The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-04-21
ALLSPICE.
The Fragrant Product Of the
Pimento Tree.
The Work of Planting the Trees
Done by Birds.

spices in which there are seVerai III
Gradients. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, |
and cardamons are supposed to be min
gled in it, the result being fiavorlng
mixture oi special merit. IL is true that
.,,s.r,e Goes combine very agreeable
variety of favors, but it is simple and
not a ompound product. We are IN
debtcd for it to the tropical islands OF
the west; but practically all that comes
into commerce is the growth of one
island-Jamaica. Allspice is a name
given to the powdered berries of what is
known elsewhere as pimcnto, or ia
maica pepper. The plant yielding these
berries is a near congener of the pome-
pranate and guava, and is known to
botanists as Pimerta vulgaris. 1t is
handsome evergreen tree, something like
the arbutus in habit. The bright glossy
leaves haze quite a spicy odor when
bruised. and recall at once the allspice
of commerce. The flowers grow IN
dense clusters, almost like those of the
hawthorn, but greenish in color. Fol-
lowing these, we have small, green,
aromatic berries the size of black pep
per. If allowed to ripen they become
PUPPY and lose some of their pungency.
For commercial purposes the berries arc
gathered when green, carefully dried in
the sun on barbecues or platforms, and,
when we'll cured, are packed in large
bags holding about 16O to 100 pounds,
and shipped.
Pimento-trees are natives Of many
parts of tropical America, but nowhere
are they so plentiful or thrive so well as
in Jamaica. The properties devoted to
the growth of pimento are called pl-
mento walks" Several hundred of
them are dotted over the limestone
hills to the west of the island; but.
strange to say, the trees arc never
actually planted, nor do they receive
any cultivation worthy of the name.
, The whole industry is one in which man
does little except reap the results. But
in many years, owing to low prices, the
results arc not worth reaping. Hence
the pimcnto- grower has often to fall
l back on his cattle and horses, raised On
the rich pasture beneath the spice-trecs.
In spite of low prices, however, the
pimento industry is, as a whole, OF
e considerable value. The grower seldom
gets more than pence per pound for il
a when cured. 1t is certainly more mild
3 and innocent than most other spices
Q and 1t is largely used in various dishes
so that better time may come foc thu
: grower.
mentioned Just now that pimentt
: trees are never planted by the hus band
J, man. 1t is all the work of birds VIII
feed on the ripe pimento berries an'
!, scatter the seeds over the land. TIL
o seeds soon terminate, and the war;
IS genial rains and tropical sun do the rest
IL What man does is to thin out the tree
u where they are too thick, clear o
70 other trees that interfere with the p
er mento, and then walk is established
y The surplus plants, taken up with goo
p roots, are shipped to make walkin
ie sticks AID umbrela.handles. The woo
In of the piinento tree is very close in tel
W ture, takes a good polish, and is of
5 fine rich color. A few "malc" or ba
"a rcn trees are sometimes cut down; b1
i' otherwise pimento wood is too valuab
10 to be used for commercial purposes.
Gu The pimento picking" is timc {
III great excitement and activity in di
nc trict. Troops of negroes, the wom
nc dressed in bright colors, collect toget
GU er. The men break off the branch
nc laden with green berries and pass the
On to the women, who, sitting in a circl
It, strip them by hand. The berries g
we carried TO the works at night, pill
ef- in heap and left to undergo 4 certa
Use amount Of fermentation before bel
dried in the sun. When cured they ;
dull brown little balls, very light, {
49, grant, and possessing the we'll know
- allspice flavor. \ liquor known as @
= mento cordial or "pimento dram"
-, made from the pimento berries; this
speciality in jamaica country hous
N Visiting a pimcnto property while sc
' is ON one would fancy that the birds