THE GEOGRAPHY OF PLANTS. 



The clove tree, (Caryopliyllus aromatievs,) a 

 plant of the myrtle tribe, inhabits the Amboyna 

 and Molucca groups, but has been introduced 

 into many parts of Asia, many of the West 

 India Islands, Cayenne, Mauritius, and Bour- 

 bon. The Dutch, who possessed the Spice 

 Islands, pursued the same absurd and covetous 

 practice with the clove trees, which we have 

 already noticed with regard to the nutmegs ; 

 and the practice, more than once, occasioned an 

 insurrection among the natives, who regard the 

 clove trees with great attachment, and are in 

 the habit of planting one at the birth of each 

 child. Every part of the clove tree is covered 

 with minute dots, or glands, which secrete arid 

 contain an aromatic oil ; and so abundant is it 

 in the flower-buds, (which when dried are the 

 cloves of commerce,) that it may be expressed 

 from them. It is one of the few essential oils 

 that are heavier than water. The annual pro- 

 duce is from two to two and a-half pounds from 

 each tree ; but a fine tree has been known to 

 yield 125 pounds; and as 5,000 cloves weigh 

 one pound, there must have been, at least, 

 625,000 flowers on this singletree. The quan- 

 tity imported in 1848 was 105,295 pounds. 



Cinnamon and pepper also grow in these 

 same islands. The former is the bark of 

 Cinnamomum zeylanicum, and the best is the 

 produce of the young branches, from one to 

 two inches in diameter. The cinnamon im- 

 ported into England is chiefly brought from 

 Ceylon, and is grown principally in the neigh- 



