274 



SPICES OF THE TROPICS 



sheds. The nuts, being deprived of the shell, are graded for export ; 

 60 to about 120, according to size, go to a pound, these fetching in 

 London about Sd. to Is. 4^. for the larger and about 6d. per Ib. 

 for the smaller sizes. (See also Mace above). The tree thrives best 

 in deep loamy and well-drained soil, in a hot and moist climate, 

 up to 1,500 feet elevation. During at least the first five years of its 

 life it is benefited by partial shade from thinly planted shade trees. 



CALABASH NUTMEG. -Moiwdora Myristica. 



Being usually dioecious i.e., the male and female flowers are borne 

 on separate trees it is impossible to tell which sex a tree belongs 

 to until it flowers. The proportion of one male to ten or twelve 

 female trees (or ten males to an acre) should be enough for ensur- 

 ing fertilisation of the flowers of the latter. The trees become 

 productive at the age of seven or eight years, and increase in yield 

 till they reach about thirty years, when the crop may be 3,000 to 

 5,000 or more nuts per tree. They produce two crops a year, and 



