28 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
The same singular fact exists both with regard to the clove and nutmeg, that while these two plants excited the 
attention of the most distant countries, they were utterly neglected by the natives where produced. 
The nutmeg tree comes to maturity in its ninth year, and its life is usually of 75 years’ duration. It is propagated 
with some little difficulty. The trees which are transplanted into the nutmeg parks, are generally such as have been 
disseminated from the fruit by a certain blue pigeon called by the Dutch nut-eater. This bird, extracting the nutm 
from its pulpy covering, devours the whole entire. The mace is digested, and the nutmeg in its shell being voided, 
readily germinates when deposited in a shady place. The practice of transplanting is usually followed in the third 
year, but may be done later, and such is the hardihood of the plant, that if the earth be carefully lifted with the tree, 
and the tap root not injured, it may safely be removed at any age. The fruit of the Myristica is collected by hand; it 
is ascertained to be ripe by the blush on the pulpy covering, and by its bursting; the outer covering is peeled off, the 
mace is separated, flattened, and dried in the sun, when the rich crimson changes to a dull red, then dusky yellow ; 
it is afterwards sprinkled with salt water to assist in its preservation. The nut is dried in the sun or by ovens, and 
then exposed to smoke; when the kernel rattles in the shell, this is broken and it is withdrawn; when freed from the 
shells the nutmegs are dipped twice or thrice in lime water made of fine shells, which is supposed to secure them from 
the depredations of insects and worms. After the last process they are fit for the market, and are packed in casks, 
Although the nutmeg bears throughout the year, there are still three distinct periods for reaping the crop, or three 
harvests, one in April, one in July and August, and one in November. The first affords the best fruit, the second the 
largest quantity, the third is a sort of supplemental harvest to the second. : 
Good nutmeg trees, well taken care of, will give annually a produce of from ten to fourteen pounds of mace and 
nutmegs together. The product of an acre of a nutmeg plantation is 266% lbs., or two picals. In fifteen parts of the 
whole produce, there are two parts of mace, five of shell, and eight of nutmegs, or in 100, 133 per cent. of mace, 33$ 
of shell, and 53$ of nutmegs. The proportion which the shell bears to the nutmeg is as five to eight, which is 384 
per cent. of shell to 613 nutmegs. The proportion which the mace bears to the nutmeg is as one to four. At the 
commencement of the nutmeg trade, they were always sold and transported in the shell; this continued until the time 
of the Dutch monopoly. One object in removing the shell was to prevent germination. It is stated that the Dutch 
burned the nutmegs for which they had no use, after having supplied the demand in Europe, and having satisfied the 
consumption of the country, and provided for the amount necessary to furnish the oil. Valmont de Bomare asserts, 
that he saw a heap of nutmegs burned worth eight millions of francs, and as many were to be burned the next day. 
The same author declares that the Holland company were always many years in advance of the demand, and that at — 
the period when the crop of 1740 was sold, it was still 15 years in advance. 
Mace contains volatile and fixed oil, a gummy matter, and ligneous fibre. 
Nutmegs should be solid and heavy ; they contain volatile and fixed oils. Both, from their warmth and aroma, 
belong to the spices. 
The nutmeg was known to the Egyptians, as is ascertained by meeting with them in the mummy cases. M. 
Bonastre has supposed this was the cinnamon of the Greeks. ; 
The use of mace and nutmegs is extensive as a condiment and as an aromatic adjuvant in medicine. Narcotic 
properties have been attributed to the nutmeg. A number of preparations contain this spice. 
Pirate LX XIII. —Represents the plant in Slower, the organs of reproduction, and the fruit. 
LAURACES. 
LINDLEY. 
THE CINNAMON TRIBE. 
Lavuri.—Jussieu. 
Laurine&.—Ventenat and R. Brown. 
Essentia Cuar.—Calyz four to six cleft, with imbricate estivation, the limb sometimes obsolete. Stamens 
definite, perigynous, opposite the segments of the calyx, and usually twice as numerous; three innermost, which ore 
opposite the three inner segments of the calyx sterile or deficient; the six outermost scarcely ever abortive. Ant. 
