THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
543 
1846 .] 
ter in every stage of putrefaction, it has hitherto proved remarkable for its salubrity, 
and is much resorted to by invalids from India. Being so near the equator, there 
is of course little variety of seasons, neither summer nor winter. Fahrenheit 
ranges from 71° to 89°. The periodical rains are brief, indistinctly marked, and 
extending over about one hundred and fifty days of the year, and about one hundred 
inches of rain fall annually. Almost all the tropical fruits are cultivated here, 
many of which are in great perfection, as the pine-apple, banana, mangosteen, &c. 
The nutmeg is being extensively cultivated in large plantations, but as yet does not 
yield a large crop, as the tree requires ten or twelve years from the time of planting 
for that purpose. They are generally planted on the ferruginous sandy hills, and 
require an artificial soil and compost to be placed around the roots of the young 
trees, and it is also necessary to keep them shaded from the sun by mats for three 
years, and when five years old produce, but it is only when ten or twelve years old 
that they yield a full crop. 
The nutmeg tree (Myristica mosohata) in its general appearance resembles the 
clove tree; the bark is smooth and ash colored, the leaves green above and grey 
beneath, and if rubbed in the hand, have a gratefully aromatic odor. The sap has 
the property of staining cloth indelibly. The tree bears fruit, flowers, and buds at 
the same time. The flower resembles the lilly of the valley very much. The fruit 
in size and appearance resembles the nectarine, and is marked with a fuirow like 
the peach, and as it ripens has the same delicate blush. The following description 
by Sir Thomas Herbert is somewhat fanciful and at the same time true. “The 
nutmeg, like trees most excellent, is not very lofty in height, scarcely rising as 
high as the cherry, and by some it is resembled to the peach, but varies in form of 
leaf and grain, and effects more compass. The nut is clothed with a defensive 
husk like thosq of a baser quality, and resembles the thick rind of a walnut, but at 
full ripeness discovers her naked purity, and the mace chastely entwines (with a 
Vermillion blush) her endeared fruit and sister, which hath a thin coat; and both 
of them breathe out most pleasing smells. The mace in a few days (like choice 
beauties) by the sun’s flames become tawny, yet in that complexion best pleases the 
rustic gatherer.” The plant bears three crops in a year, but the fruit requires nine 
months to become perfect. The nutmeg has three coverings, which are all ofidiffe- 
rent textures. The fruit is the outside coat, which is about an half inch thick, and 
when ripe cracks and opens of itself in two parts; the second is the reticulated 
mace which appears through the fissures of the first, and has a bright scarlet color; 
the third is a hard black shell, which encloses the nutmeg. Good trees will pro¬ 
duce from ten to twelve pounds of nuts and mace annually, but the average of an 
orchard is sixty-five ounces avoirdupois or about two peculs to an acre. Nutmegs 
of a lightish grey color, a strong fragrant smell, an aromatic taste, large, oily, and 
round, and of a fine texture, are the best. The holes made by insects eating into 
the kernel are often filled up, and can be ascertained by the inferior weight. In 
commerce, they are divided into royal and green; the former of an oblong shape, 
and the latter of a round shape. This spice, no doubt, in a few years will be the 
principal production of this island, and is capable of supplying the whole British 
Empire. 
Another natural production of the island, is the Agar-agar of the Malays, 
(Fucus sacharinus,) resembling a fern, and abounds on the coral shoals around 
Singapore, and produces in China from six to eight dollars, in its dry bulky state. 
By the Chinese, it is converted into glue, paint, &c., for glazing their cottons, and 
sacrifice paper; the finest portion is made into a rich jelly, which makes a deli¬ 
cious sweetmeat, when preserved in syrup. The harvest of this sea-weed is from 
six thousand to twelve thousand peculs, annually. 
Between the sandy hills is much marshy soil, which formerly was densely co¬ 
vered with timber and jungle; much of this has been cleared and ditched, and 
the peat, of which there are large quantities, in some places, is thrown in heaps, 
burned, and serves as a compost. More than a thousand acres of this soil have been 
planted with the sugar cane, and it is found to yield exceedingly well, the sugar be¬ 
ing produced at one cent per pound. The laborers are Chinese and Hindoos, the 
wages paid are from three to four dollars per month, out of which they find them¬ 
selves. 
An excellent road has been made by government, with convicts from India, 
across the island, much to the advantage of the agriculturists. 
