392 



SPICES AJSTD FEAGEANT WOODS. 



seven at Morotto, six at Maraiidliam, and two at "Willisene. 

 Several enterprising planters have recentty commenced the culti- 

 vation of this spice at Singapore and Malacca. The plants already 

 promise well. Indeed there can be little donbt of its thriving, as 

 the tree has been long grown in gardens and pleasure grounds 

 in those settlements, as an ornamental plant, and has always 

 flourished. 



The Ceylon article is being supplanted in the continental mar- 

 kets by a cheaper one, of China and Malabar growth. The Javanese, 

 tempted by the fatally high prices caused by the excessive duties 

 on our Colonial spice, smuggled a quantity of seed, and with it a 

 cinnamon cultivator, out of the island, and have since paid con- 

 siderable attention to its growth. The Dutch have at present 

 more than five millions of plants, equal to upwards of 5,000 acres, 

 the greater part of Avhich are in tolerably full bearing. 



The cinnamon trees in Java begin to blossom in the month of 

 March. They do not all flower at the same time, but in succes- 

 sion. The fruit begins to ripen in October in the same manner, 

 so that the crop lasts from October to Eebruary. In Ceylon the 

 blossom begins to appear in November. The seeds when plucked 

 ought to be fully ripe, and after being separated from the outer 

 pulpy covering, should be dried in the shade. They can be kept 

 for two or three mouths in dry sand or ashes, but must not be 

 exposed to the sun, as they would split, and thus be rendered 

 itseless. 



The plants in nurseries must be well sheltered from the sun and 

 heavy rains, but the plants are strengthened by the covers being 

 removed at night when heavy rains are not expected to fall, and 

 in the day time when only light rains prevail. The mode of plant- 

 ing out, cultivation, preparing the bark, &c., appears to be the same 

 in Java as that practised in Ceylon. The only diflJ"erence is, that 

 while in Ceylon the cinnamon, when ready for market, is packed 

 in " gunny " or canvass bags, in Java it is put into boxes, made of 

 wood free from any smell or flavor which would injure the spice. 

 The inferior cinnamon, however, is packed in straw mats. 



The following is a return of the extent of cinnamon culture 

 in Java : — 





In 1840. 



In 1841. 



llesidencies in which cinnamon is cultivated 



10 . 



10 





48 . 



49 



,, families devoted to this culture . . 



7,901 . 



9,688 





294 . 



345 



Extent of ground occupied by the cultivation. 









1,690 . 



1,880 



Cinnamon trees of "which the bark can be taken 



1,106,566 . 



. 1,407,213 





2,478,427 . 



. 2,565,774 





307,000 ,^ 



86,800 



Total 



3,891,998 . 



. 4,059,787 



Cinnamon crop, in Dutch lbs. 

 „ refuse 



57,074 

 23,283 



38,219 

 82,803 



