S20 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Feb. 1, 1900. 
offering greater facilities and economy in the 
kitchen, unscrupulous caterers have not hesitated 
to mix the article with all sort of rubbish, 
■which in many cases is decidedly injurious to 
the public health. Detection of Fraud,— Con- 
noisseurs might detect the fraud either by the 
colour of the ground substance, showing a 
deviation iu the shade, which ought to be a 
light brown, or by a puugent disagreeable taste 
instead of a pleasing aromatic flavour. 
Caution against ground Substitutes. — In order 
to be always on the safe side the public should 
decidedly refuse the ground article and ask for 
the superior Banda nutmeg, which should be 
firm aud more particularly round, whereas the 
inferior article such as the wild nutmeg and the 
New-Guinea and Borneo or similar lower class 
produce is of a long, oblong shape and entirely 
wanting in the exquisite flavour for which the 
real article is estimated so highly. 
Other Frauds, — The deception practised upon 
the public does not even stop here, and lately 
ai'tifieially moulded nutmegs have come under 
our notice. The swindle of this kind may be 
detected by breaking the sham nut which does 
not show the characteristic graining of the real 
article, whilst the mark of the moulding always 
leaves some traces on the artificial nut. 
Caution against other Frauds, — Eepeatedly the 
nut has been robbed of its oil by Distillation 
(stveatinff), whilst the holes caused thereby hare 
been filled up with sassafras. Buyers should 
beware of such fraud which may be easily de- 
tected by the light weight of the nut. 
Stvtndle ivith Mace — Lower class mace and 
other indifferent substitutes which are mixed 
with the genuine Banda, have been forced upon 
the public. Buyers should refuse inferior mace 
and flavourless dust. 
SCIENCE versus frauds. 
Microscopic and Chemical Tests. — Besides the 
various tests mentioned, Science disposes of sev- 
eral means to detect frauds, and we are glad 
to say the sham article gets less chance every 
day to pass undetected. 
IMPORT AND DELIVERY OP NUTMEGS AND 
MACE IN HOLLAND.=^ 
NUTMEGS. 
In case of 75 Jcg. 
Year, 
Import. 
Delivery. 
1890 
not specified. 
1891 
1892 
11149 
12842 
1893 
15992 
9399 
1894 
12411 
12658 
1895 
13704 
13693 
1896 
1S377 
12795 
1897 
15799 
13531 
1898 
14215 
11516 
1899 
6 months 
6 months 
half year 
6666 
7198 
• 1890—1898 according to Brokers' circular, published 
Ipj Jlr. W' F. Westerpiapn, Aiiisfcerdam, 
MACE. 
In case of 50 kg. 
Year. 
Import. 
Delivery. 
1890 
not specified. 
1891 
1892 
5143 
6680 
1893 
8005 
6114 
1894 
5616 
4854 
1895 
5837 
6605 
1896 
5725 
5197 
1897 
5919 
6366 
1898 
7702 
6705 
1899 
6 months 
6 months 
lialf year 
28U* 
23Jf8 
PRICES OF NUTMEGS AND MACE IN CENTS 
(dutch) per I kg.f 
NUTMEGS. 
Qual, 110 — 115 pieces per ^ kg. 
Prices ruling from Jan. — Dec. 
Year. 
1890 
178 
162 
168 
1891 
162 
153 
159 
1892 
155 
125 
130 
1893 
125 
115 
ilO 
1894 
100 
95 
105 
1895 
102 
105 
100 
1896 
100 
85 
88 
1897 
86 
85 
86 
1898 
95 
80 
82 
first public auction 84 
second „ „ 
84 
1899| 
third „ ,, 
to 
follow. 
fourth „ „ 
MACE. 
Quality : E, 
F. 
Prices ruling from 
Jan.- 
—Dec. 
Year. 
1890 
174 
163 
172 
189 L 
172 
163 
160 
1892 
150 
140 
130 
1893 
130 
125 
120 
1894 
100 
115 
110 
1895 
110 
115 
105 
1896 
100 
90 
95 
1897 
97 
90 
110 
1898 
120 
115 
110 
(110 — 115 first public auction (estim.) 
105 — 110 second „ „ 
third public auction to follow. 
fourth „ „ ,, 
Price of Nutmegs in former years : 
1840—1855 highest (in 1845) 286 cents (Dutch) 
per i kg., lowest (iu 1843) 120 cents. 
1855— 186.S prices falling ; lowest (in 1868) 
60 cents (Dutch) per ^ kg. 
1863—1872 prices going up ; (1872) 203 cents 
(Dutch per 3 kg. 
* As a rule mace appears earlier iu the maitkat 
being sooner ready for shipment than natmega. 
t 1890 — 1898 according to Brokers' circular, pub- 
lished by Mr, W. F. Westermapn, Amsterdanii 
