128 Mr Luiiisdaine on the Cultivation (^Spices 
vegetable kingdom, but, above all, the similarity ot the latter to 
that of the Moluccas, induced a belief that the spice-trees would 
thrive as prosperously in these districts as in their native clime. 
Accordingly, the Deputy-Governor and Council of Fort Marl- 
borough, dispatched, in 1796, a small vessel to Amboyna, for 
the purpose of throwing in supplies into that garrison, and re- 
turning with spice-plants. Owing, however, to some untoward 
accident on the voyage, it was found necessary to bear away for 
Prince of Wales’ Island, where the vessel was declared not sea- 
worthy, and thus the object of the mission was frustrated. It 
was nevertheless reattempted and accomplished in 1798, by the 
ship Phoenix, which landed 864 nutmeg, and 66 clove-plants at 
Fort Marlborough, the whole of the former, and two-thirds of 
the latter being in a healthy and vigorous condition. These 
were distributed to such of the gentlemen of the settlement and 
natives as engaged to take care of them, and a few were sent to 
the out settlements, in order to ascertain the soil most favour- 
able for their culture. A considerable share fell to the lot of 
Mr Edward Coles, by whom they were planted out at Parmat- 
tang Ballam, in virgin forest-land, where the most Ibrward of 
the nutmeg trees blossomed, and perfected their fruit towards the 
close of the year 1803. The cloves pined and dropped off in 
rapid succession. Out of the whole number, four only arrived 
at maturity, one of which flowered in 1803, and tlie most vigo- 
rous of them did not survive the thirteenth year, 
Notwithstanding the indifferent success attending this first 
essay from the loss of numbers of the plants, the general result 
was satisfactory, and Inspired a belief that these valuable exotics 
might, by perseverance and increased attention, become natura- 
lised to the soil. An opportunity of putting this to the test of 
further experiment accordingly presented itself in 1803, in 
which year the late Mr William Roxburgh reached the settle- 
ment with a supply of upwards of 22,000 vigorous nutmeg- 
plants, and between 6000 and 7000 clove-plants frorr. Amboy- 
na, which were put under charge of the late Mr Charles Camp- 
bell, for general distribution; but the applications for plants 
were so urgent, that they greatly overbalanced the stock im- 
ported. 
