Ill 
NUTMEGS AND MACE 
107 
nutmeg, and perhaps the best climate for it would 
be from 90 to 100 in. in the year, well spread over 
the different months, with no absolutely dry spells 
of more than four or five days, and no continuous 
heavy rains, without sun, for a fortnight. In the Straits 
Settlements during the wet months from December to 
February, it is not uncommon to have a day's rainfall 
of from 4 to 6 or even 8 in., but this is not continued. 
After a few days of heavy rain, with perhaps one exces- 
sive fall of 6 or 8 in., the rain ceases for a time, and the 
sun soon dries up the excessive moisture. 
It is during these wet spells that the parasitic fungi 
are most active, and the continuous dampness of the air is 
very apt to lead to an outbreak of some fungus disease. 
This is, I believe, often the reason why, though the rain- 
fall may be in inches the same in two regions, a plant 
which succeeds well in one fails in the other. 
CULTIVATION 
The Seed . — In selecting seed for growing care should 
be taken to choose large and well formed seed. Those 
that are of irregular shape, or of a pale colour, should be 
rejected, as should also the seed that rattles in the 
shell, as these are too dry. 
The native theories as to the possibility of deter- 
mining the sex of the tree from any given seed are 
mentioned below. They can hardly be said to be reliable. 
The seed, like most oily ones, does not keep long in 
good condition for planting, so that it should be planted 
within twenty-four hours of gathering, if possible. 
If it is necessary to send seeds to a distance, they 
should be packed in small tins in slightly damped 
powdered charcoal, or fine powdered soil. 
Nurseries . — The seeds should be planted in beds of 
good soil, well dug over and manured. Care must be 
taken to give them sufficient drainage. They should 
be placed from 12 to 18 in. apart in rows, and at a 
depth of about 2j- in. 
