SGITAMINE^. 429 



Besides the two Indian cardamoms, there is a large kind of 

 cardamom which comes from Ceylon, now found in commerce. 



Dr. 



of 



/ 



Ekttaria cardamonnan. 3Iatoiij var* major — tlie Ensdl of the 



Singhalese. 

 As a mi 



Malabar 



small cardamom is preferred by the natives, but the other 

 kinds, which are cheaper and of less delicate flavour, are largely 

 used by the sweetmeat makers. 



CiiUivation. — There are two ways of propagating the plant, 

 viz., by sets or by seed. The chief requirements for successful 

 cultivation are a rich loamy soil, and a site sheltered from 

 strong winds and too much direct sunlight. Clearings in 

 forest land, with a few trees left here and there, in order to 

 give the requisite shade and shelter, are found to offer the best 

 conditions for the production of good crops. In the planting 

 of sets, young ones of one to two years old should be chosen. 

 Holes one foot deep and 18 inches wide are dug, and into these, 

 after they have been prepared as beds, raised a few inches 

 above the surrounding ground, the sets are inserted Just below 

 the surface of the soil. 



The spaces between each plant may be from 6 to 12 feet, 

 according to the quality of the soil. The ground should be 

 well cleared of weeds, stones and rubbish, but when the plants 

 have grown to a certain size, no further weeding will be necessary, 

 as nothing will grow under their shade. Seeds should be sown 

 in prepared nurseries, care being taken not to sow too deep. 

 The seedlings, when 6 to 8 inches in height, should be 

 transplanted and treated in the same manner as sets. {Did. 

 JScon. Prod. hid. iii., p. 229). For the particulars of 

 cardamom cultivation in the Wynaad, Travancore, Mysore, 

 Madura, Coorg, and Canara, the same work may be 

 consulted. To prepare cardamoms for the market, they are 

 washed, bleached, and starched. For washing, 2 lbs. of pounded 

 soapnuts and } lb. of Acacia concinna pods are mixed with about 



