5H 
- 
entire, fmooth, feven-nerved, of a dark green colour, and ftand at the 
joints of the branches upon ftrong fbeath-iike footftalks : the flowers 
are fmall, white, and produced in terminal fpikes : th 
al\ 
filaments alio are wanting : the two anthene 
o 
fe 
difli, and placed oppofitely at the bafe of the germ en : the 
germen is ovate, upon which ftand three' rough ftig 
ityle : the fruit is a iingle-valved berry, containing oi 
This fpecies of Pepper grows fpontaneoufly in the Eaft Indies, but 
does not arrive at perfe&ion without the aid of culture. It is cultivated 
with fuch fuccefs in Malacca, Java, and efpecially at Sumatra, that 
from thefe iflands Pepper is exported to every part of the worlds 
where a regular commerce has been eftablifhed. 
~ According to Mr. Marfden, 3 the ground chofen by the Sumatrans 
for a Pepper garden, is marked out into regular fquares of fix feet, 
the intended diftance of the plants, of which there are ufually a 
thoufand in each garden. The next bufinefs is to plant the chinka- 
reens, which ferve as props to the Pepper vines, and are cuttings of 
a tree of that name, which is of quick growth. When the chinka- 
reen has been fome months planted, the mofl promifing perpendicular 
ihoot is referved for growth, and the others lopped off; this fhoot, 
after it has acquired two fathoms in height, is deemed fufheiently 
high, and its top is cut off. Two Pepper vines are ufually planted 
to one chinkareen, round which the vines twill for fupport; and' after 
being fufTered to grow three years (by which time they acquire eight 
or twelve feet in height) they are cut off about three feet from the 
ground, and being loofened from the prop are bent into the earth in 
fuch a manner that the upper end is returned to the root. This 
operation gives frefh vigour to the plants, and they bear fruit plen- 
tifully the enfuing feafon. The fruit, which is produced in long 
fpikes, is four or five months in coming to maturity : the berries are 
at firfl green, turn to a bright red when ripe and in perfection, and 
foon fall off if not gathered in proper time. As the whole duller 
does not ripen at the fame time, part of the berries would be loft in 
waiting for the latter ones; the Sumatrans therefore pluck the bunches 
as foon as any of the berries ripen, and fpread them to dry upon 
upon the ground. By drying they become black, and 
Ok 
See /• c. />. 107 
9 
ov 
