118 SPICES 



CHAP. 



destruction, though it is true that the use of too strong 

 manures, especially those that give off ammonia in 

 considerable quantities, quickly must and certainly do 

 exercise a bad influence on any plant. 



In the rich volcanic soils of Banda and the other 

 islands of the Moluccas, manuring is not necessary and 

 does not seem to be used. But in the poor clay soils 

 of the Malay Peninsula it is different. The nutmeg is 

 rather a greedy feeder, and requires manuring in the 

 sterile soil of Penang and Province Wellesley, and in 

 other similar places. 



Dr. Oxley recommends a system of trenching round 

 the trees which apparently was in vogue in the early 

 days of nutmeg cultivation in the Malay Peninsula. 

 Trenches 2 ft. deep were dug round each young tree, 

 and filled with a mixture of cow-dung, cut grass, and 

 earth. This was repeated on two later occasions, the 

 second trench being dug just outside the first, and the 

 third outside that, so that each circular trench was a 

 wider circle than the previous one, and the third of 

 each tree met with the outer trench of the next tree. 

 This plan cannot be recommended. It is expensive, and 

 while the tree is developing it is impossible to avoid 

 cutting through many of the roots. It is therefore in j urious 

 to the tree. There is no need to dig the manure into 

 the ground. If laid on the top of the soil, especially if 

 a little earth is thrown over it, it will act quite as well 

 on the roots as if put in direct apposition, and there is 

 no risk of injuring the roots. Cow-dung, if procurable, 

 is about as good a manure as is possible to use, but it 

 should not be used fresh. It should be kept till it is 

 well rotted before use. Oxley points out that the use 

 of fresh cow -dung, in the trenches above described, 

 caused the rootlets to turn black and die. In Malacca 

 a cart-load of cow-dung is thrown at the foot of each 

 tree once a year, and a little soil spread over it. 



Stable manure is always considered too "hot" for 

 use in the Straits Settlements for any plant until it has 

 been thoroughly rotted down. Oxley used some tons 



