NUTMEGS AND MACE 107 



nutmeg, and perhaps the best climate for it would 

 be from 90 to 100 in. in the year, well spread over 

 the different months, with no absolutely dry spells 

 of more than four or five days, and no continuous 

 heavy rains, without sun, for a fortnight. In the Straits 

 Settlements during the wet months from December to 

 February, it is not uncommon to have a day's rainfall 

 of from 4 to 6 or even 8 in., but this is not continued. 

 After a few days of heavy rain, with perhaps one exces- 

 sive fall of 6 or 8 in., the rain ceases for a time, and the 

 sun soon dries up the excessive moisture. 



It is during these wet spells that the parasitic fungi 

 are most active, and the continuous dampness of the air is 

 very apt to lead to an outbreak of some fungus disease. 

 This is, I believe, often the reason why, though the rain- 

 fall may be in inches the same in two regions, a plant 

 which succeeds well in one fails in the other. 



CULTIVATION 



The Seed. In selecting seed for growing care should 

 be taken to choose large and well formed seed. Those 

 that are of irregular shape, or of a pale colour, should be 

 rejected, as should also the seed that rattles in the 

 shell, as these are too dry. 



The native theories as to the possibility of deter- 

 mining the sex of the tree from any given seed are 

 mentioned below. They can hardly be said to be reliable. 



The seed, like most oily ones, does not keep long in 

 good condition for planting, so that it should be planted 

 within twenty-four hours of gathering, if possible. 



If it is necessary to send seeds to a distance, they 

 should be packed in small tins in slightly damped 

 powdered charcoal, or fine powdered soil. 



Nurseries. The seeds should be planted in beds of 

 good soil, well dug over and manured. Care must be 

 taken to give them sufficient drainage. They should 

 be placed from 12 to 18 in. apart in rows, and at a 

 depth of about 2j in. 



