Jamaica exported nearly two millions of pounds of pimento less, in the three years ending 1848, than she did in the three previous to the emancipation of the slaves.  The number of pounds shipped annually, in these periods, is shown by the following figures:—­

Year. lbs. 1830 5,560,620 1831 3,172,320 1832 4,024,800 1846 2,997,060 1847 2,800,140 1848 5,231,908

Pimento is imported into this country in bags of about 100 lbs. each.  The imports have been:—­

Year.          Imports.      Home consumption.
cwts.            cwts.
1848           20,773            4,230
1849           24,994            3,419
1850           20,448            3,467
1851           14,840            3,935
1852           22,708            3,872

The following is a statement of the imports from the West Indies, and the consumption of the United Kingdom, in pounds:—­

Entries for
Year.          Imports.         home consumption.
lbs.                 lbs.
1831         1,801,355             305,739
1832         1,366,183             296,197
1833         4,770,255             330,890
1834         1,389,402             320,719
1835         2,536,353             343,942
1836         3,230,978             400,941
1837         2,026,128             383,401
1838           892,974             383,997
1839         1,071,511             309,078
1840           999,068             338,969
1841           797,757             297,201
1842         1,643,318             450,683
1843         2,028,658             378,096

  The imports have been, in—­

bags.
1843         18,649
1844          2,408
1845         21,092
1847          9,649
1848         18,196
1849         14,108

Pimento is worth in the London market 6d. to 7d. per lb.  The duty is 5s. per cwt.

VANILLA.

The fleshy, pod-like, odoriferous fruit of different species of Epidendrum constitute the substance called vanilla, which is used in confectionery for giving a delicious perfume to chocolate, liqueurs, &c.  As an aromatic it is much sought after by confectioners, for flavoring ices and creams; and also by perfumers, liqueurists, and distillers.  The best comes from the forests round the village of Zurtila, in the intendancy of Oaxaca, on the eastern slopes of the Cordillera of Anahuac, between the parallels of 19 deg. and 20 deg.  N. All the vanilla which is used in Europe is imported from Mexico, Venezuela, and Vera Cruz.

It is a native of tropical America, and grows wild in Brazil, Peru, the banks of the Orinoco, and all places where heat, shade, and moisture prevail.  There are many species indigenous to the Bahamas, Trinidad, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominica, Martinique and St. Vincent, which would produce considerable gain to the inhabitants if they would give themselves the trouble of cultivating or collecting its fruit.