Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1889 — Cultivation of Nutmegs. [ARTICLE]

Cultivation of Nutmegs.

Having rested sufficiently, we again started forward, and after scrambling along for about an hour, we gained a fine piece of table-land, over which we traveled for about another half an hour, when we reached three houses erected in the very heart of the forest. These were used by the natives for drying the nutmegs. The country was everywhere magnificent, and the aroma of the spiceladen air delicious. Nutmeg and other equally valuable trees were everywhere growing in great profusion. The fruit qf the nutmeg in appearance resembles a pear, and, when ripe opens and displays the nnt covered with a beautiful red coating of mace. The nuts are then picked from the trees, put into baskets, and taken to the houses, where they are husked and placed Bn shelves. They are then partially roasted over a slow fire until all the moisture is extracted. After this they cooled and carried down to the village in the nets ready to be bartered to the Bugis, Arabs and Other traders who frequent the gulf in their small prows or inkos at the proper season. - , lowa continues to be the com state. The value of its crop last year was equal to the mineral output of the country - and equal to the dividends paid by ail the railroads cr earnings of ail the banks. - !