MYRTACBiE. 
107 
4 inches long, and If broad, oblong, sub-cordate at the 
base, rounded and apiculated at the apex, when young pu- 
berulous above, and pubescenti-velutine beneath ; nerves 
strongly marked on the under surface, rendering the up- 
per rugulose : petiole about two lines in length, pubes- 
centi-vclutine. Peduncles axillary, solitary, one flow- 
ered. 
It is remarkable, that, respecting a plant so common, 
there should be any uncertainty. Sloane describes three 
kinds of Guava ; 1st, the red ; 2nd, the large white ; and 
3rd the small white. These appear to me to belong to 
one species, the varieties being the consequence of soil 
and climate. Where the soil is rich and the climate 
favorable, the fruit is large and juicy with a sweet reddish 
pulp. Where the tree is stunted, the fruit is deteriorated, 
the pulp is pale, and the flavour is acid and austere. 
The finest Guavas I have ever seen were some that 
were produced in the river-course near Dallas Castle, 
Port Royal, and others in the Morass near Bye-brook, 
St. Thomas in the Vale- 
The form of the fruit, I may here remark, is globular, 
and resembles that of the apple more than that of the 
pear: being still more like that of the pomegranate. 
The characters, given by DeCandolle as belonging to 
Psidium pomiferum, do not apply to our Jamaica Guavas. 
The bark possesses the tannin principle, and has been 
found useful in tanning leather ; though it is not gene- 
rally employed for that purpose. A decoction of the bark 
the young leaves and the fruit, from being astringent, has 
been given as a remedy in diarrhoea and dysentery. 
The fruit when in perfection has the size and the ap- 
pearance of the golden pippin. That of the superior sorts 
is well deserving of a place at the dessert. It is in my 
opinion, one of our fruits most likely to- be ameliorated 
and improved by cultivation. Its flavour- is very peculiar, 
unlike that of any other fruit. Prepared by stewing as a 
conserve, and with the addition of milk, it is equal if not 
superior to the much vaunted strawberries and cream of 
Europe. The jelly prepared from it, surpasses that- ob- 
tained from any other fruit. 
The Guava tree is an obstinate weed in pastures, re- 
quiring the troublesome operation of grubbing for its era- 
dication. At the same time, it is deserving of remark, that 
every description of domesticated animal is fond of the 
