The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-05-04

CEYLoE CINNAMON. Ofall the vegetable pro.
auctions Of Ceylon, that for which it is most ce,e.
brated its cinnamon, the bark of the Taurus Gin
ammonium called by the natives, coorundoo. On
TINS the riches OF the island in great measure de-
pend therefore the cultivation of the trees and the
gathering of the bark, are objects of careful attem.
ton. In April, after the fruit is ripe the bu-
sness of decortication begins. May and June are
reckoned the most favorable months, the three fol-
lowing not SO good, but November and December
are favorable, and are called the little harvest.
The laborer first selects tree which appears TO
him ripe, then he ascertains it by striking hatch
et obliquely into branch; if, on drawing it out.
the bark separates from the wood, the cinnamon
has attained maturity; ifnot, it must remain He
cuts down number of shoots, from three to five
feet long, and threeourths of an inch in diameter,
carries his load to hut shed, and, with the as
sistance of a companion, strips off and cleans the
bark. The cinnamon tree fourishes only in one
small district of the island, being confined to the
southwest angle, from Negumbo to. Matura.
There 10 none on the western side beyond Chilau,
nor on the eastern side beyond Tengalle Within
this range the nature of the soil, and the warmth
moisture, and steadiness of the climate, contribute
to cherish it. The largest plantation is near CO.
Jumbo, and is about twelve miles in circumference
In inland places it grows without cultivation
but of inferior quality. The cultivation of CHINA
mon was the result of the experimental enterprise
of the Dutch governor Falk, who presided in Cey.
lon for thirty years before its conquest by the Eng
lish He met with great opposition from the preiu-
dices and imagined interests of the natives, some
of whom silly attempted to thwar his endeayors by
sprinkling the plants in the evening with hot wat
err His exertions were thus little retarded, but
succeeded. The quantity of cinnamon
annually sent to Britain amounts to 1858 900 pounds,
for which the East India Company pays to govern
ment as this island Is Immediately subject to the
king) ESQ 600 sterling, and they carry it home at
their own expense. A great quantity is used BY
the slaves in the South American mines as a pre-
servative against noxous exhalations and it 10 dis.
persed through the different countries Of the east
The wood Of the tree has no smell, and ia chiefly
used as fuel.-lMalte- Brun.
THE WIT OurwIrrED. A few years since,
a countryman passing at night, with his team,
through the town Of Stow, observed an old fash.
Toned house with chimney built on the outside.
Being something Of a wag, he alarmed the in.
mates, and called up the master, who putting
his head out of the window to inquire the cause /,
was cody informed, that as it looked likely to
rain he had better take in his chimney" Our
WAGNER satisfied with his explicit, drove on,
but had not proceeded far when his team was
plunged into a mud-hole unable to extrieate
it, he was compelled, after much useless ours
ing and swearing laviShed alternately upon the
roads and his oxen, to apply for assistance at
the only house within distance OF some miles
the one whose occupants he had just "playsd
the fool with" The master OF the house heard
his story with patience, and when he had con-
cluded, answered him with becoming gravity,
"that he regretted his inability to assist him,
as he expected every moment il would rain,
and his hands were all busy housing the chim-
neg. "-B oston Transcript.