AMOMUM ZINGIBER. ORD. XLV. Scitaminece. 733 
this country by Mr. P. Miller,‘ and is still carefully cultivated in 
the dry stoves of the curious. The flowers have a sweet fragrant 
smell, and the leaves and stalks, especially when bruised, also emit 
a faint spicy odour, but the hot acrid aromatic taste is entirely 
confined to the root. 
“ In Jamaica Ginger attains its full height, and flowers about 
August or Septeniber, and fades about the close of the year. When 
the stalks are entirely withe the roots are in a proper state for 
digging: this is generally ee ee and 
February. After being dug, they are picked, cleansed, and 
gradually seethed, or scalded in boiling water; they are then 
spread out, and exposed every day to the sun, till sufficiently 
dried; and after being divided into parcels of about 100 Ib. 
weight each, they are packed in bags for the market: this is 
called the Black Ginger.”* White Ginger is the root of the same 
plant, but instead of the roots being scalded, by which they acquire 
the dark appearance of the former, each root is picked, scraped, 
separately washed, and afterwards dried with great care; of course 
more than a double expense of labour is incurred, and the market 
price is iia cable greater.* Black Ginger of its 
essential oil by in boiling water;* on this 
account it is less safe for medical and other purposes than the 
white, which is always good when perfectly sound and free from 
worm-holes: but that imported from the East-Indies is stronger 
than any we have from Jamaica. Ginger gives out its virtues 
perfectly to rectified spirit, and in a great measure to water. 
According to Lewis,‘ its active principles are of a remarkably 
© Aiton’s Hort. Kewen. 
4 Long’s History of Jamaica, p. 700. , 
2 shins remarks also, ** Rubrz speciei radices crassiores sunt, magisque 
nodose, externe plerumque cinerea primum, atque su c purpurea rubente 
obduct# pellicula, uti & ipsarum caro ad oras rubet, &c. 1. c. 
« We mention this on the authority of Jacquin, vide Hort. Vindob. vol. 1, No. 75. 
£ Mat. Med. Ackin’s edition, p, 678. 
No. 52.—vou. 4, 8 z 
