722 ORD. XLIV. Piperite. PIPER NIGRUM, 
spikes: there is no regular calyx nor corolla: the filaments also 
are wanting: the two anther are roundish, and placed oppositely 
at the base of the germen: the germen is ovate, upon which stand 
three rough stigmata: there is no style: the fruit is a single-valved 
berry, containing one round seed, 
This species of Pepper grows spontaneously in the East Indies, 
but does not arrive at perfection without the aid of culture. It is 
cultivated with such success at Malacca, Java, and especially at 
Sumatra, that from these islands Pepper is exported to every part 
of the world, where a regular commerce has been established. 
According to Mr. Marsden,* the ground chosen by the Sumatrans 
for a Pepper garden, is marked out into regular squares of six feet, 
the intended distance of the plants, of which there are usually a 
thousand in n each_garden. The next business is to plant the 
‘chinkareens, which serve as props to the Pepper vines, and are 
cuttings of a tree of that name, which is of quick growth. When 
the chinkareen has been some months planted, the most promising 
‘perpendicular shoot is reserved for growth, and the others lopped 
off; this shoot, after it hds acquired two fathoms in height, is — 
deemed sufficiently high, and its top is cut off. Two Pepper vines 
are usually planted to one chinkareen, round which the vines twist 
for support; and after being suffered 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 loosened from the 
prep are bent into the earth in such a manner that the upper end 
is returned to the root. This operation gives fresh vigour to the 
plants, and they bear fruit plentifully the ensuing season. The 
fruit, which is produced in long spikes, is four or five months in 
coming to maturity: the berries are at first green, turn to a bright 
red when ripe and in perfection, and soon fall off if not gathered 
in proper time. As the whole cluster does not ripen at the same 
time, part of the berries would be lost in waiting for the latter 
ones; the Sumatrans therefore pluck the bunches as soon as any of 
* See /. c. p. 107. 
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