IV 
CLOVES 
193 
of clove cultivation in the island was practically finished 
off in a few years by this pest. 
I am indebted to Mr. W. C. Kiin, the Acting 
Registrar of Imports and Exports, for the following 
figures as to the trade in cloves in the Straits Settle- 
ments : — 
Imports 
Pikuls. 
Value. 
1875 
882 
S’pore 16,446 
1880 
734 
32,561 
1885 
. 3,884 
35,836 
1890 
. 2,907 
51,959 
1895 
. 3,925 
74,464 
1900 
. 2,974 
62,874 
1905 
. 3,960 
124,267 
Exports 
r_ 
Pikuls. 
Value. 
1875 
. 1,478 
S’pore $54,085 
1880 
613 
25,602 
1885 
. 4,496 
110,301 
1890 
. 3,036 
112,325 
1895 
. 4,096 
82,155 
1900 
3,234 
89,183 
1905 
. 3,867 
134,313 
1909 
. 4,000 
The pikul is 
133J lbs., and the present value of the dollar is 
USES 
The primary use of cloves is as a spice, and those 
most preferred and highly valued are large, full, not 
wrinkled or brittle, of a good red colour with a purplish 
bloom. These high-class cloves are chiefly obtained 
from Penang, and fetch a better price than any others. 
They are used when whole cloves are required, as for 
inserting into hams, etc., and other such more or less 
ornamental purposes. 
In former days it was the fashion to stick an orange 
all over with cloves, so as to make a kind of pomander, 
to be held in the hand and carried about for the perfume. 
Powdered cloves are also used as a spice, but are 
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