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THE AMEEICAN ; OR CALABASH NUTMEG. 
The general temperature in those countries where the plants naturally grow, is high 
and very humid ; they therefore require with us a heat not lower than 75° as an average 
in the growing season, with a very humid atmosphere ; in the dry season 70° with a 
moderate moisture ; and in winter fron 50° to 55° with a dry and airy situation. 
Whilst the plants are in vigorous growth, water with weak liquid manure made from 
sheep's droppings, also syringe over head every fine day. Admit a free supply of air . at 
all times when the weather will permit. 
Propagation is effected by seeds and cuttings. The seeds are sown in pots of light 
soil, and plunged in heat. Cuttings are made of the ripened wood, which should be planted 
in pots of sand, covered with a glass and plunged in heat. 
THE AMERICAN; OR, CALABASH NUTMEG. 
The American Nutmeg is the Monodora Myristlca of our catalogues, and the Anona Myristica 
of Gaert. Fruct. It is probably a native of the West of Africa, and may have been brought 
by negroes to South America, where it is said to grow 20 or 30 feet in height, with a wide 
spreading head. It is associated with the Natural Order Anonacece. The leaves are confined 
chiefly to the extremities of the branches, distichous, alternate, oblong, entire, smooth, 
shining, of a bright but pale green, about, four inches long, and nearly half that breadth. 
Peduncles opposite the leaves, single-flowered, round, smooth, greenish- white, pendulous, 
five inches or more long. Flowers fragrant ; at first white, and spotted with red, but 
becomhig deep yellow, with darker spotting as they become older. Calyx monophyllous, 
divided into three unequal curled sepals. Corolla monopetalous, much longer than the 
calyx, tube short, limh divided into six segments, arranged in a double series ; outer segments 
three, crisped at the margins, bright yellow, marked with spots and stripes of reddish-brown; 
inner segments three, about a third shorter than the outer ones, pale-yellow, spotted with 
crimson. Stamens closely set, in ten or twelve rows on the receptacle. Fruit the size of 
an apple, round, smooth, one-celled. Seeds imbedded in the pulp, muricated. 
This plant has not yet been introduced to Britain, but certainly deserves the attention 
of collectors. The fruit grows to the size of a large apple, and becomes, when ripe, of a 
rich golden yellow ; the pulp is soft, sweet, and is said to possess a pleasant flavour. The 
seeds, which are very numerous, are reputed to rival the true nutmeg for the richness 
of their aroma, being copiously impregnated with an aromatic oil, so nearly resembling that 
of the Eastern spice, that no perceptible difference can be discovered, except that the 
American kind is less pungent than the East Indian one. 
The plant was introduced to Jamaica for the purpose of cultivation, but at present the 
introduction has not altogether answered, as a few years ago it was all but lost to that island. 
If brought to this country it would no doubt grow in a mixture of light turfy loam and 
sand, and would require a strong and very moist heat. 
ON THE ADAPTATION OF THE TREE VIOLET FOR THE EARLY 
SPRING DECORATION OF FLOWER GARDENS, 
WITH A NOTICE OF ITS USE FOR THAT PUEPOSE AT HIS GEACE THE DUKE OF BEDFORD'S, 
OAKLEY. rp^ 
The fine fragrant flowering plant, commonly known as the Tree Violet, is only a variety of 
the common species {Viola odorata), and is supposed to have been brought a few years ago 
from China, where it is stated to assume a tree-like form three feet or more high. When 
first introduced it was regarded by many as a stove plant, and subsequently was thought to 
require the shelter of a greenhouse ; and indeed in such situations alone does it in any 
degree assume an arborescent habit. When grown in heat, however, the production of 
