64G SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NUTMEG AND ITS CULTIVATION. 
continuing to reproduce plants from those of the place, whereas were 
the Planters of Penang and Singapore to interchange their seed, it 
would be mutually profitable- We know that the Agriculturists of 
Europe find it to their advantage to obtain seed for their cereal crops 
from places remote, and even the inhabitants of the British Isles find 
it necessary to make such interchanges. It is not easy to afford a rea¬ 
son for this, but the fact is well established, and would appear to be 
the fiat of infinite wisdom for some great good, perhaps to induce 
indolent and selfish man by the strong stimulus of self interest to a 
mutual reciprocity and kindness of feeling, by demonstrating to him 
in so practical a manner that his own good is linked inseparably with 
that of his neighbour. 
The Planter having selected his seed, which ought to be put in the 
ground within 24 hours of being gathered, setting it about 2 inches 
deep in the beds already prepared, and at the distance of from 12 to 
18 inches apart, the whole nursery ought to be well shaded both on 
top and sides, the earth kept moist and clear of weeds, and well 
smoked by burning wet grass or weeds in it once a week, to drive 
away a very small moth-like insect that is apt to infest young plants, 
laying its eggs on the leaf, when they become covered with yellow 
spots, and perish if not attended to speedily. Washing the leaves with 
a decoction of the Tuba root is the best remedy I know of, but where 
only a few plants are affected, if the spots be numerous, I would pre¬ 
fer to pluck up the plant altogether rather than run the risk of the 
insect becoming more numerous, to the total destruction of the nur¬ 
sery. The nuts germinate in from a month to six weeks and even la¬ 
ter, and for many mouths after germination the seed is attached to 
the young plant and may be removed apparently as sound as when 
planted, to the astonishment of the unlearned, who are not aware of 
the great disproportion in size between the ovule and albumen, the 
former of which is alone necessary to form the plant. The plants 
may be kept in nursery with advantage for nearly two years. Should 
they grow rapidly and the interspaces become too small for them, 
every second plant had better he removed to a fresh nursery and set 
out at a distance of a couple of feet from each other. When tran¬ 
splanted either in this way, or for their ultimate position in the plan¬ 
tation, care should be taken to remove them with a good ball of earth 
secured by the skin of the plantain, which prevents the ball of earth 
falling to pieces. 
The nurseries being established, the ground cleared and ready, the 
