2 



NUTMEGS. 



A large stock of the very finest nutmegs for seed has been imported from Grenada from the estate 

 bf the Honble. H. R. Pipon Schooles, Attorney General. 



The germination of the seed in large quantities, and the care of the young seedlings, require the 

 strictest attention to prevent extensive loss. From the seed-beds the seedlings are transferred to 

 bamboo pots, and when they have quite recovered from the effects of transplanting, and have formed 

 good roots, they are ready for the nutmeg plantation. The planters must now exercise strict super- 

 vision over the labourers, to see that the bamboo pot is carefully slit down on one side, and the plant, 

 with the earth undisturbed round the root, gently placed in the hole prepared for its reception. If 

 this operation is done too hastily or clumsily, the tip of the tap-root is broken, and the plant soon 

 dies. 



Nutmeg trees require a deep, rich, loamy soil, moist but not swampy, with a humid atmosphere. 

 They thrive best in shady river valleys from sea-level up to 300 or 400 feet, but they will grow in 

 favourable situations up to an elevation of 2,000 feet. 



The trees should be placed at distances of 25 or 30 feet apart, and if the situation is not naturally 

 shady and sheltered, trees should be planted as wind-breaks and for the purpose of shade. 



The trees are a long time coming to maturity not producing a crop, as a rule, till they are 9 years 

 old ; and only when they first flower, at 6 or 7 years of age, is it possible to determine whether they 

 are male or female. A very small proportion of male trees is left for fertilisation by insects ; the rest 

 are cut down and fresh plants are substituted. The fertile trees continue to produce fruit for 70 or 

 80 years. On an average each tree will yield 10 pounds of nutmegs, and about one pound of mace 

 every year; and when highly manured it is said that they will produce 10 times that amount. 



A quotation for mace and nutmegs is the following from the Planters Gazette of 5th August : — 



" Nutmegs. — Larger supplies sold at dearer rates ; of 44 cases Penang 40 cases sold, 65's at 8s O^d, 76's 

 at 2s 9d, 79's at 2s 8£d, 160's to 148's partly shrivelled Is 9d, 160's shrivelled Is 3d, 65's slightly mouldy at 

 28 lOd, and 80's at 2s 7^d to 2s 8d ; 14 cases Bombay wormy broken sold at 8^d to 8Jd ; 13 case3 rough 

 Singapore 78's 6old at 2s 7^d to 2s 8d ; 2 cases defective Wild Bombay sold at 6|d; 40 cases and boxes 14 

 barrels West India all sold, mixed long and partly dark to fair shape and colour, 74's at 2s 8d, inferior 2s 7d, 

 76's at 2s 7d, 83's and 84's at 2s 6d, 88's at 2s 5d, 86's to 82's mixed 2s 4£d to 2s 5d, 89's at 2s 4d, 98's at 

 2s 3d, 115's to 100's at 2s Id, 118's to 109's at 2s, 86's to 73's in shell Is 4d to Is 5d per lb. 



Mace is unchanged ; of 35 cases Penang only 8 cases sold, fine heavy bold bright 3s Id, good bright red 

 2s 9d, low broken pickings Is lid to 2s ; 7 cases ordinary small red Singapore bought in at 2s 4d ; of 70 

 cases Wild Bombay 25 cases sold, good red 11£ to Is Id, middling 10d; 10 packages West India sold at 2s. 

 to 2s 6d per lb." 



The imported seed has been sown in the Hope Gardens, and when ready for distribution, th e 

 plants will be sold at the very low rate of l£d. each in large or small quantities. 



It is hoped that these arrangements will tend to develop the planting of nutmegs on a large scale 

 in suitable districts in Jamaica. There is already one order filed for 10,000 plants, and another for 

 5,000. Orders for plants should be sent in at once, so that, if necessary a further supply of seeds may 

 be secured. 



Mr. J. R. Reece, Resident Magistrate of St. Ann, writes as follows : — " I can not tell you how 

 very glad I am to know that you are endeavouring to get people here to go in for nutmegs. Ever since 

 I came to this Colony. I have been trying to impress on those with whom I have come in contact, and 

 who possessed lands adapted for the growth of that valuable article, the great fortunes to be made 

 thereby. I know Grenada well having been there on several occasions. There are lands here as suit- 

 able in every respect for the cultivation of cocoa and nutmegs as there are in that Island. As regards 

 the value of nutmeg trees, I know an old man living about five miles out of St. George, who, when I 

 was there last (1884) told me that, from two trees in the preceding year, he had got £30." 



W. F. 



EXPERIMENTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES. — II. 



Peas. 



Some results were published in Bulletin No. 20, on the growth of Vegetables. 



It is asserted, and apparently with foundation in fact, that seeds can only be sown with advan- 

 tage in certain seasons. To ascertain how far this i9 the case with peas, and also to discover what 

 varieties are best suited to our climate, I applied to Messrs. Carter, Seedsmen, 237 High Holborn, 

 London, for a constant supply of seeds every month. This firm has very generously sent us 

 a aupply of over 40 varieties every month free of charge; and the following tables are the first results 

 obtained. The tables and notes are by Mr. Cradwick. 



W. F. 



