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[Page 3]
Catalogue 1.
Plants to be translated from the East Indies, or from those parts of Asia lying within the Tropicks, to Jamaica.
1
Laurus cinamomum Linnæi sp. plant. - The Cinnamon Tree.
We are not certainly informed that the Cinnamon Tree grows any where, but in the Island of Ceylon.
Mr WatsonA in an account he gives of this Tree in the Philosophical Transactions, observes; That the States of Holland who have the sole Possession of this valuable branch of Commerce in that Island are so jealous of it, that the Fruit or Young Plants, are forbidden by an order of the State to be sent from thence, lest other Powers my avail themselves thereof, and they have hitherto been successful in keeping it to themselves. He justly supposes however that this prohibition is not of a long standing, as Herman in his Hortus Lugduni - batavus, published An.1687, relates that he sent several of these Trees to some considerable Persons in Holland, where they lived for two or three years and were killed by a severe Winter.
It is further remarked, in the German Ephemerides, that these Trees which were sent at several different times by Herman from Ceylon to Holland, did appear to thrive for some time in the Dutch Gardens, without any considerable change in their quality.B
I am credibly informed, says Mr Watson, that three of these Trees in Pots were presented to the late King William, by whom they were placed in the Garden at Hampton Court, and were intended to be sent to Jamaica, as a Country proper for their increase, under the care of the Earl of Inchiquin, who was then going there Governor. But for want of Attention these Trees were left behind where
A. Philos. Trans. Vol. 47 An. 1751 p. 301
B. Ephemerid. med. phys. ger. An 1673, 1674