wolen, may be prettv aptly applied to that obtained 

 fr<nn Penan.'*- trees, namrlv , about 5 /6.v. of nutmeg and 

 1£ £6. of mace from each tree hi good bearing, taking 

 them one with another; for some trees bear heavy 

 ••rops while others give .scanty ones. 



On IVimng, the tret s iiear all the year round, but 

 the chief crop is in die months of March, April and 

 May, instead of Septendier and the three following* 

 months, which arc, as ol>served by Dr. Lumsdaine, the 

 Beneooien harvest months. Jtesides the above princi- 

 pal crop, there is, here at Penaug, a second-rate one 

 in October and November , The quantity and quality 

 of nutmegs and mace are mis liable to be atfeeted by 

 bc.ivy falls of rain — which cause t be nutmeg to burst 

 prematurely — especially if succeeded by a hot sun. 

 While lb- jik!i-< ijfUi.- fruit trees arc subjected to the 

 serious depreciations of the monkey tribe, vampires or 

 fl>iug foxes, squirrels and the umsaug, or fox cat, the 

 nutmeg and clove remain unmolested bj them provid- 

 ed the fruit lie removed at the proper time, ljut of late, 

 some plantations have been extensively preyed on by 

 hmnau depredators, and no doubt planters w ould deem 

 i( no inconsiderable boon were a local law to be vouch- 

 safed for their protection, making- it a punishable of- 

 fence or misdemeanor tor any one to have spice plants 

 in possession without being able satisfactorily to account 

 for them, r 



Spire trees, like others, have however their natural 

 enemies. There is ait insect which occasionally per* 

 tonnes the stem and branches, especially of the clove 

 tree, and the white ants ami a blight sometimes injure 

 it few trees. The former make their nests and pile up 

 the earth around the stem, impeding its vigor. But by a 

 bountiful provision of nature, these wholesale consumers 

 are not partial to live wood and therefore do little men* 

 injury; were the case otherwise, what forest, however 

 majestic, could withstand their attack. 



