118 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
destruction, though it is true that the use of too strong 
manures, especially those that give off ammonia in 
considerable quantities, quickly must and certainly do 
exercise a bad influence on any plant. 
In the rich volcanic soils of Banda and the other 
islands of the Moluccas, manuring is not necessary and 
does not seem to be used. But in the poor clay soils 
of the Malay Peninsula it is different. The nutmeg is 
rather a greedy feeder, and requires manuring in the 
sterile soil of Penang and Province Wellesley, and in 
other similar places. 
Dr. Oxley recommends a system of trenching round 
the trees which apparently was in vogue in the early 
days of nutmeg cultivation in the Malay Peninsula. 
Trenches 2 ft. deep were dug round each young tree, 
and filled with a mixture of cow-dung, cut grass, and 
earth. This was repeated on two later occasions, the 
second trench being dug just outside the first, and the 
third outside that, so that each circular trench was a 
wider circle than the previous one, and the third of 
each tree met with the outer trench of the next tree. 
This plan cannot be recommended. It is expensive, and 
while the tree is developing it is impossible to avoid 
cutting through many of the roots. It is therefore in j urious 
to the tree. There is no need to dig the manure into 
the ground. If laid on the top of the soil, especially if 
a little earth is thrown over it, it will act quite as well 
on the roots as if put in direct apposition, and there is 
no risk of injuring the roots. Cow-dung, if procurable, 
is about as good a manure as is possible to use, but it 
should not be used fresh. It should be kept till it is 
well rotted before use. Oxley points out that the use 
of fresh cow -dung, in the trenches above described, 
caused the* rootlets to turn black and die. In Malacca 
a cart-load of cow-dung is thrown at the foot of each 
tree once a year, and a little soil spread over it. 
Stable manure is always considered too “hot’' for 
use in the Straits Settlements for any plant until it has 
been thoroughly rotted down. Oxley used some tons 
