'■260 STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



diminish in length as they approach the extremity of the 

 branch ; they are narrow and pinnated, and are placed on 

 two opposite sides of the branch. About six or eight years 

 from the time of planting, the tree bears nuts. The stalk 

 arises from the trunk where the branches grow and bears se- 

 veral nuts. 



Of the ricinus or castor bush, which yields the well known 

 castor oil, there are two kinds, the red and the white, distin- 

 guished by the color of their stalks, of which the former is 

 of a reddish color, the latter green. The stalk is jointed and 

 about five feet in height. The leaves are about eighteen or 

 nineteen inches in circumference, and divided into eight or 

 ten pointed parts. They are supported by foot stalks ten or 

 twelve inches long, and grow in great numbers both upon the 

 stalk and branches. It bears nuts of a triangular form, and 

 covered with a thin brown fur; these nuts by expression, 

 yield the castor oil. 



The guava-tree grows to about twenty feet in height, and is 

 covered by a smooth grey bark. The leaves are about three 

 inches long and one broad, rough, pointed at the end, and 

 of a dark green color. The flowers have five white petals. 

 It bears a round fruit, which when ripe, is of a light yellow 

 colour. The internal part of the fruit is filled with a red co- 

 loured pulp, with numerous hard seeds ; this pulp is covered 



