Until recently, this oil originated in one distillery only, namely that at Malindi in Zanzibar. However, Madagascar has now also commenced production of this oil, although in relatively small quantities, while Zanzibar’s production has been cut back sharply.

The demand for cloves in this sector increased substantially after the Second World War, but it has to some extent levelled out and is currently fairly stable although not perhaps to the extent that might have been expected, say, up to 1969. The clove spice is rarely used with more often being blended with other spices to form a base for sauce and pickle formulae. Thus the clove flavour cannot be said to be becoming more popular per se, and any future rises in industrial demand are likely to occur only as a result of an increase in end-product sales.

The price statistics for clove stem oil are not available but sufficient information is available in the trade from which to construct a picture of the price trend. Until the onset of the recent shortage, beginning in 1968, stem oil prices were stable at between 1.30 and 1.90 per kilogramme, but then a rapid rise ensued and by the end of 1969 prices were between 2.20 and 3.05 per kilogramme.

Close substitutes for the spice include the essential oils obtained from the leaves and flower stems of the clove tree, which are markedly cheaper. Distillation of clove buds to give a clove bud oil is not a large activity in comparison with the two end-uses already discussed. However, the nature of the bud-oil market differs to some extent according to the country under consideration.

It is used mainly in the food industry, mainly in the preparation of meat and soup products. It is, however, prone to vary in price in accordance with the current price of the raw clove spice, and the growth of the clove-oleoresin market could be seriously retarded or even reversed if 1977 price levels are maintained for long.

The uses of the bud oil are numerous, both in the flavour and perfumery industries, and this used also to be the case in the pharmaceutical industry although price considerations have now caused users to turn either to clove leaf oil or else to synthetic eugenol. In the perfumery industry clove bud oil is used to provide a basic ‘sweet-spicy’ or `carnation’ effect in a variety of preparations including `men’s line’ fragrances; in the flavouring industry clove bud oil is often used as an ingredient in meat products, snack products, baked products and con fectionery.

The quality of the dried spice is primarily assessed on its appearance, size and the content and aroma character of its volatile oil. Dried cloves should be free of mustiness and mould and the best prices are obtained for whole dried cloves of a good bold size with a bright, uniform reddish-brown colour.

The quality of the dried spice is influenced by a number of factors which include the care taken in the harvesting, drying, cleaning and sorting operations and the conditions used for storage.

Termites never attack mature healthy trees, but will damage roots and stems of trees in a moribund condition. The red tree ant, Oecophylla longinoda Latr., known in Zanzibar as maji-ya-moto (`hot water’), is a serious nuisance in a clove plantation. It makes large nests about 15 cm in diameter by manipulating its larvae to sew the leaves together. The very active, pugnacious workers move up and down the trunk and limbs on foraging expeditions.

Prior to drying, the buds are removed from the stems and this operation is normally done on a suitable clean floor, such as a coconut mat. The buds are detached relatively easily from the pedicels by holding the cluster in one hand and pressing it against the palm of the other with a slight twisting movement. The clove buds and the stems are piled in separate heaps for later individual drying. A preliminary sorting of the buds may be undertaken at this stage to remove over-ripe cloves and gleanings of fallen flowers. Drying is undertaken as soon as possible after the buds have been separated from the clusters, as if the buds are left too long in heaps they will ferment and the dried spice has a whitish shrivelled appearance (`khoker cloves’).

Clove leaf oil is distilled from the whole leaves and twigs of the clove tree. Distillation takes place mainly in the clove-growing areas of northeastern Madagascar, but also in recent years in Indonesia. The major demand for leaf oil is as a raw material for the isolation of eugenol, but it is also employed in perfumery and pharmacy.

The following borers have been recorded: Chrysotypus mabilianum Viette, by Frappa (1954) and Dubois and Ranaivosoa (1966) in Madagascar, the caterpillars of which, until controlled, did considerable damage by tunnelling in the shoots and branches and causing a die- back; Chelidonium brevicorne Schwarzer, a beetle, and Paralecta antistola Meyr., a moth, in Malaya by Miller (1931); Hexamitodera semivelulina Hell. and Nothopeus fasciatipennis Waterhouse, longicorn beetles, in Indonesia by Kalshoven (1936); and Nothopeus hemipterus Oliv. in Indonesia by Franssen (1937). The clove chafer, Idaecamenta eugeniae Arrow, is found on the roots in Zanzibar, but Kirkpatrick (1932) considers that it is present in insufficient numbers to cause much damage.

There is much debate surrounding the origins of Valentine’s Day. Many historians argue that it is linked to the Greco-Roman holiday Lupericalia, that was a celebration of romantic love, while other’s argue that Valentine’s Day was adopted from Chaucer’s poem, “The Love Birds.” But the origins of Valentine’s Day don’t matter if your forget to buy your significant other a bouquet of flowers on this special day.

Traditionally, one opts for vibrant red roses or less common white varieties. However, a smart boyfriend will realize that there are a great many other sorts of blossoms to select from. If you look into the significances of the various blooms going back to the Victorian Era, you can assemble a lovely and truly memorable bouquet of Valentines flowers for the one you love.

Petunias tell someone that their presences soothes you, orange blossoms are a symbol of marriage (this makes this flower very appropriate for presenting during a proposal), and phlox tells someone that “our souls are united”. The lily are elegant flowers which tells someone that your love is honorable, pure of heart, and majestic but use caution as the orange lily is interpreted to be a sign of hatred. Spanish jasmine represents sensuality, the purple hyacinth begs forgiveness, hibiscus tells someone that you are consumed by their love and beauty. Pure love is represented by white carnations.

Along with the bouquet, you could send a small note explaining its relevance and your reason for having selected a particular flower. A note like this could do wonders if accompanied by her favorite flower, if you know what it is. You must avoid sending asphodel which represents grief, striped carnation which stands for refusal in love, yellow chrysanthemum representing slighted love, oleander for caution, or rhododendron for danger, in addition to the orange lily mentioned before.

A benefit of deciding to do this is a substantial savings, since roses become much more costly and hard to locate at the last moment around the holiday, which is not true of all those other blossoms. You will seem romantic either way, as long as you show that you have noted her preferences in varieties and colors. When you put in a little extra effort, you demonstrate that your gift of Valentines Day flowers represents your loving feelings and not just a sense of obligation.

While you may want to deliver the bouquet in person as it is the most romantic thing to do, a delivered bouquet also has its own advantages since it imparts the recipient that moment of glory at the workplace. However, a timely delivery is of utmost importance since if a Valentines Day flowers delivery arrives on the fifteenth of February irrespective of the meaning associated, will lose all its significance.