444 
FLOWERS THE LEADING EMBELLISHMENTS OF ARTISTIC DESIGNS. 
creased to 6,900. In 1843 there were 75,402 
trees in bearing, and 111,289 not in bearing, 
besides males, and 52,510 in nurseries. The 
cultivation has been steadily increasing since 
that date, and the greater part of the trees 
then planted out but not bearing much, must 
now be yielding fruit. The number of bear- 
ing trees in Province Wellesley in 1843 was 
10,500; not bearing, 7,307, besides males and 
a number in the nursery. The total number 
of nuts produced by the Pinang and Province 
Wellesley trees in 1842 was 18,560,281, and 
42,866 lbs. of mace. 
Nutmeg trees were first introduced into 
Singapore in 1818. In 1843 the total number 
of trees was estimated at 43,544, of which 
5,317 were in bearing, the produce being 
stated at 842,328 nuts. In 1848, according 
to the table given by Dr. Oxley, the total 
number of trees planted out was estimated at 
55,925, of which the number in bearing were 
14,914, and the produce 4,085,361 nuts, be- 
sides mace, which is estimated at about 1 lb. 
for every 433 nutmegs. In Singapore the 
cultivation is extending very rapidly. The 
increase does not take place gradually ; but 
every now and then, when some person with 
capital enters upon it, it seems to receive a 
large impetus, the example set by one appear- 
ing to incite others to embark in it. In one 
district in Singapore this has been very appa- 
rent. The district of Tanglin, in the begin- 
ning of 1843, consisted of barren looking hills 
covered with short brushwood and lalang, 
which had sprung up in deserted Gambir 
plantations. Immediately upon the regula- 
tion for granting land in perpetuity being 
promulgated, in the middle of that year a great 
part of the district was cleared, and nutmeg 
plantations formed, and there cannot now be 
less than 10,000 trees planted out in it. A 
number of Chinese are at present forming 
plantations in different parts of the island ; 
one Chinaman has commenced planting, which 
he intends doing to the extent of 5,000 trees, 
and we are aware of various other individuals 
who propose to form plantations of greater or 
less extent. 
During the occupation of Bencoolen by the 
English, the nutmeg and clove were intro- 
duced from the Moluccas, and in 1819 the 
number of nutmeg trees was stated at 109,429. 
Regarding their present number we have no 
information. 
The spice trade of the Molucca islands being 
a strict monopoly, very few particulars are 
known regarding the extent of the, cultivation 
or the amount of the produce. The average 
quantity of nutmegs annually sold by the 
Dutch East India Company in Europe during 
the last century has been estimated at 
250,000 lbs. besides about 100,000 lbs. sold in 
India. Of Mace, the average quantity sold 
in Europe was reckoned at 90,000 lbs. per 
annum, and 10,000 lbs. in India. The trade, 
although so jealously guarded by the Dutch, 
has never been a very profitable one to them, 
the expenses being heavy. In 1779 the charges 
atBanda amounted to 146, 170 francs, and the 
revenue derived from the duties on imports 
&c. to 9,350 francs, leaving an excess for the 
charges of 136,820 francs to be deducted from 
the profit on the spices ; and the large quan- 
tities of spices frequently burnt in Holland, 
on which heavy charges for freight &c. must 
have been incurred, must have also formed 
a serious deduction from the gross profit de- 
rived from those sold. In 1814, when in 
possession of the English, the number of 
nutmeg trees planted out was estimated at 
570,500, of which 480,000 were in bearing, 
including 65,000 monoecious trees. The pro- 
duce of the Moluccas has been reckoned at 
from 600,000 lbs. to 700,000 lbs. per annum, 
of which one-half goes to Europe, and about 
one-fourth that quantity of mace. The imports 
into Java from the Eastern Archipelago in 
1843 consisted of nutmegs 2133 - 29 piculs, 
and of mace 486*63 piculs. The amount of 
nutmegs exported from Java during the ten 
years ending in 1 834 averaged yearly about 
352,226 lbs., and during the eleven years 
ending in 1845 about 664,060 lbs. yearly. 
The quantity of mace exported during the first 
period averaged 94,304 lbs. yearly, and during 
the last, 169^460 lbs. yearly. 
FLOWERS THE LEADING EMBELLISHMENTS OF ARTISTIC DESIGNS. 
Floriculture is becoming the universal 
favourite among all classes. Even those who 
cannot indulge in the practice aid those who 
do, and the adoption of flowers as ornaments 
in the designs for almost everything, says 
much for the advance of that taste which is 
conducive to the advancement of the garden 
interests. That civilized people should love 
flowers is not to be wondered at, for the rich- 
est perfumes and the most brilliant colours 
are associated with them, but it is a great step 
in advance when the manufacturers of all kinds 
of ware take flowers for their principal em- 
bellishments, and upon the most lovely pro- 
ductions of the garden, confer the honour of 
imitation. If we saw a vase for holding 
flowers ornamented with the rose, the tulip, 
or any popular subject in the parterre, we 
