Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-08-07
THE AROMATIC GLOVE.
understanding Industry OF Zanzibar and
Pemba Island.


Pemba Island.
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 100000 pounds
year. Consul Pratt, in report just
received at the State Department, says
the Glove tree was first introduced into
Zanzibar by Sultan Seyed Said bin Sui
tan, about the year 1880, since which
time its cultivation has gradually ex-
tended until it is now the chief in
dustry of the islands.
The industry received check in 1872,
the date of the great hurricane. At
least nine-tenths OF the trees were de-
stroyed 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 great
est strength is found in the bud, which
is the ''clove" of commerce The finest
quality of cloves are dark brown in
polor, 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
trenches, and are kept we'll watered un-
til 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 trans.
planted, being set about thirty fee.
apart and kept watered till they be.
come we'll rooted From this time Oh
the young trees require only ordinary
care, though the best results are OBJ.
tanned 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 II
to come into bearing, at which time ii
is about the size of an ordinary pear
tree, and is usually very shapely. 1t is
pretty sight to see young plantation
just coming into bearing. The leaves,
of various shades of green tinged 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 fully six months at intervals, since
the buds do not form simultaneously,
but at odd times throughout the period.
The limbs of the tree being very brittle,
peculiar four-sided ladder is brought
into requisition, and the harvesting
proceeds apace.
AS fast as collected the buds are
spread out in the srn, until they assume
q brownish color, when they are put in
the store-house and are ready for mar
ket
A 10-year-old plantation should pre-.
duce an average of 90 pounds of cloves
to tree. Trees of 90 years frequently
produce upward of 100 pounds 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, il
not quite, 100000,
Beside 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. Tc
| this circumstance is due the fact thai
ground Glove can frequently be pur
chased in the home market at loweI
price than whole cloves.
For the past 10 years the cultivation
of cloves has been the chief occupation
Of the Arab planters, and had always
nettei good returns. 1t seems proba.
BILE that it will continue to be protita
BILE crop, since the consumption of the
article appears to keep pace with the
inevitable increase of production. =
Washington Letter