260  Nutmeg  Cultivation  in  Jamaica.  {AmMay?if9?rm' 
different  alkaloids,  as  the  salts  were  prepared  in  a  slightly  different 
manner,  but  we  are  inclined  to  think  after  summing  up  the  previous 
results  that  both  drugs  contain  the  same  alkaloids.  These  alkaloids 
doubtless  require  further  investigation,  and  we  intend  to  more  fully 
examine  them  and  give  the  results  obtained  in  a  future  paper. 
In  conclusion,  the  chemical  difference  between  the  two  roots  may 
be  summed  up  as  follows  : 
The  substitute  contains  much  less  ash,  less  mucilage,  less  alkaloid, 
a  much  smaller  proportion  of  fats  and  fatty  acids,  a  small  quantity 
of  an  acid  resin,  no  starch,  and  affords  a  much  smaller  quantity  of 
extractive  matter. 
NUTMEG  CULTIVATION  IN  JAMAICA. 
In  the  Bulletin  of  the  Botanical  Department  of  Jamaica  for  Octo- 
ber last,  it  is  stated  that  a  large  stock  of  the  very  finest  nutmegs  for 
seed  has  been  imported  to  Jamaica  from  Grenada,  and  has  been  sown 
in  the  Hope  Gardens,  and,  when  ready  for  distribution,  will  be  sold 
at  the  very  low  rate  of  three  halfpence  each,  in  large  or  small  quan- 
tities. It  is  hoped  that  these  arrangements  will  tend  to  develop  the 
planting  of  nutmegs  on  a  large  scale  in  suitable  districts  in  Jamaica* 
It  is  stated  that  already  one  order  has  been  filed  for  10,000  plants, 
and  another  for  5  .000.  The  germination  of  the  seed  in  large  quanti- 
ties, and  the  care  of  the  seedlings,  is  said  to  require  the  strictest 
attention,  to  prevent  extensive  loss.  From  the  seed  bed,  the  seed- 
lings are  transferred  to  bamboo  pots,  and,  when  they  h^ve  quite 
recovered  from  the  transplanting,  and  have  formed  good  roots,  they 
are  seady  for  the  nutmeg  plantation.  The  planters  must  now  exer- 
cise strict  supervision  over  the  laborers,  to  see  that  the  bamboo  pot 
is  carefully  slit  down  on  one  side,  and  the  plant,  with  the  earth 
undisturbed  round  the  root,  gently  placed  in  the  hole  prepared  for 
its  reception.  If  this  operation  is  done  too  harshly  or  clumsily,  the 
tip  of  the  tap  root  is  broken,  and  the  plant  soon  dies. 
Nutmeg  trees  require  a  deep,  rich,  loamy  soil,  moist  but  not 
swampy,  with  a  humid  atmosphere.  They  thrive  best  in  steady 
river  valleys  from  sea-level  up  to  300  or  400  feet,  but  they  will  grow 
in  favorable  situations  up  to  an  elevation  of  2,000  feet.  The  trees 
should  be  placed  at  distances  of  25  or  30  feet  apart,  and  if  the  situa- 
tion is  not  naturally  shady  and  sheltered,  trees  should  be  planted  for 
