220 



HA RD WICKE' S SCIENCE- G OSS I P. 



greatly adds to the weight and waste, while on the 

 other hand it prevents the attack of the nutmeg 

 insect. The arils are taken from the seeds, dried in 

 the sun, and constitute "mace" of commerce. The 

 seeds and mace are both largely used as spices, and 

 medicinally, as stimulants and carminatives. A fixed 

 oil mixed with a volatile oil is obtained from the seeds 

 by expression under heat, known as concrete oil of 

 nutmegs, or "nutmeg butter" owing to its consis- 

 tency and colour. The concrete oil is imported into 

 this country, and from this the volatile oil is 

 obtained by distillation. 



At one time the cultivation of the nutmeg was 

 entirely in the hands of the Dutch, who lost no means 

 in order to monopolise the growth of the plant, and 



produce of at least two species of the Manihot genus 

 ^M. uiilissima, Pohl., and AT. Aipi, Pohl.) ; the 

 former the bitter Cassava, the latter the sweet Cassava. 

 These two plants are both largely cultivated in the 

 W. Indies, Brazil, Peru, the Coast of Africa, etc., for 

 the sake of their roots, from which the Cassava meal 

 is prepared. Some botanists regard them as distinct 

 species, and others regard M. Aipi as only a variety 

 of AT. utilissima ; but let that rest with those in- 

 terested ; for our purpose we may regard them as 

 distinct species. 



AI. utilissima, Pohl. (Janipha Manihot, Kunth. ; 

 Jatropha Manihot, Linn.). The bitter Cassava is a 

 shrubby plant, growing from six to' eight feet in 

 height, with an erect, twisted, knotty stem. Leaves 



Fig. 130. — Nutmeg [i^Iyristica moschaia). 



it is related that they used to burn the nutmegs when 

 there was an abundant crop in order to command high 

 prices. 



Other species yield very inferior nutmegs, which 

 sometimes find their way into English markets, 

 notably those of yI/./rt///r7, known under the name of 

 "long" or "wild" nutmegs; they are longer and 

 more pointed, but of a very inferior quality. Some- 

 times the nutmegs are washed with lime to prevent 

 the attack of insects, but this is also very often the 

 means employed to give valueless seeds a saleable 

 appearance. 



Cassava or Mandiocca meal, and Tapioca : — 

 These important articles of food, the latter well known 

 in this country, the former known as a very necessary 

 product in Tropical America and elsewhere, are the 



palmate, usually seven-partite ; segments entire, 

 lanceolate. Flowers axillarj', monoecious, racemose ; 

 petals absent, stamens ten. Root large, tuberous, 

 fleshy, and white, abounding with an acrid poisonous 

 juice, externally of a yellowish colour. M. Aipi, 

 Pohl., differs from the former species principally in 

 having reddish-coloured roots, and five-parted leaves. 

 One essential difference, however, in the nature of the 

 roots is that, whereas the root of AT. utilissima is 

 extremely poisonous, the other is very agreeable and 

 wholesome, and is cooked in various ways, serving 

 as a most nutritious food. It is said that the acrid 

 and poisonous nature of the bitter Cassava juice is 

 due to the presence of hydrocyanic acid and probably 

 an acrid principle. 



The way in which the Cassava meal is obtained is 



