APPENDIX. 155. 
The industry received a check in 1872, the date of the great 
hurricane, At least nine-tenths of the trees were destroyed at that 
time, so the larger part of those now standing are of new growth. 
A peculiarity of the clove tree is that every part is aromatic, but 
the greatest strength is found in the bud, which is the clove” of 
commerce. The finest quality of cloves are dark brown in colour, 
with full, perfect heads, free from moisture, 
Inthe cultivation of the clove, the first thing to be done is the 
starting of the shoot. The seeds are planted in long trenches and 
are kept well watered until after sprouting. In the course of forty 
days the shoots appear above ground, They are carefully watered 
and looked after for the space of two years, when they should be 
about 3 feet in height. They are then transplanted, being set about 
30 feet apart, and are kept watered till they become well rooted. 
From this time on the young trees require only ordinary care, though 
the best results are obtained when the ground about the trees is well 
worked over and kept free from weeds. 
The growth of the treeis very slow, and five or six years are 
required for it to come into bearing, at which time it is about the 
size of an ordinary pear-tree, and is usually very shapely. It isa 
pretty sight to see a young plantation just coming into bearing, 
The leaves, of various shades of green tinged with red, serve to set 
off the clusters of dull-red clove buds. 
As soon as the buds are fully formed and assume this reddish colour, 
the harvesting commences, and is prosecuted for fully six months at 
intervals, since the buds do not form simultaneously, but at odd 
times throughout the whole period. The limbs of the tree being 
very brittle, a peculiar four-sided ladder is brought into requisition, 
and the harvesting proceeds apace, ; 
As fast as collected, the buds are spread out in the sun, until they 
assume a brownish colour, when they are put in the storehouse and 
are ready for market. 
A ten-year-old plantation should produce an average of 20 pounds 
of cloves to a tree. Trees of twenty years frequently produce 
upwards of 100 pounds each. 
The present season, commencing with July, 1889, is very favour- 
able, and the crop will exceed that of any previous season, It will, 
in all probability, amount to 13,000,000 pounds, averaging a local 
value of 10 cents per pound, 
