In the cultivation of the Pepper, moist situations along 
the banks of rivers are preferred, where Pepper-plantations 
or gardens, as they are termed, are formed. In Sumatra, 
where, according to Marspen, the most important and most 
abundant article of commerce is Pepper, the ground is 
marked out in the form of a regular square or oblong, with 
intersections throughout, at the distance of six feet, (being 
equal to five cubits of the measure of the country,) the 
intended interval between the plants, of which there are 
commonly either one thousand or five hundred in each 
garden: the former number being required from those who 
are heads of families, (their wives and children assisting 
them in the work,) and the latter from single men. Indus- 
trious or opulent persons, have sometimes gardens of two, 
or three thousand vines. A border, twelve feet in width, 
within which limit no tree is suffered to grow, surrounds 
each garden, and is commonly separated from others by a 
row of shrubs, or an irregular hedge. When the nature of 
the country admits of it, the whole or greater part of the 
gardens of a dusun or village lie adjacent to each other, 
both for the convenience of mutual assistance in labour, 
and mutual protection from wild beasts; single gardens 
being often abandoned from apprehension of their ravages, 
and where the owner has been killed in such a situation, — 
none will venture to replace him. After lining out the 
Sround, and marking the intersections by slight stakes, 
the next business is to plant the trees that are to become 
Props to the Pepper, as the Romans planted Elms, and the 
Modern Italians more commonly set Poplars and Mul- 
berries, for their Grape Vines. These are cuttings of the 
hinkariang (Eryrarina Corallodendron), usually called 
Chinkareens, put into the ground about a span deep, suffi- 
ciently early to allow time for a shoot to be strong enough 
to support the young Pepper plant, when it comes to twine 
about it. The cuttings are commonly two feet in length, 
ut sometimes a preference is given to the length of six 
feet, and the Vine is then planted as soon as the Chinkareen 
has taken root ; but the principal objections to this method 
are, that in such a state they are very liable to fail and 
require renewal, to the prejudice of the garden, and that 
their shoots are not so vigorous as those of the short cut- 
lings, frequently growing crooked, or ina lateral, instead of 
a perpendicular direction. The circumstances which render — 
the Chinkareen peculiarly proper for this use are, 1ts readi- : 
hess and quickness of growth, even after the cuttings have 
