The evening times., 1899-08-04

~ ~ IL kIlNl2vU
the guao tree, the manehineel bush,
and a small herb called the tibey.
The tree called guao tComocladia). call
ed by the Mexicans teilathiam, although
useful for the juice extracted, Is poison
Gus; it is alleged that it benumbs the per-
son who rests under It's shade and causes
the hair of animals which rub against its
trunk to fall OF 1t infiames for some
days the hands and eyes Of carpenters who
work it. 1t is employed for making beds.
because it drives away the chinch Tor bed)
bug. and its juice kills the wood borer,
which grows in articles made of wood.
The alleged effects of thejguao tree upon
man and animal have just been related, but
more serious still are said to be the re-
suits OF resting In the shade OF the man
zanillo or manchineel. This tree spreads
throughout the seacoasts and river banks,
is covered with regular leaves, its stem
almost two feet in circumference, its bark
smooth and delicate, the flowers rose tint
ed; it is loaded with small apple-like fruit
OF pleasant appearance and odOr; the
leaves resemble those of the pear tree;
the entire tree is full of a milky juice,
which exudes in the heat of the sun. Ac-
cGrding to current belief. the incautious
traveller, attracted by the beautiful appear
shade, soon finds himself poisoned, and IL
the laeteal substance falls upon him from
the leaves or if he touches the leaves. he
suffers as from an application of some
blistering substance. IL is also said that
fish which eats the fruit becomes infected,
the gills becoming yellow and black. and
one who eats the fish in this state is said
to fall into a profound lethargy, with
general relaxation of all the limbs, accord
in 10, he o,,f; - E.l, r. Iae ton,
This effect, according to popular belief,
continues twenty-four hours. and frequent
ly results in death. The use of brandy or
other spirituous liquors or the drinking of
sea water is considered beneficial as an
antidote.
A small herb called the they, the flower
of which resembles the lobelia, grows in
the meadows and pastures of the island.
Its poison is said to be so active that a
horse or other animal eating of it dies in a
short time. The natural instinct of the
animal teaches it to avoid this dangerous
plant as soon as the odor reaches him. The
eowhage ab0unds upon the limestone soils
of Porto Rico. This is a tropical climb
ing plant, with beanlike pods, very much
resembling huge brown eaterpillars. They
are covered by a multitude of fine poison
Gus hairs, which, when disturbed, irritate
the skin like the sting of nettles.
The climate produces variety of fruits,
unusual in their growth and of excellent
quality. The orange. lime, lemon. citron.
guaVa, cashaw, anona. coraZones. Nancy,
tobos, aguacate ALLIGATOR pear, mango.
and other fruit trees Of warm countries are
common throughout the island.
Porto Rico is especially well adapted to
the growth OF citroas fruits. The wild or
Seville orange in the country is an indigo
nous tree. which would prove a source of
ciaf-
ed by the makers of jams and marmalades.
OF the cultivated oranges, there are two
principal kinds which the people call ma
ranios" and 'chinos." The former term is
applied to oranges in general, and the lat
ter TO an especially fine and sweet variety
No attempt has been made to cultivate the
orange as an export product. Such trees
as exist are the result OF casual planting
for shade. ornamental. and family use Just
as an American may set out an occasional
peach tree in his yard. The art of orange
culture as practiced in Florida and Cali
fornia is unknown. When one considers
the perfection and abundance of the Porto
Rican orange and the demand for that fruit
in this country, il is obvious that its cult
ure offers a most profitable opening TO
the American investor. Lines, lemons,
grape fruit, shaddock, tangerines, and 9TH
er varieties of the citrous family can be
cultivated with profit.
Although the banana is not properly a
tree. still il is the most useful and the
most cultivated fruit OF the island con-
stitutiBg the staple food of the inhabitants.
especially the working classes. One is
hardly ever out OF sight OF these plants,
as they are grown around every hut and
upon all the estates. They grow to a
height of from twelve 10 fifteen feet and
their trunk is large roll of leaves in
sheathlike form, one within another, hav-
ing neither woodwork nor bark. The
leaves are green, smooth. lustrous, and
beautiful. Each stalk of the banana plant
yields one bunch OF fruit; this contains
from eighty TO q hundred or more bananas
When the fruit is cut the plant is also cut
although 1t is renewed from the foot stalk
three or four times, each shoot producing
its bunch of fruit each year
The species of banana called p.atanos or
hortones are the most common and useful
When green and roasted they serve as
bread; when ripe they are eaten raw, fried
in butter, prepared in the Spanish dish
called the olla-podrida, and baked. A very
strong vinegar is also made from them
There are several other varieties of ba-
mana t'coagos," ''guineos," "eambures,' .
'dominicos," and others which are RAISED
in the immediate vicinity of the houses;
these plants differ from the hortones, be-
ing lighter green, with smaller, sWester
fruit more mellow, and delicious in taste