Telegram-herald., 1890-08-08
GLOVE CULTIVATION.
z1k4bsr furnishes the Larger Part OF
the supply of the Aromatic spice.

zekLb8r furnishes the Larger Part OF
The supply of the Aromatic spice.
ZanzibaT and the neighb0ring island
OF Pernba furnish the world with the
bulk Of the supply, about 1900, 600
pounds e year. Consul Pratt, II re-
port Just received al the state depart
msnt, says the Glove tree was first intro
duced into Zanzibar by Sultan SSyed
Said bin Sultan about the year 1880,
since which tine It's cultivation has
gradually extended, until II Is now the
chief industry Of the islands.
The industry received 4 check in 1872,
the date of the great hurricane. at least
nine-tenths Of the trees were destroyed
ct that time, so the larger part Of those
now standing are of new growth. 4
peculiarity 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 color,
with full, perfect heads, free from moist
ure.
In the cultivation of the Glove the first
thing TO be done is the starting of the
shoot. The seeds are placed IN iong
trenches an are well watere2 enn after
sproutiag. 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 transplanted, being set
about thirty feet apart, and are kept
watered till they become well rooted.
From this time on the young trees re-
quire only ordinary care, though TIE best
results are obtained when the ground
about he trees is well watched over and
kept free from weeds.
The growth of the tree is very slow,
and five or six years are required for it
10 come into bearing, Ut which tine it is
about the size of al ordinary pear tree,
and is usually very shapely. 1t is pretty
sight 10 see q young plantation just com
ing into bearing. The leaves. Of various
shades Of green tinged with red, serve 70
set of the clusters Of dull red Glove buds.
As soon as the buds are fully formed and
assume this reddish color the harvesting
commence, and Is prosecuted for fully
SIX months at intervals. since the buds
do not form simultaneously, but 1T odd
times throughout the period. The limbs
Of the trees beng very brittle q peculiar
four sided ladder is brought into requisi-
tion and tho harvesting proceeds apace.
As fast as collected the buds are spread
out in the sun until they assume a brown
ish color. when they are put in the store
house and are ready for market. y 10
year-old plantation should produce an
average of twenty pounds OF cloves 10 d
tree. Trees Of % years frequently pro-
duce upward Of one hundred pounds
each. worth ten cents c pound. The sui
tan derives no inconsidcrablc portion If
his revenue from tlis s0urcc. the duty
levied placing 70 the sultan's credit for
the present year nearly If not quite
S400. 900.
Besides the Glove buIs the stems are
also gathorc3. and form an article of
F commerce Comuard.rg about one-fifth
the price Of cloves and having aboa, the
SAM percentage of strength. To this
circumstance Is due tho fact that the
ground Glove c.,n frequently be purchas-
Ell il the home market a. . lower price
than whole cloves. Fox the past fifteen
years tbe cultivation Of cloves has been
the chief occupation = the Arab plant
e-s and has alvavs netted good returrs.
L seems probable that it viii continue
70 he profitable crop. since the con
sumption of the article appears TO keep
pace with tho inevitable increase Il pro
f ducdon. st Louis Globe Democrat.