922 
THE PRINCPLES OF BOTANY. 
frill, only partially covering the nutmeg by reason of its 
jagged ends. 
We have an analogue of this structure in the fruit of the 
spindle-tree (Enonymus Eiiropams), common to our hedges. 
In this the aril is of a still brighter orange colour than that 
of the mace, but it is wholly without aroma. 
The occurrence of two such different spices as nutmegs and 
mace in close contiguity is in itself remarkable; but it was 
no uncommon belief that somehow cloves were first obtained 
from the nutmeg-tree, of which cinnamon was said to be the 
bark. 
The nutmeg-tree grows to a considerable size, attaining 
nearly thirty feet in height. Its alternated lanceolate leaves 
are aromatic, and, indeed, a different sort of aroma is common 
to each organ of the plant. 
{< Myristica moschata and M. officinalis is cultivated in the 
Molucca Islands, Java, Sumatra, Bengal, &c. It is a tree of 
from twenty to twenty-five feet in height, with oblong aro¬ 
matic leaves and fruit, very much like a peach, having a 
longitudinal groove on one side, and bursting into two pieces, 
when the enclosed seed, covered by a false aril or arillode 
which constitutes the substance known as mace, is exposed. 
The seed itself has a thick, hard, outer shell, which may 
be removed when dry, and which encloses the nucleus of the 
seed, the nutmeg of the shops. The nutmeg consists of the 
albumen or perisperm, with the embryo at one end, and is 
covered by a thin membrane, which adheres closely to its 
surface, and projects into the substance of the albumen, 
thereby giving it the mottled appearance for which it is so 
remarkable. 
ee At one time the culture of nutmegs was almost entirely 
in the hands of the Dutch, who took every means to monopo¬ 
lise the growth of the plants, in which they were in a measure 
defeated by a kind of pigeon, which—extracting the nutmeg 
from its pulpy covering—digests the mace and voids the 
nutmeg uninjured. It is related that the Dutch used to 
burn nutmegs when the crops were too abundant, in order 
to keep up high prices. Old ladies in the country, to this 
day, keep a nutmeg in their pocket, as was customary in 
their younger days, when the effects of the war with France 
and of the Dutch monopoly rendered all spices very 
expensive.” 
We have extracted the above from the f Treasury of 
Botany,’ as it is, perhaps, the most recent article on the 
subject. 
Relating to the dearness of nutmegs, it may not be out of 
