The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-23
THE QUEEN OF SPICES
CINNAMON, DELICIOUS AND SuGARv,
AROMATIC AND e0NssNr

critics Anteaases Recorded History.
seHeshsass as IT'S rses and sAs war
In WhieA II Ia ssrodacesi.
cinnsmon is In itself unuucstionahly
the most delicious Of ail spices, helng
susars as we'll as aromatic and pun.
gent, Many thousands Of peansas are
consumed annually hl every cIslliged
country, and It Is alsa Alghly apprecl.
,tel by even senlrtvillxesl arid hars
harous nations whrv culinary are and
medicine have as vet made little prog,
nsSS
Its uses IN sweet cookery are lnnu.
nlenshle. There are very few fruits
which are ne, Improved In preserves.
pickles AMI pssstflos bysthe addition IL
more or less ut this delicate bark. II is
an essential tlasoring IN all spice cakes
and In many varieties Of pics and pad,
dings Ia chocolate confectionery.
candies eMdials and liuueufs cinnamon
contributes an Incompatible flavor.
Its medicinal value Is well known
as an antispasmodic and carmiMiiye
and tonic, Its use Is recommended us
preventive and remedy Tor cholera,
aud In Seasons when stomach troubles
prevail cinnamon drops are RECON-
rnenicd as the most wholesome form
of candy FOR children.
The discovery OF the valuable prop
critics OF cinnamon antedates recorded
h.story, as 1t Il mentioned In the Biblesi
IN the hook Of ESodns as one of the
ingredients OF the sacred. oil with
which The priests were anninted So
highly was the sweet hark. esteemed;
BY the aacleHts that eyena small plece
was considered a Ill, GIFT for King, 1t
Is always mentioned as an especially
choice substance hy Greek writer's pre-.
vious to the Christian era II Is said
that IT, Arab traders, who first
brought 1t TO Egypt aud WESTERN Asia,
surrounded its history and production
with special tales of mystery and
magic.
The clunnanlon tree II d member OF
the laurel Gamily, which IN tie tropics
is represented BY a large number %
aromatic aud medicinal trees and
shrubs. II
There are several closely allied elm
namon trees. but the finest bark IL pro
cured from species native To the ~
land Of Ccylon. distinguished by bcta,
nists as Cinnamoninm zeyhnicunl. ln
a state Of nature this grows to be q
tree FROM twenty TO thirty feet In
height. with rather large. oval, entire
margined leaves and yeilowish flowers
succeeded by small brown draIpes re-
seinbline acurns ID shape. The graylsh
brown barg Is internally Of an ogange
color, which changes upon drying TO
the characteristic brown which Is the
recognized name OF particular shade.
Almost every part OF the tree yields
some choice substance and Is especial
ly rich In oil. The roots ylpid caiiiphcr
and the leaves an oil resembling the
oil OF eicves and often substituted FOR
II. while from the fruit = substance
called cinnamon suet Is manufactured
which is highly fragrant and from
which In former times Candles for the
exclusive use Of the king were made.
In the latter part OF the eighteenth
century. while England was for a time
In possession Of. the spice Islands Gin
namon plants were among the choice
products that were imported into yaff
GUS other tropical. regions, including
the West indies. where ir Cuba and
several other islands II has become q
considerable article of cOmniert.e. Tn
der cultivation IL Is not allowed 70
grow into tree, as the richest bark Ia
taken from shoots Of from two to four
years growth The young tree II. \
therefore, cut and shoots from the root
are encouraged to grow, Tie majority
Of these are cut when about ten feet ID
height and the bark Isedetached in ten
or twelve inch lengths. After lying IN
bundles for few days the bark is
scraped by hand both Outside and in,,
until reduced to a thin sheet. These
sheets are then made up Into compos
ite "qnills" by placing the narrower
and shorter pieces inside and rolling
tightly, forming firmrods, which after
further drying are made into bundles
weighing about eighty pounds and
wrapped for shipping. Gfocers divide,
assort and very neatly combine por.
tions of these quilts into small packets
for the convenience Of their customers.
The oil of cinnamon IL made By
the eoarser pieces OF the bark
and soaking them for two Of three
days In sea water, followed byi the |
process Of distilling. Two oils, one
heavier and the other lighter fhan wa
ter, are the product, both possessing
similar properties. SThe color varies
from cherry red to pale yellow, the
latter being preferred by most puri
ehasers. t44K {
The work Of distilllng ls light, and
IN oil equal to the best Ceylonese II
now produced In Trinidad und various
,ther localities In Cuba and other West
India islands. sts@
AS cinnamon commands good price
and its uses are continually multiply
ng, there Is every induceinent for ex-
lending the area ofits cultivation, both
n the eastern apd western hemiss
spheres. st. Louis Republic.
4 Crisis Met Half Way.
Thnro sunr1. ctr.ict nrdnta IL tho Phil.