of the Malabar Cardamom. 241 
The length ef the common string or stalk varies from four inches 
to eighteen, and is sometimes two feet; but these last ex- 
- tremes are not fertile in proportion. In. good years, from four to 
six plants will yield of dried pods one dungally, a measure of ca- 
pacity equal to four pints. Winchester. - epis 
The number of plants in an Ela-Kandy they never think of 
reckoning. It struck me, on traversing them repeatedly; that the 
largest plots might contain from twelve to fifteen hundred.. 
The abundance of crop, from every inquiry I could make, is 
best ensured by a moderate routine of weather, with respect to 
dry and wet: the extremes of each are injurious : they dread 
most; however, deluging rains, particularly for the young planta- 
tions, and during the flowering season, which commences on the 
first fall of the rains in April and May, and continues for two 
months. The flower being very delicate; and the recumbent and 
repent posture of the fruit-panicles, exposes them particularly. to 
the bad efféets of drenching moisture. Repeated torrents, de- 
scending from above, commit their devastation by baring the 
roots, and sweeping away the finest portion of the mould, which 
furnishes a nutriment so essential to the vigour of the plants. 
What tends to- confirm this statement is, that the natives remark 
à very general contrast betwixt the Cardamom.and: Pepper crops. 
T'he seasons favourable to the great produce of the latter are 
found to be adverse to the former, and vice versd. Now it is well 
known, that, in the early part of the season, the rains cannot be 
too copious for the Pepper vine. In August and September, the 
pods increase and acquire the greatest size. In the first half of 
October, they begin to ripen; then the gathering of the earlier 
part commences; the reaping proceeds through all that month 
and November. A longer than usual continuance of the rainy sea- 
son may protraet the final gathering till the middle of December. 
Gor About 
