8 



repeated several times, and all contamination avoided with duat, &c, or even iron in the water. The 

 starch is dried on calico trays in the sun, and packed in cases as soon as possible. The fibrous refuse 

 is good feeding for pigs. 



Yield. — About 100 lbs. of arrowroot may be obtained from 4 barrels of cleaned roots ; and from 

 25 to 30 barrels from the acre. 



BAY RUM. 



In answer to applications for information on the manufacture of Bay Rum, I received several letters, 

 the most useful of which was from Mr. H. F. Green, Curator of the Botanical Station in Dominica, 

 paragraphs from which are given below. It was not known, until of late years, from what plant Bay 

 Rum was prepared, but it is now ascertained that the tree is Pimento, acris, one of the plants known in 

 Jamaica as Wild Cinnamon : — 



" In answer to yours of 18th September, I may inform you that " Bay Rum" is manufactured in 

 Dominica from the dried leaves of Pimento, acris. 



Bay Rum is procured by distillation, and this in a very simple manner. The leaves are picked 

 from the trees and then dried ; in this state they are placed in the retort — which is then filled with 

 water — and the process of distillation is carried on. 



The vapour is then condensed in the usual way, and forms what is known as " Bay Oil," a very 

 small quantity of which is required for each puncheon of rum. 



The manufacture of Bay Rum is carried on at the northern end of this island, and proves a very 

 lucrative business to those engaged in it, as the plants are plentiful in this district. 



The following is an estimate of rum, &c, required : — 



1 Pun. Rum — 100 gals, about 18 to 19 proof, say at 2s. per gal. ... £10 



Empty puncheon • ... ... ... 100 



1^ Pint bot. Bay Oil pure to a pun. of rum ... ... 16 8 



£11 16 8 



The rum must be of the strength of 18 to 19 proof or the oil will not amalgamate properly. 



NUTMEGS. 



My Correspondent in Grenada, who contributed the Notes in the last Bulletin on curing Nutmegs, 

 has kindly sent me the following : — 



" In reply to your letter of the 16th November, the generally accepted idea here is, that the pro- 

 portion of males and females in say 3,000 plants would be as 3 to 1, and I dare say this is about correct, 

 taking an average. Sometimes in my own experience out of 40 or 50 trees close together all have turned 

 out females, and in other instances the case has been reversed and every tree within an area of say 30 

 yds. square has proved a male. 



As a rule nutmegs trees do not declare their sex before they are six to eight years old. If they 

 are planted very close and are bushed up, they do not declare their sex till they are much older, twelve 

 to fourteen. 



Under favourable conditions of soil and aspect and when well sheltered from wind, I have known 

 them declare their sex when only four years planted. Male trees as a rule declare their sex much earlier 

 than females. 



In answer to your enquiry whether I destroy or graft on to male trees ; I am sorry to say I gene- 

 rally destroy all beyond what is considered necessary for purposes of fertilization, but 1 am quite sure 

 if one had the right sort of man to manage a nutmeg plantation, this might be avoided, and female shoots 

 might be grafted on to strong male stock. 



Nothing is easier than the transplanting of nutmeg trees. I have transplanted about 500 this wet 

 season, large trees with nuts on them, in some instances 15 to 20 ft. high, and so far I have lost about 

 15 or 3 per cent. This is too high an average of losses, but a good number met with a very hot dry 

 period immediately after being transplanted and succumbed. 



Nutmeg trees when finally planted out sh »uld be at least 25 feet apart, but in the nurseries we put 

 them in at distances of from 4 to 6 ft. apart." 



