of tlie Malabar Cardamom. 241 



The length of 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 dungalli/, a measure of ca- 

 pacity equal to four pints Winchester. 



The number of plants in an Ela-Kandy they never think of 

 reckoning. It struck nic, 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 fiowering season, which commences on the 

 first fall of the rains in April and May, and continues for two 

 months. Tlie flower being very delicate, and the recumbent and 

 repent posture of the fruit-panicles, exposes them particularly to 

 the bad effects 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 

 a very general contrast betwixt the Cardamom and Pepper crops. 

 'J'he seasons favourable to the groat produce of the latter arc 

 found to be adverse to the former, and vice versA. 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 protract the final gathering till the middle of December. 



About 



