116 ODOROGEAPHIA. 



scape, varying in length from Ih to '2h feet, on which the fruit is 

 produced in the form of capsules arranged in an alternate manner 

 at a distance of 2J inches from each other. In its natural climate 

 and soil, a sandy loam devoid of clay, the plant begins to bear in 

 the second year, and yields a full crop in the fourth year. Owing 

 to the larcre amount of moisture contained in the vec^etable tissue 

 of the capsules, one pound of the green fruit reduces down to one 

 quarter and sometimes one-fifth of a pound when fully dried. 

 Each stalk, as it completes its functions in bringing its scape to 

 maturity, is succeeded by another stalk sprouting from the parent 

 root, which begins to bear in the course of a year ; and in this 

 order the growth proceeds with successive renovations until the 

 plant attains its ultimate span of existence, the extent or duration 

 of which is not accurately known to the writer." " The process 

 cardamoms are put through, called " bleaching," is a tedious one, 

 and if left to agents, particularly costly. It is done by exposing 

 them to the fumes of sulphur in closed receptacles, a process which 

 has the effect of transforming their dingy grey into a delicate pale 

 straw colour. This may be called one of the tricks of the trade, 

 which, while perhaps it may not appreciably deteriorate or detract 

 from the quality or flavour of the grains, captivates the public eye 

 and secures a better price." 



As regards the " bleaching " of cardamoms, Watt, in his 

 "Dictionary of the Economic products of India," iii. p. 233, 

 explains the matter very differently : he says, " Though local 

 taste appears to prefer them unbleached, a good market is found 

 for doctored cardamoms as far as Bombay and Bangalore, and for 

 this purpose a considerable proportion of the cardamoms produced 

 in Kanara is taken to Haveri and Dharwar to be bleached with 

 the aid of the water in the well which is supposed to have the 

 virtues of bleaching and improving the flavour of this fruit. The 

 well belongs to a Jangam or Ling-ayat priest. He makes no charge 

 for its use, though it is said he receives voluntary presents from 

 the cardamom dealers. With a view to ascertain whether this 

 well had really the virtues ascribed to it, samples of its water 

 w^ere subjected to analysis by Dr. Lyon, the Government Analyst 

 and Dr. Cooke, Principal of the College of vScience at Poona. Both 

 reported that the so-called virtues of the w^ater are totally fanciful 

 The result of their analysis is as follows : — 



