ous and intensely bitter.

In 1786 one hogshead and 409 gourds of aloes were exported from
Barbados. In 1827, there were about 96,000 packages shipped from the
island. In 1844, there were 4,600 packages exported. The exports have
fallen off considerably, only about 850 gourds having been shipped in
the season of 1849-50; but in 1851 it increased to 2,505 gourds.

_Caballine_, or _Horse-aloes_, is the coarsest species or refuse of
the Barbados aloes, and from its rank fetid smell is only useful for
veterinary medicine. It is also obtained from Spain and Senegal.

A very good description of the mode of cultivating and preparing the
aloes in Barbados is given in the 8th vol. of the "London Medical
Journal":--

The lands in the vicinity of the sea, that is from two to three
miles, which are rather subject to drought than otherwise, and are
so strong and shallow as not to admit of the planting of sugar-canes
with any prospect of success, are generally found to answer best for
the aloe-plant. The stones, at least the larger ones, are first
picked up, and either packed in heaps upon the most shallow barren
spots, or laid round the field as a dry wall. The land is then
lightly ploughed and very carefully cleared of all noxious weeds,
lined at one foot distance from row to row, and the young plants set
like cabbages, at about five or six inches from each other. This
regular mode of lining and setting the plants is practised only by
the most exact planters, in order to facilitate the frequent weeding
by hand; because if the ground be not kept perfectly clean and free
from weeds, the produce will be very small. Aloes will bear being
planted in any season of the year, even in the dryest, as they will
live on the surface of the earth for many weeks without a drop of
rain. The most general time of planting them, however, is from April
to June.

In the March following, the laborers carry a parcel of tubs and jars
into the field, and each takes a slip or breadth of it, and begins
by laying hold of a bunch of the blades, as much as he can
conveniently grasp with one hand, whilst with the other he cuts it
just above the surface of the earth as quickly as possible (that the
juice may not be wasted), and then places the branches in the tub
bunch by bunch or handful by handful. When the first tub is thus
packed quite full, a second i