IV 
CLOVES 
163 
fellen in Belgian, are known as mother-cloves in England. 
Eumphius gives as Malay names polong and ihu 
chingkeh. 
CULTIVATION 
The plant is usually grown from seed, but can be 
propagated by layers. In Zanzibar the method of rais- 
ing from seed is as follows. The seeds are first soaked 
in water for three days, and when germination has set 
in, they are planted out about 6 in. apart in shaded beds, 
with the bud end above-ground. It is usual to put 
two seeds together to provide against failures. If a large 
number of plants are put down the seeds are placed 
about 3 to 4 in. apart. The beds are about 6 ft. wide 
and of any length. They are shaded by a flat frame- 
work of sticks, over which is placed a layer of dry 
grass or coco-nut leaves. The framework is about 3 
to 3 1 ft. high. The young plants are watered morning 
and evening by the coolies, wherever the soil has 
become dry, water being sprinkled by hand from a jar. 
This is done as long as the seeds are not developed 
thoroughly. AVhen the plants are above-ground it is 
done every other day ; when 6 in. high every week or 
ten days. The plants are kept from nine months to a 
year in the beds. When they are about 6 in. tall they 
are gradually hardened off by partially removing the 
shading, and are then left in the beds exposed to the 
sun for a month or two before planting out.^ 
In Amboyna, either the seeds are taken and raised 
in beds, as above described, or young plants that are 
found about the estate are taken out and transplanted. 
The plants raised from seed, though luxuriant, are not 
thought to be as fruitful as self-sown plants. 
In Bencoolen, Sumatra, the seeds were planted in 
rich mould 12 in. apart from each other, screened from 
the sun and duly watered. They germinate within five 
weeks, and when 4 ft. tali are transplanted to distances 
of 30 ft. apart, with a small admixture of sand with the 
^ Consular Report, Zanzibar, 1892, p. 266, 
