The evening times., 1899-08-04
THE FRUITS OFT PORTO RICO
Results Of Pathological Enquiry
i'm the Island.
Queer Trees That Have Edible Prod
ucts-Anofher That Produces an H.
Illuminating Oil, OdOrless and
smokelcss-PoisOnO Plants of
Which the Traveller Should Beware


quiry into the matter Of the wild fruits
of Porto Rico. Ii has been learned that
the island abounds in useful trees. One
of the commonest and one OF the most use
| full trees which grows there is locally
known as the "Higuereta." II is also call
ed the Palma Christi. 1t is a small tree
and has many knotted and twisted twigs,
the leaves being divided into five lobes. 1t
produces bunch of berries similar to the
coffee, which. when boiled, yield very clear
oil. This serves as an Illuminating oil,
| giving a clear light without odor and with
cut smoke. 1t is also much used as
purgatiye, as remedy for fevers, and the
Indians apply the leaves for relief from
headache. Only the negroes make any use
Of il in Porto Rico. In some gardens of
Europe this plant is cultivated as an or
nament.
The tamarind is found in the plains and
in the forests II grows equally well on
the warm coasts and in the cool noun
tains. The tree is very large and spread
ing. Its trunk reaches ten feet in cir
cumference. The wood is hard and red in
color. The fruit has pleasant taste,
neither sweet nor sour. Diluted with wa
ter. it forms delicate and wholesome
beverage like that of the lemon, and is
considered by some even more agreeable
Sweetmeats are made of the fruit; also
remedies for feyers, vicious humors, sour
Wy, etc.
The papaya or .'papaw tree is found in
the mountains and is grown near the
houses, because the islanders enjoy the fruit
4 I'll a-adr IN rTa, AAsall
tree is small. reaching three or four yards
in height and less than a foot in diameter.
II is straight, and has no branches; from
the middle OF the trunk TO the top IL throws
out leaves. The fruit grows in the angle
of the leaf where il is joined TO the trunk,
and covers the entire circumference OF the
latter in such manner that IL cannot
be seen from its middle TO its top, being
covered by papaws. The fruit is green at
first, afterwards turning yellow within
and without, growing TO the size of an OIL
dinary melon. The very sweet pulp of tbs
fruit is somewhat nauseous ana insipid-
Eaten with the seeds il has an agreeable
taste, is strengthening, diuretic, autiscor-
butte, acts as yermifuge, and is used il
making comfts.
The guanabana grows here, but is small.
Ii blooms twice a year. The fruit is heart
shaped, more than six inches in thickness,
and a handbreadth in length. ordinarily
weighing from six to seven pounds. Its
color is green at first, then turns yellow,
has a net-liks covering, and some excres-
cences like grains. Its pulp is very white,
tender, full of a Juice which is nauseous be-
cause too sweet and contains small black
seeds like the watermelon. This fruit is
used as a remedy for diarrhoaa and fevers,
being very cooling and hsalthful. The
! Juice extracted has the colcr and taste OF
Tnusrarpl wine hFlf ii sOOn SOiIrS
The higu5ra or totumo (calabash) tree is
/ found near all houses. This tree is quite
! large its trunk and branches are crooked
and knotty, with a few small, feshy, lus-
trous green leaves. The fruit is oval, with
/ a smooth, light-green and very compact,
although plant covering, and on the tree
| presents different forms. The pulp is white,
spongy, like that of the sandals watermelon,
and the seeds resemble those of that fruit,
! but the taste is bitter and biting OF acrid
/ The gourd-like fruit serves for plates,
! pitchers. spoons. and other domestic uses,
furnishing most OF the dishes and utensils
of the poor. The guichero or guiro, pc
cuIiar musical instrument used by all the
| pessantry, is also made OF it,
The tree called tabanuco, which vie ds
valuable resin, is common, especially in
the mountain Of Luquillo, and in high
parts Of the island. This resin is white,
very bitter, and is said TO kill the borer
and other pests that destroy wood. For
this reason it was used in former times for
calking boats, and was of great utility be-
cause Of its durability and value as an in
secticide. Ii is sometimes employed in the
churches for incense and as a remedy in
some diseases. No less useful are the
resins OF the trees called cupey, mora, al
garroba, and especially that called pinuela.
The latter makes varnish-ike cement Sd
permanent that broken articles may be
united so firmly that they never break
again at the point OF union.
The ceiba tree grows TO over 1G0 feet in
length and 10 to II feet in breadth. This
tree produces a great quantity of pods
four inches in length and one inch in
width, which are full of fine soft down
called wool of ceiba. When these pods
mature they open and the wind carries
away the contents. The same is the case
with the tree called guano, which differs
but little from this. Some value the wool
highly for mattresses and cushions, be-
cause they are cool and soft. The canafis-
tolo is not uncommon The tree is tall, its
wood hard, of a reddish co,or, and the
leaves have the form of a lance. The tree
is covered with yellow flowers in the
spring. The physicians call the pulp of
the fruit cana, and purgatives are made
from Il.
tree WHICH luS lOItSL5 COHld4u
produces the pimienta or allspice. Although
it is abundant and of the best quality, it
is little known because of its limited eX-
portation- 1t is ordinarily gathered by
the natives only after falling from the
trees when it is ripe, on wet soil exposed
TO rains and dews, which cause it to de-
teriorate. Therefore its condition when
exported is not a criterion of its real
quality This tree grows among the forest
nf her If
especially in the districts OF Guayama,
Ponce and Co5mo, which are the dryest
and least fertile IN the island, the tree
being rare on the northern coasts which
are fertile Its stem is tall, straight, and
smooth; the wood is hard and suitable for
working, having a dark-reddish color,
which in time becomes lustrous black.
Its bark is a silver grey, its branches rich
in foliage; the leaves, which resemble the
laurel, have the odor of pepper and serve
for condiments and different remedies. In
Jamaica and other places this tree is cul-
tivated by transplanting it to uplands
which will not serve for sugarcane. The
pimienta is also gathered in Jamaica by
beating the branches with a pole before
il is perfectly ripe. and it is dried in the
sun, protected from all dampness and dew
II is cleansed with care and put into bogs
for transportation to Europe with which
there is a prosperous commerce In Porto
Rico ii is utilized mostly without any pre-
cautions for preserving it from humidity
or any preparations for drying 1t in the
sun. as it is gathered a few barrels at a
time. the rest being abandoned
No less common upon the southern coast
and in the higher parts of the island is the
tree which produces the nutmeg
Mr.. Hill. Of the Geological Survey. in
report on the flora of Porto Rico. which
has just been issued by the Department
of A Agriculture saws that the Antilles ar,