1846.] THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 



643 



ter in every stage of putrefaction, it has liitherto proved remarkable for its salubrity, 

 and IS much resorted to by invalids from India. Being so near the equator, there 

 is of course little variety of seasons, neither sunimwr nor winter. Fahrenheit 

 ranges from 71° to 89°. The periodical rains are brief, indistinctly marked, and 

 extending over about one hundred and fifty days of the year, and about one hundred 

 inches of rain fail annually. Almost all the tropical fruits are cultivated here, 

 many of which are in great perfection, as the pine-apple, banana, mangosteen, &c. 

 The nutmeg is being extensiyeiy cultivated in large plantations, but as yet does not 

 yield a large crop, as the tree requires ten or twelve years from the time of planting 

 for that purpose. They are generally planted on the ferruginous sandy hills, and 

 require an artificial soil and compost to be placed around the roots of the young 

 trees, and it is also necessary to keep them shaded from the sun by mats for three 

 years', and when five years old produce, but it is only when ten or twelve years old 

 that Ihey yield a full crop. 



The nutmeg tree (Myristica moschata) in its general appearance resembles the 

 clove tree ; the bark is smooth and ash colored, the leaves green above and grey 

 beneath, and if rubbed in the hand, have a gratefully aromatic odor. The sap has 

 the properly of staining cloth indplibly. The tree bears fruit, flowers, and buds at 

 the same time. The flower resembles the lilly of the valley very much. The fruit 

 in size and appearance resembles the nectarine, and is marked with a fuirow like 

 the peach, and as it ripens has the same delicate blush. The following description 

 by Sir Thomas Herbert is somewhat fanciful and at the same time true. "The 

 nutmeg, like trees most excellent, is not very lofty in height, scarcely rising as 

 high as the cherry, and by some it is resembled to the peach, but varies in form of 

 leaf and grain, and effects more compass. The nut is clothed with a defensive 

 husk like those of a baser quality, aud resembles the thick riud of a walnut, but at 

 full ripeness discovers her naked purity, and the mace chastely entwines (with a 

 Vermillion blush) her endeared fruit and sister, which hath a tliin coat; and both 

 of them breathe out most pleasing smells. The mace in a few days (like choice 

 beauties) by the sun's flames become tawny, yet in that complexion best pleases tho 

 rustic gatherer." The plant bears three crops in a year, but the fruit requires nine 

 months to become perfect. The nutmeg has three coverings, which are all of difi'e- 

 rent textures. The fruit is the outside coat, which is about an half inch thick, and 

 when ripe cracks and opens of itself in two parts; the second is the reticulated 

 mace which appears through the fissures of the first, and has a bright scarlet color; 

 the third is a hard black shell, which encloses the nutmeg. Good trees will pro. 

 duce from ten to twelve pounds of nuts and mace annually, but the average of an 

 orchard is sixty-five ounces avoirdupois or abcat two peculs to an acre. Nutmegs 

 of a lightish grey color, a strong fragrant smell, an aromatic taste, large, oily, and 

 round, and ol' a fine texture, are the best. The holes made by insects eating into 

 the kernel are often filled up, and can be ascertained by the inferior weight. In 

 commerce, they are divided mto royal and green ; the former of an oblong shape, 

 and the latter of a round shape. This spice, no doubt, in a few years will be the 

 principal production of this island, and is capable of supplying the whole British 

 Empire. 



Another natural production of the island, is the Agar-agar of the Malays, 

 (Fucus sacharinus,) resembling a fern, and abounds on the coral shoals around 

 Singapore, and produces in China from six to eight dollars, in its dry bulky state. 

 By the Chinese, it i^ converted into glue, paint, «Stc., for glazing their cottons, and 

 sacrifice paper; the finest portion is made into a rich jelly, which makes a deli- 

 cious sweetmeat, when preserved in syrup. The harvest of this sea-weed is from 

 Bix thousand to twelve thousand poculs, annually. 



Between the sandy hills is much marshy soil, which formerly was densely co- 

 vered with timber and jungle; much of this has been cleared and ditched, and 

 the peat, of which there are largo quantities, in some places, is thrown in heaps, 

 burned, and serves as a compost. More than a thousand acres of thi? joil have been 

 planted with the sugar cane, and it is found to yield exceedingly well, ine sugar be- 

 ing produced at one cent per pound. Tho laborers are Chinese and Hindoos, tho 

 wages paid are from three to four dollars per month, out of which lliey find them- 



selves. 



An excellent road has been made by government, with convicts from India, 

 across tho island, much to tho advantage of the agriculturists. 



