SOME ACCOUNT OF THE NUTMEG AND ITS CULTIVATION. 649 
be stunted. Some persons apply tliejr manure fresh from the sta¬ 
ble or cow yard. There is no question that fresh manure eniiclies 
ground more than that which has undergone perfect decomposition, 
but unfortunately fresh manure when brought into contact with the 
roots of the tree destroys them, the ends blacken and decay, and in 
this state, if there be white ants in the ground, they very soon attack 
and kill it altogether. Manure is beyond all other considerations 
the most important to the welfare of an estate; it is that which gives 
quantity and quality of produce, and without it a plantation can¬ 
not be carried on. The want of it must limit the cultivation in the 
Straits, and will yet bring up many a planter, who having got his 
plantation to look well up to the eighth year with very little manure*, 
thinks he can go on in the same manner. But trees grows readily up 
to the 7th or 8th year ; — it is then that really good cultivation begins 
to tell, and, even with the best care, trees receive a cheek upon their 
first shewing fruit, but the skilful Planter about this period will re¬ 
double all his energies, knowing that he.is near to his reward, and 
will loose it entirely if he omits to do so. The nutmeg* tree likes well 
all sorts of manures, but that which is best for it seems to be the 
well rotted stable and cow yard manure mixed with vegetable matter, 
and when the tree is in hearing the outer covering of the nut itself 
is about one of the very best things to be thrown into the dung pit. 
Dead animals buried not too near the roots are very acceptable to 
the trees, also blood, fish and the oil cake imported from Java, but 
the greatly lauded manure of the present day, Guano, I decidedly ob¬ 
ject to. Having tried several tons of it, I am of opinion that it is the 
least beneficial substance that can be given to the nutmeg tree. It 
certainly causes the tree to assume a deeper tint of foliage and at first 
to throw out young shoots, but there seems to come a very unplea¬ 
sant reaction afterwards, and I am inclined to think the quality of 
the produce is deteriorated; at least such is my conviction on the 
subject that I shall never try it as manure again. With respect to the 
best mode of preparing and keeping manure I am disposed to the 
plan of placing it in pits, although in Europe stacking* it in heaps is 
I believe generally preferred, hut our climate here is so desicating 
that manure thus exposed will lose too much of its moisture to fer¬ 
ment properly, and the loss will also be much greater. Besides if it 
be not required for immediate use, it keeps much better in a pit 
covered over by a coating of earth to prevent evaporation. When re¬ 
quired for use it ought neither to be too dry nor wet, the best state 
p 2 
