The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-08
GLOVE CULTURE IN AFRICA.

Gloves were at one time the only eco-
nomic product which Zanzibar supplied
TO foreign Countries, writes Mr.. Con-
eul cave and although much has been
and is being done 20 encourage the ma
tive agriculturist TO have more than one
iron in the fire this tree is still and PROB
ably always will be far more extensive
ly cultivated than any other. says the
London Globe The Glove season proper
that is. the period during which the
crop ripens and is harvested-eXtends
from September 10 March, but the
cloves continue TO be brought into town
for some months later, either because
some Of the trees are retarded in their
lowering or because the growers are
holding back for a more favorable MAJ
KIT. The 1895 crop, although l,8O2,'OO
pounds in excess Of THAT Of the previous
year. was not more than a good aver
age one. and fell far short Of the re-
suits obtained in 1890. 1894 and 1879, but
although this is true as regaris the
twelve months ended Dec. 81 last, IL
WiM probably BE- found when the next
report comes 10 be wrdtten that the
season OF 1889 has equaled, II 1t has
not surpassed, any previous existing
record
In the summer and autumn OF last
wear considerable anxiety was felt as
20 what the season would bring forth,
for there has been no heavy ram Tor
eighteen months. and a large number
of trees had died from want OF water.
In Pemba alone no fewer than 200 900
are said to have perished from this
cause. The rains came i'm time 10 save
the crop and make II one OF the most
prolific that this country has known,
bur the long drought which preceded
chem not only caused the buds 10 be
somewhat smaller than usual, but de-
layed the harvest for several weeks.
And this is especially the case IN the
islands Of Zanzibar, where the raantall
is seldom more than half as heavy, and
the trees ntt nearly so old or 50 hardy
as i'm the sister island. The quantity OF
cloves brought into town from the Zan-
zIhar IlanLalInna- LII Io the end OF the
wear was. il win be observed, only 60
}64 frasilas. the smallest amount tabu-
lated. but OF these no less than 32,399
frasiIas, and from the two Islands to-
gether 121 ,S5S frasilas arrived in Decem- =
Der alone. which Is far in excess OF the
amounts recorded for any period of
one month since THESE returns were HIst
complied.
The other great difficulty which both
the government and the Arab cultiva-
tor have TO contend with is the labor
question. which no will probably take
many years to solve Ever since the inn
portation OF slaves has been prohibited
the supply Of labor has diminished with
increasing TaUtdtty from year to year,
and now that thousands of slaves have
been freed unde er the decree Of 1897. 1T is
quite inadequate 20 meet the demands
that are made upon IT, Much has been
done I'm ,he interests Of the cuftivator
the freed slaves are induces. whenever
IL is possible to settle on the shambleS
OF their old masters and TO work for
Them. under voluntary agreements,
either i'm return for q fixed daily wage
or nv git,-y lr iir number of
days no their employers and devoting
the remainder OF the week TO the cul-
tivation OF plots Of ground which are
allotted TO them for that purpose. A
money wage has. as often as possible,
been substituted for payment in kind,
both as an additional Incentive TO the
IN borer. and so as 90 prevent him from
a bsenting himself from his work for two
or three days in succession at more or
less frequent intervals in order To dry
and dispose Of the green cloves which he
has either earned as his share of the
pickings. or as frequently happens, sto-
ltn lIpil lnc trees Nuliti6 'tbt hiSit' Jun
no legislation can make the native take
a genuine interest in his work or keep
at e for longer period than will enable
him TO live in comparative comfort for
a few week Of cOntented idleness, The
scarcity Of labor has had its effect both
)n the total yield of the year and ON
he quality of the sample. Different
buds on the same tree ripen at differ
mt times. and 90 secure a good sample.
hey should be picked at a certain def
ffite stage Of development, but in his
lnxiety TO have as much Of his crop
as possible. the cuNivator has
lad 10 neglect any special care i'm pick
ne as well as In the equally important
'rocess Of drying with the natural re-
ult that the cloves sent home are found
o vary I'm size. color and quality.