Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-04
THE AROMATIC GLOVE.
Where 1t Comes From and How it's Raised
-Zanzibar's Sweet Smelling Industry.

The man who goes out between acts
and comes back with Glove between
his teeth should be interested in know
ing where his disinfectant comes from.
Zanzibar and the neighboring island
of Pemba furnish the world with
the bulk of the supply, about IL, 900 900
pounds a year Consul Pratt in a re-
port just received at the State Depart
ment, says the Glove tree was first in
troduced into Zanzibar By Sultan Seyed
Said bin Sultan, about the year 1880,
since which time its cultivation has
gradually extended, until it is now the
chief industry of the islands.
The industry received a check in
1872, the date of the great hurricane.
At least nine-tenths of the trees were
destroyed at that time. so the larger
part of those now standing are of new
growth.
A popularity of the Glove tree is that
every part is aromatic; but the greatest
strength is found in the bud. which is
the Glove OF commerce The finest
quality of cloves are dark brown in col
or, with full, perfect heads, free from
moisture.
In the cultivation of the Glove the
first thing to be done is the starting of
the shoot. The seeds are planted in
long trenches, and are kept we'll wat
cred until after sprouting. In the
course of forty days the shoots appear
above ground. They are carefully
watered and looked after for the space
OF two years, when they should be
about three feet in height. They are
then trausplanted, being set about
thirty feet apart, and are kept watered
till they become well rooted. From
this time on the young trees require
only ordinary care, though the best re-
suits are obtained when the ground
about the trees is we'll worked over and
kept free from weeds.
The growth of the tree is very slow,
and five or six years are required for
it to come into bearing, at which time
it is about the size of an ordinary pear
tree, and is usually very shapely. 1t
is pretty SIGHT to see a young planta-
ton just coming into bearing. The
/ leaves, of various shades of green ting
ed with red, serve to set off the clusters
of dull red Glove buds.
AS soon as the buds are fully formed
and assume this reddish color the har-
vesting commences, and is prosecuted
for fu lY six months at intervals, since
the buds do not form simultaneously,
but at odd times throughout the period.
The limbs of the tree beng very brittle
a peculiar four-sided ladder is brought
into requistion, and the harvesting
proceeds apace.
! As fast as collected the buds are
N
sumo a brownish color when they are
put in the store house and are ready
for market.
A ten-yyear-old plantation should pro-
duce an average Of twenty pounds
of cloves to Il tree. Trees of twenty
years frequently produce upwards of
100 20 unds each, worth 10 cents
pound.
| The Sultan derives no inconsiderable
portion Of his revenue from this source,
! the duty levied placing to the Sultan's
credit for the present year nearly, if
not quite, $4O0, 600
Besides the Glove buds, the stems are
| also gathered. and form an article of
! commerce. commanding about one-ffth
OF the price of cloves and having about
the same percentage of strength. TO
this circumstance is due the fact that
ground Glove can frequently be pur-
! chased in the home market at a lower
| price than whole cloves.
For the past fifteen Years the cult
| yalion of cloves has been the chief oc-
| :npation OF the Arab planters and had
alWaA$ Melted good returns. L. seems
| probabl' that it will continue to be
profitable crop, since the consumption
| IL the article appears to keep pace with
he inevitable increase Of production.
- WdSjttngtOn Cor. ST. LOuis Gi0be- DEM
)c3It