CINNAMON. 



496 



Besides tlie inferiority in smell, taste, and colour, which invariably 

 marks plants grown in any other than a silicious soil, a disadvantage 

 of no little importance to the grower has been observed to follow. 

 "Whilst the stumps of plants grown in silicious soil shoot forth rapidly, 

 and are fit to be peeled a second time within a period of but four or 

 five years, and produce bark superior in quality to that peeled at first, 

 those grown on a hilly or marshy soil require not less than six years 

 before they can undergo a second peeling, and yield bark less in 

 quantity and inferior in quality to that peeled at first. 



When the ground is prepared for planting cinnamon, the low brush- 

 wood and young trees are cut down, but lofty trees are allowed to 

 remain at intervals, as it is found that the tender plants thrive better 

 under shade than when exposed to the direct rays of the sun. The 

 planting usually takes place when the seeds are ripe ; for this purpose 

 a line is stretched across the ground, and, guided by it, the planter 

 turns up about a foot square of ground at intervals of six or seven 

 feet. The brushwood and branches having been previously burnt, 

 their ashes are then spread upon the newly dug spots, and into 

 each of them four or five cinnamon berries are sown in holes made 

 with a dibble ; they are then covered with earth, and branches of 

 trees are laid over the parts to prevent the earth from becoming 

 parched, and to protect the young shoots as soon as they come forth. 

 This takes place in about fifteen or twenty days ; sometimes the 

 berries are sown in nurseries, and the young plants are transplated 

 in the months of October and November. In favourable situations 

 shoots attain the height of 5 or 6 feet in about six or seven years, and 

 a healthy bush will then afford two or three shoots for peeling. In 

 a good soil every second year from four to seven shoots may be cut 

 from one tree ; thriving shoots of four years' growth are sometimes fit 

 for cutting. As four or five seeds are usually sown in one spot, and 

 in most seasons the greater part germinate, the plants grow in 

 clusters not unlike a hazel bush. If the season be unusually dry 

 many of the seeds fail, while the want of moisture is often fatal to 

 the young shoots, so that it is sometimes necessary to plant a piece of 

 ground several times successively. A plantation of cinnamon, even 

 on good ground, cannot be expected to make much return until after 

 the lapse of eight or nine years. This plant is sometimes propagated 

 from shoots cut from large trees, by layers, or, lastly, by transplanting 

 large stumps. 



The method of culture by seeds is considered the least advantageous, 

 as the trees are longer before they arrive at perfection. 



If cultivated from shoots, the sprouts must be continually watered, 

 or they will not thrive. Those selected for the purpose should be 

 very young, not having more than three leaves ; if older they die. 



The third method, by layers, is recommended by Dr. Wight, since 

 the numerous side branches w^hich issue from the bottom of the trunk 

 always furnish a plentiful supply well adapted for layering. The 

 transplanting of the old roots is a plan of modern adoption, and 

 the practice is much approved, since they yield shoots of the usual 

 size twelve months after they have been placed in the ground. Great 

 care is, however, necessary in their removal, for should any of the 



