

 were shipped from the port of Montego Bay, Jamaica. 



There was a very considerable pimento plantation made in 

 Tobago, some years ago, by a Mr. Pranklin, but it was abandoned 

 by his sons, that they might attend the more exclusively to sugar 

 culture. 



Jamaica exported nearly two millions of pounds of pimento 



