THE CASSIA. CAMPHOR. CLOVE. 391 



very probable tliat a soil of a more sandy nature may be more congenial 

 to it. 



THE CASSIA {Laurus cassia.) 



The Cassia of commerce is chiefly siipphecl fi'om China, and it is alto- 

 gether a much hardier plant than the cinnamon, and succeeds better in 

 cultivation. The same soil and ti'eatment. hoveTer, are requisite. 



CAMPHOE. {Laurus camplioroX 



The Camphor tree is a hardy greenhouse plant, and is of the easiest 

 culture, requhing only to be protected from fi'ost. Camphor is obtained 

 by subjecting the roots and smaher branches to distiUation. It is pro- 

 bable that the whole family of Lam'us might be gi'afted or enarched on 

 the common Laurus nolilis with success. 



CLOVE {Caryopliyllus aromaticus). 



It is a curious fact, that although Europeans have known the use of this 

 spice for more than two thousand years, yet it is httle more than three 

 centuries since they discovered from whence it was obtained. The tree 

 was introduced into this coimtry in 179 7. by Sir Joseph Banks, but it has 

 been found so diffictilt to cultivate, that veiy few specimens of it are at 

 this time to be met with, even iu om^ best botanical gardens. The diffi- 

 culty in its cultivation is not confined entirely to the gardens of Europe, 

 for we find that even in the tropics it is not eashy estabhshed. An ac- 

 count of its cultme in Dominica by ^l. Buee is given iu the Tropical 

 Agricultmist, a work replete with exceherit infonnation on ah that relates 

 to such matters. After several disappoiutments, M. Buee found that the 

 clove succeeded best " in a sterile soil, composed of a yellowish or reddish 

 stiff clay, such as that in which the pimento flomishes, but which, for the 

 generahty of crops, is scarcely fit for cultivatiou." As the clove has 

 liitherto been considered of difficult cultivation, we may be excused for 

 making the foUowing quotation fi'om the practice of M. Buee, as the 

 intelligent Enghsh gardener may draw from it some useful conclusions : 

 " The seeds were sovtq about sis: inches apart from each other, in beds. 

 Over these beds some small frames were erected, about three feet from 

 the ground, and plantain leaves were spread on the top, in order to 

 shelter the young plants from the sun. The leaves were allowed gradually 

 to decay, and at the end of niue months the yoimg plants, which by 



