triangular-shaped spade called a “ m o a au s e d especially on
clove plantations in Zanzibar, in addition to the ordinary
native “ jembe,” or hoe.
The plant is then carefully lifted out by the hand with as
much earth adhering to the roots as possible, and placed upon
two strips of banana fibre previously placed crosswise upon
the ground. (Each strip of fibre is about 3 inches to 4 inches
wide, by 1J feet to 2 feet in length.) The four ends are then
taken up and wrapped round the plant and firmly tied
together. The plant is then carried to its destination,1 the
strips of fibre effectually keeping the earth in position. Before
planting, the pieces of fibre passing beneath are cut at each
corner, and the plant finally placed in the hole prepared for
it and the earth heaped round ; the four ends of the fibre left
at the sides are then removed one by one ; the bottom portion
having been cut through, this can be done with ease.
After planting out, if the weather is hot, or in the event of
drought, the young plant is watered in the evening daily, and
watering is continued as required until it attains the height of
18 inches, or, roughly speaking, during the space of one year.
The plants are not shaded in any way after planting out.
The young plants : weeding, etc,— A t this time weeding is
performed every week, and the ground kept perfectly clean,
otherwise the plant would die. There appears to be great
mortality amongst the young plants, so that gapV have often
to be filled up, and a nursery is deemed indispensable for five
years after a plantation is first opened up. Probably if they
were shaded until established, placed at a higher level, less'
frequently watered, and better hardened before planting out,
this excessive mortality would be checked.
After-cultivation.— As a ! general rule no ground or other
1 The planting distances appear to vary, and no regular rules appear
to exist. The most customary, as given to me by Ragu, the head-overseer
of the Sultan’s plantations, is 16 thiraa (24 English feet) apart,- but in
small plantations'it is 3 pima (18 feet), rising in larger ones to 6 pima
(36 feet).
Z A N Z IB A R M E A SU R E S O F L E N G T H .
2 thiraa = 1 yard = 1 wari.
2 wari = 1 pima = 1 fathom or 6 feet,
cultivation is permitted amongst the cloves, but slaves everywhere
appear free to cultivate their own plots and gardens
amongst the trees, and I have observed cassava growing in a
clearing of young clove trees ; the general run of small
“ shambas ” consists of cloves, coco-nuts, mangoes, and other
fruit trees, all planted indiscriminately and close together.
No pruning whatever appears to be done, nor manuring,
apart from the accumulation of fallen leaves ; this, in the
more favoured localities where the rows of clove trees shade
the ground, must add greatly to the fertility of the soil, the
accumulation of leaves being considerable, and the flat nature
of the ground preventing wash.
Age and appearance o f trees.M-There are some trees growing
on the island which are said to be nearly ninety years of age,
but the average length of life of the clove trees in Zanzibar
appears to be from sixty to seventy years.
The appearance of clove plantations is, as a rule, most
healthy and luxuriant, the height of the more matured trees
averaging fully 40 feet, the branches of the two rows often
completely shading the ground. Clove trees generally have
forked stems, and often as many as three or four ; a single-
boled tree is the exception.
Coco-nut trees are generally planted at irregular distances
between the rows of clove trees, but the reason for doing so
appears to be quite forgotten, the usual explanation being
that “ it was the custom.”
Coco-nut trees are usually planted here and there amongst
the clove trees in Amboyna and the Moluccas, it being
believed that the proximity of this tree is beneficial to the
clove. The French most probably adopted the custom in
Mauritius and Réunion, and it eventually found its v/3.y to
Zanzibar.
Diseases and enemies.— So far as I have been able to
ascertain— and I have made careful inquiries on this subject
— the clove tree is not subject to any fungoid disease; The
percentage of dead, dying, and unhealthy trees noticed by me
was very small, and the cause generally was either a damp
situation, or want of cultivation, and the presence of grasses,
especially “ ¡look.”