CLOVES. 228 
to an extraordinary size, loses much of its spicy quality, and con- 
tains a hard nucleus like the seed of the Bay. This state of the 
fruit is what Europeans call the “ mother clove” and the natives 
poleng. 
“The sight of a young plantation just coming imto bearing is 
very pretty. The leaves of various shades of green tinged with 
red serve to set off the clusters of dull red clove-buds. 
“The buds are plucked by hand, so that the process of gathering 
is tedious. They are then dried for several days on mats in the 
sun, until they break easily between the fingers and assume a dark 
brown colour. The loss of weight in drying is about 60 per cent. 
When past its prime the clove-tree has a rugged and straggling 
appearance. Its term of existence is from 20 to 24 years; hence 
it is necessary to plant a succession of seedlings, to take the place 
of worn out trees.” * 
When speaking of Zanzibar cloves we include the products of 
the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, three fourths of the entire 
crop being produced in Pemba, about 25 miles distant. Those 
grown on the island of Zanzibar are reckoned of superior quality 
and command a higher price, but this is probably due to the fact 
that the owners reside at Zanzibar and can thus give their affairs 
the benefit of direct supervision. Certaimly the conditions for 
their successful cultivation are most favourable at Pemba, where 
the rainfall exceeds that of Zanzibar, but the management being 
left to careless overseers, the result is the cloves are imperfectly 
cured and (being carelessly handled) are frequently marketed in an 
inferior condition. 
The clove-tree was first introduced into Zanzibar about the year 
1830 by the Sultan of that period, since which its cultivation has 
gradually extended, until it is now the chief industry of the 
islands. 
The industry received a check in 1872, the date of the great 
hurricane. At least nine-tenths of the trees were destroyed, so 
that the larger part of those now standing are of new growth. 
The method of cultivation at Zanzibar is as follows :—The seeds 
are planted in long trenches and kept well watered until after 
sprouting. In the course of forty days the shoots appear above 
ground; they are then watered when necessary and the ground 
* ‘Journal of the Indian Archipelago,’ v. p. 78. 
