40G 8CITAMINEM 



Gurcitma hucorhiza^ Roxb., a native of Behar. {Rosc^ SciLy 

 t 102.) 



Curcuma montana, Eosc.^ a native of tLe Concan and Circars. 

 {Itoxl), Cor, PL, f. 151.) 



Curcunia longUy Linn. The Turmeric plant. [Beutl. ^ Trim,, 



t. 209.) 



Curcuma aromatica, Salisb., a native of the plains of India. 

 [Base. Scityt ]03.) 



Curcuma rubescenSj Roxb., a nativ^e of Bengal. 



Hitchenia eaulina, Baker, a native of the Concan. [Jonrn. 

 Bomh. Nat. Hist. Soc, II., 140.) 



Vernacular. — Tikhur (ffind.y Beng.), Tavakhir {Mar.). 



History, Uses, &C. — Tavakshiri, and Tavakshiryeka- 

 pattrika are Sanskrit names for certain species of Curcuma, 

 from which are derived the vernacular terms Tavakhir and 

 Tikhur J now in common use for Curcuma starch. The starch is 

 prepared in many parts of India by grating or pounding the 

 tuberSj mixing the pulp thus obtained with water, straining it 

 through a cloth, and allowing the liquid to stand until the 

 starch separates. This, after several washings in water, is 

 dried in the sun, and after powdering is ready for use. 



The following account of the experimental cultivation of 

 C. angustifolia and of the preparation of its starch at the Saida- 

 pet Experimental Farm, Madras, gives the most exact inform- 

 ation we possess regarding the yield and cost of Curcuma Arrow- 

 root; — "A flat measuring 0*25 acre was planted with this crop 

 at the end of 1879, and remained down during the year under 

 report. It was taken up at the end of Januaiy 1881 and 

 yielded 986 lbs. of tubers, or at the rate of 3,944 lbs. per acre. 

 The yield of flour obtained has generally been about 12| lbs. 

 from 100 lbs. of tubers, so that the above yield would represent 

 an outturn of 493 lbs. of flour per acre. In another case in the 

 College Experimental Garden, a plot measuring 1,160 square 

 yai-ds, planted with this crop yielded 1,793 lbs., or at the rate 

 of 7,500 lbs. per acre. The cxdture of the plant is very simple : 

 it is only necessary to plant the sets in properly prepared soil, 



