44 
NATIVE WOODS 
The Bitter Cup, 
This cup (PI. III. 4) is made from bitter- 
wood, or Jamaica Quassia (Pierce ua excelsa.) 
W ater, left to soak in it over-night, is extreme- 
ly bitter and is drunk for medicinal purposes. 
Its curative properties are well known in the 
medical world, and it is used with beneficial 
results for dyspepsia ; it is also used locally 
for fever. The only drawback to its use is 
the truly enormous appetite that the patient 
develops, taxing to the utmost the j30wers of 
the unfortunate housekeeper in charge. 
The active principle, quasmin or picrasmin 
is only present to the extent of about 10 oz. in 
one ton. So intensely bitter is it, however, 
that 1 oz. will impregnate about 2,500 gallons 
with its flavour. It is largely used in England 
against insect pests, of a sucking nature, and, 
to a smaller extent, for the same purpose 
here. 
Sitter Wood, Bitter Hsh or Jamaica Quassia* 
Picr,c£NA excelsa. Order Simarubeae. A high 
tree (about 50 ft..) ; leaves, compound, with nine to 
eleven leaflets each 2 to 4 inches long ; flowers, 
small, yellowish-green ; berries, small, black. The 
wood is exported. 
The Coratoe Razor Strop, 
Material. The ripe flower stalk (15 to 20 
ft. high) is cut in dry weather and slowly 
dried in the house or in a shady place. 
Preparation. The dried stalk is cut into 
sections, each about 15 inches long. These 
pieces are first roughly squared, all the outer 
bark being removed and the pith only left. 
The surface is now made perfectly smooth 
