776 
tHE TROPICAL AGRICULTCRIS r. 
'lMaV 2, 1898. 
MANURING AND ECONOMIC PRODUCTION. 
We would draw attention to another interest- 
ing contribution trom Mr. Baiir on the above 
subject. It ba.s been liitlierto assumed that weeds 
were cbietiy harmful liecause they take nourish- 
ment out of the soil ; but the reason given 
by our correspondent is, at least, worthy of 
attention, if indeed, it be not admitted to be the 
correct one. The weeds being chiefly surface 
feeders, they dry up the su'-faee soil, which is 
also the scene of activity of the micro-organisms. 
Mr. Raur’s advice as to the necessity of loosen- 
ing the soil is not a novel one, but now that 
the reason has been scientilically e.\|dained, and 
the advantages to be gained made clear, the 
matter should receive increased attention from 
planters. They all know the case of the 
Superintendent who cut manure hole.s, ami after 
waiting in vain for the manure, co\ered them in 
acain with the best possible results to his coll'ee, — 
for a time. The e.xplanation is found in the in- 
creased activity of the micro-organisms and of 
the consequent increased formation of nitrates 
in a soil that had been worked. Further in- 
teresting information is that which refers to the 
transpiration of plants and how by a ))roper 
system of manuring the same can be diminished, 
so as to retain the water in the soil for use 
during the dry months. Those who sutler from 
drought and small Hushes have here a remedy 
indicated. Altogether the letter before us is ex- 
ceptionally suggestive and should be caiefully 
perused and as much as possible acted upon, 
by planters. 
NUTMEG CULTIVATION. 
The nutmeg cultivation is one of the profitable 
cultivations as a staple product. The cultivation 
is simple in all its branches, and does not take long 
for a novice to learn the planting, caring, and pre- 
paring the produce for market. 
There are many part of tlie island in which the 
nutmeg may be grown to advantage. It will not pay 
if planted in shallow soil or on stone ranges, and 
from lack of moisture, the plains on the south side 
of the island would be unsuitable. But on the north- 
east from St. Mary to Morant Bay, in any well 
sheltered spot, well drained, with deep soil the 
nutmeg should thrive well. The climate should also 
be mild and seasonable with frequent showers. 
The trees should be planted twenty to twenty-five 
feet apart each way, according to the nature of 
the soil. They are generally planted three in one 
hole triangularly, two to two feet six inches either 
way. They are planted so as to ensure a female 
tree to each hole (but sometimes two or three 
declared females or bearing trees) and in that case 
you can transplant to a vacant spot, arrd destroy 
the males or non-bearing trees. But in all oases 
it is requisite to leave the males to each 
acre of cultivation. In destroying and transplan- 
ting never leave more than one tree to each 
hole. The young trees should be transplanted when 
about one year old. 
Nutmeg trees commence to declare from three 
years upwards, according to the nature of the soil 
and situation, (but they have been known to take 
twelve years to declare). In one case ti e trees were 
exposed, and in another case the s^il being too fer- 
tile the fruit J went into leaves and sap. A tree 
takinn a long time to deolre can always with safety 
be counted to be a bearing tree. After they have com- 
menced bearing, and the limbs droop with the weight 
of the pods and exclude all light, they should be then 
carefully propped up so as to admit light. If 
kept too dark you will lose a lot of your nuts from 
premature opening of the pods. In establishing a 
nutmeg plantation it is always best to have cocoa 
planted between, besides t le intermediate crops of 
vegetable?, such as coco, cassava, bananas; but 
coco is considered the best, cassava comes next, but 
they must not remain in the earth longer than one 
year. As soon as the nutmegs commence to get 
covered in and require room for the expanding 
of their branches, you commence to destroy the cocoa 
trees, just takirg off a limb or two as required to 
make room. It is generally better to pick the 
nuts during wet weather, in young cultivations, as 
the rain spoils the mace. In dry weather jou need 
only to gather the nuts as they drop from the trees. 
After the nuts aregaihered, the mace is then taken 
off, pressed into shape placed in the sun to be tried, 
though neither nutmegs nor mace should be sub- 
mitted to very much sun in curing. In wet weather 
when you cannot depend on the sun, you must 
place the mace on wire netting, and put it in 
a place where there is a free current of air, to 
pr. vent the mace from mildewing. A good bearing 
tree is averaged to yield £5 pier annum. The ex- 
pences on same or less than on any other culti- 
vation of staple pnoducts when properly managed. 
I have supervised a nutmeg plantation in the island 
of St. Vincent where there are only ten acres in 
bearing nutmegs, five acres of which have just de- 
clared within the last year. But it is to be remem- 
bered that a nutmeg tree is never consideied in full 
bearing until it is twenty years of age, and it con- 
liuues bearing for very many years. This planta- 
tion yields £100 sterling per annum. The expenses, 
inc'uding boxes for shipping, etc., amounts to .-t'50 
per annum. The pirices of nutmegs vary a good 
deal, for the best and largest nuts from 2s to 3s 
Gd per lb. The intermediate sized and long sized nuts 
are sold in proportion to the large orres, varying 
from lOd to 2s per lb, worrrr eaten arrd rotten nuts 
are also shipped, these vary from 4gd to Sdperlb. 
Mace also varies a good deal, from Is Cd to 2s 
6d per lb. I think that any one having land in a 
seasonable locality, would do well in establishing 
a nutmeg plantation here. D. W. Minoks. 
—Journal of the Jamaica Agricultural Society, 
♦ 
MARKET FOR MINOR PRODUCTS. 
London, Apriil 2. 
Coc.v LE.WES. — Bold green and sound Ceylotr leaves 
sold at 7d per lb. and dull and darrraged at 4d. Good 
green Truxillo leaves were bought in at 8d a bid of 
7d being declined. 
CuoTON-SEED. — Dearer. Good seed, rather irregular 
in colour, sold at 01s. prer cwt. 
Oil, CINNAM 0 N. — Five parcels were put up, but did 
not sell. For genuine bark oil Is 3d per oz. was bid 
and refused ; 3Jd is asked for leafy. The exports 
from Ceylon fioin January 1 to March 1 were 16,312 
oz. to the United Kingdom and l,n63 to Africa. 
Oil Lemongeass.— Ko business done publicly today 
but sales have been made done at 5d pier oz for 
genuine. — Chemist and Druggist. 
CEYLON TEA IN AUSTRALIA : 
A SYDNEY MERCHANT’S VIEWS. 
Amongst the visitors to Ceylon lecently vvas 
Mr. Pitt Blown who has been in business in 
Sydney a.s a tea merchant for a period of about 
eighteen years and was on his way to England, 
this being his lirst visit to the old country .since 
he left for the Southern Colonies, He arrived here 
(where he has a nephew in Mr. Stephen Brown 
of Messrs. Geo. Steuart & Co.) in ihe end of 
March by the “Victoria” and resumed his 
voyage last week by the “ Australia.” During 
his stay here he has visited upcountry pilanting 
districts, making Hatton and Nuwara Eliya his 
centres, and he hopes on his retuin from Eng- 
land to bo able to see something of planting in 
the low-country. At Hatton he met such well- 
known planters as Messrs. H. Blacklaw, of 
Strathdon, Mr. Hamlin, of Danawella, and Mr. 
Keith Rollo, of Wanarajah, and at the Sanitarium 
