20 ODOROGEAPHIA. 



them together. Au oil is also extracted from these inferior 

 articles and used to adulterate the genuine oil. 



New Guinea Nutmegs. — As the intercourse between 

 the Moluccas and New Guinea increased, an entirely 

 new kind of nutmeg came into the hands of Europeans,, 

 viz., the Myristica argentea, Warb., that was probably first 

 noticed in 1666. Since the Middle of the 18th century it 

 became an article of commerce in Eastern Asia. Towards the 

 end of that century it was first brought to Europe, and at the 

 present time it is the most important article of export from N"ew 

 Guinea. Nevertheless this nutmeg remained undescribed and un- 

 known, as well as the plant which produces it. Dr. Warburg 

 succeeded in obtaining information on this point through the 

 assistance of a native, who was persuaded to show him some of 

 the trees in Dutch New^ Guinea. They were characterised by 

 large leaves having a silvery appearance on the under side ; hence 

 the name. 



Xext to Myristica fragrans, the M. argentea is certainly the 

 most important variety, and that which has the greatest future. 

 Its odour is not so delicate as that of the true nutmeg, but that 

 may be due to the circumstance that it is not prepared and 

 packed with as much care as the true kind. The export from 

 the province of Onin is estimated by Beccari to have amounted 

 to about 125 pounds at the middle of the 18th century, and it 

 exceeded in importance that of all other produce. Since then,, 

 the regular service of steamers has led to a great increase in this 

 trade. Formerly the nutmegs were sent in small parcels by 

 ships to Banda, there treated in the same way as true nutmegs, 

 and sometimes mixed with them. Now they are all taken 

 direct to Macassar, where they are shelled and dusted w^ith 

 lime. The price of them in Macassar is about one-third that 

 of the best quality of true nutmegs. While formerly these 

 nutmegs were used only in the Malay Archipelago, in the Philippine 

 Islands, &c., by the natives, probably on account of their cheapness 

 (as Parapapica in the Malay country, and as Aniz moscada in the 

 Philippines), and came only occasionally to Holland and England, 

 they are now regularly imported into England (1892), as "Long 

 nutmegs," and they have been known in Germany since 1890 as 

 " Horse nutmegs." Apart from the fact that the aroma is not so 

 delicate, these nutmegs are also very friable, but the broken 



