224. ODOROGRAPHIA. 
well kept for the space of two years, when they should be about 
three feet high. They are then transplanted, being set about thirty 
feet apart and kept well watered till the tender roots are established. 
From this time they only require 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 tree is 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. 
« As soon as the buds are fully formed and assume this reddish 
colour, the harvesting commences, and is continued for fully six 
months at intervals, as 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 used for gathering 
the harvest. As fast as collected the buds are spread out in the 
sun, until they assume a brownish colour, when they are put in 
the store-house and are ready for the market. 
“‘ A ten-year old plantation should produce an average of 20 lbs. 
of cloves to a tree. Trees of twenty years frequently produce 
upwards of 100 lbs. each ” (?)*. 
The Consular Report above quoted from adds :—“ The present 
season, commencing July 1889, is very favourable and the crop 
will exceed that of any previous season. It will, in all probability, 
amount to 13,000,000 lbs., averaging a local value of 10 cents per 
lb. The Sultan derives no inconsiderable portion of his revenue 
from this source, since the duty is levied at 30 per cent. ad valorem, 
thus placing to the Sultan’s credit for the present year (1891) 
nearly, if not quite, 400,000 dollars.” 
(Further restrictions have since been placed on the export of 
cloves by the Sultan, and the market will probably be controlled by 
an arrangement of fortnightly auctions held under his authority.) 
Consul Pratt’s Report continues as follows :— 
“ Besides the clove-buds the flower-stalks are also gathered and 
form an article of commerce, commanding about one-fifth of the 
price of cloves and having about the same percentage of strength. 
To this circumstance is due the fact that groundcloves can frequently 
be purchased in the market at a lower price than whole cloves. 
“ For the past 15 years the cultivation of cloves has been the 
chief occupation of the Arab planters and has always netted good 
* Report of Consul Pratt, Zanzibar. 
