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ON THE CULTURE OF MYRTUS PIMENTA. 
beauty of the plant, but so impair the action of the functions of the leaves as to 
require much time and attention to recover them, which cannot be done at all with- 
out considerable loss of foliag-e. Cuttings are found difficult to strike, but if taken 
off when the wood is not too ripe, and planted in clean white sand, in a moderate 
bottom heat under a g-lass, carefully guarding against damp, they may be brought 
to make roots, but the readiest and at the same time the most effectual way of in- 
creasing it is by layering the young shoots in the common way ; after the part lay- 
ered is pegged securely down, it is a good thing, in order to facilitate and secure 
their rooting, to shake a little sand round the cut where the roots are to spring 
from, as it tends greatly to assist in healing the wound and nourishing the young 
rootlets : the old wood is too hard to be made available for either layers or cuttings. 
The following very interesting account of this useful plant, as well as that of the 
nutmeg below, we find in the Library of Entertaining Knowledge, both of which, 
as they contain much that is useful, we extract verbatim : — 
Myrtus pimenta, or All-spice. 
Myrtus pimenta is an extremely handsome tree, native of South America and 
the West Indies, especially of the island of Jamaica, whence the berries or pimento 
of commerce are exported in large quantities. This tree grows to the height of 
about thirty feet, with a smooth brown trunk and shining green leaves, resembling 
those of the bay ; branches coming out on all sides, are clothed in the most luxuriant 
