PROXIMATE CONSTITUENTS OF MALE FERN-ROOT. 
61 
The fruit is terminal, and when of a reddish hue is plucked by 
hand, so that the process of gathering is tedious. It is then dried 
for several days on mats in the sun, until it breaks easily between 
the fingers, and assumes a dark brown color. It loses about 60 
per cent, in drying. When past its prime the clove tree has a 
ragged and uncombed appearance, and I am led to suppose that 
its existence is limited to twenty years, unless in very superior 
soil, in which it may drag out a protracted and unprofitable slate 
of being to the period of perhaps twenty-four years. Hence it be- 
comes necessary to plant a succession of seedlings when the old 
trees have attained eight years of age, and this octennial succes- 
sion must be steadily kept in view. 
With reference to the number of laborers, cattle and ploughs 
necessary for a plantation of 1000 nutmeg and clove trees, after 
the ground has been thoroughly cleared of underwood and stumps 
of trees, I consider that seven Chinese or active Bengalee labor- 
ers, fifty head of cattle and two ploughs, would be sufficient for 
all the purpose of the cultivation, with the exception of collecting 
the clove harvest, w T hich, being a very tedious process, would re- 
quire an extra number of hands ; and indeed the best plan would 
be to gather it in by contract.— --American Journal of Science and 
Arts, November, 1851. 
ON THE ETHERIAL EXTRACT AND PROXIMATE CONSTITUENTS 
OF MALE- FERN ROOT. 
By H. Bock. 
The root was exhausted in a small displacement apparatus 
with ether, and the ether then distilled off. It had acquired 
scarcely any odor, had a neutral reaction, and did not become 
turbid on being mixed with water. The extract from 2000 grs. 
of the powdered root was of a 'grayish brown color, very thick, 
and had separated into two layers, the upper one of which was 
oily and of a green color, the lower one brownish and more re- 
sinous. On distillation with water, the product yielded a mere 
trace of essential oil to ether, and which resembled the oil above 
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