JOHNSTON: FLORA OF MARGARITA ISLAND. 271 
a sort of a stone wall about each plant. This contrivance is to prevent 
the heavy rains from washing all the soil down the hillside. When the 
crops are mature, the roots are gathered and treated in the customary 
way, bruised, mashed, and the poisonous juice pressed out. The 
dried remainder is grated into meal and made into cassava bread 
which is sold in large, thin, circular disks. 
Indian corn is growii very little upon the island, and then it is used 
mostly for fodder. A few acres were given up to its cultivation at an 
altitude of 500 m. in 1901. In 1903, however, the same space was 
entirely occupied by a rank growth of Cordia cylindristackya and 
other weeds. 
The bread-fruit tree, Artocarpus incisa, is to be found in Asuncion 
valley. Bananas and plantains are to be had in moderate amount 
and only fair in quality. 
Dates grow in sufficient abundance for the needs of the natives. 
There are probably a half dozen mature trees in El Valle. The foot 
of the mountain with its moist soil and extremely hot atmosphere is a 
good place for growing the trees. 
The cashew-nut (Anacardium occidentale) and the hog-plum 
(Spondias lidea) are to be found sparingly near Asuncion. 
Maranta arundinacea, the arrowroot plant, grows in the woods 
above Asuncion but it is not cultivated. 
The mamon (Melicocca hijuga) and the toco {Crataeva Tapia) are 
often eaten and sometimes found for sale in the market-place. 
The mango is the most abundant fruit in Margarita and though 
of inferior quality is largely used by all the people. 
There are orange trees in El Valle, Asuncion, and Tacarigua, those 
from the last place being superior. The few bitter orange and the 
lime trees are of little importance. 
Good sapodillas or nisperos grow both in El Valle and at Asuncion. 
A poor quality of pineap{)le is to be found in the market in season. 
There are several pineapple fields on the hillsides of El Valle. 
Sugar cane grows well in very few places on the island. There are 
several small cane-presses, turned either by hand or by burro. The 
product is for home consumption, and there is not enough of it to 
supply the people. Most of the sugar that is used is brought over 
from Cumana in the form of large bro\vn cakes called papelon. The 
cane-juice may be found in the market in a slightly fermented con- 
dition when it is known as guarapo. 
