410 Remarks on tJie Culture of Exotic Vegetables. 



be marked out for planting the divided tubers of this plant in 

 any warm and sheltered situation ; and for this purpose the 

 more secluded and shaded parts of the garden may be chosen, 

 provided the roots of the surrounding trees do not rob the 

 surface too much of its moisture, or will allow of beds of 

 decayed vegetable matter being formed above them, to the 

 depth of from nine to twelve inches. If the natural soil 

 should be of a loamy or clayey nature, it must be nearly all 

 removed, and a soil composed entirely of vegetable matter 

 substituted, incorporating with it a portion of the soil from 

 the bottom, and adding sand, if necessary. 



The sets must be taken from those parts of the tuber which 

 have the strongest eyes, or the rudiments of the future stem. 

 Those sets are to be planted in the beds at nine inches distance 

 from each other, and covered with about two inches of earth ; 

 after planting, the beds must be covered with decayed leaves 

 to the depth of three inches ; this covering will keep the 

 plants warm, and sufficiently moist to render the application 

 of water less necessary. 



The medicinal properties of turmeric are aromatic, tonic, 

 discussive, and heating. 



This plant is a native of the East Indies, and has been 

 long since introduced to the colony. 



ZINGEBER officinale. Ginger. Gember. 



The same treatment as recommended for the turmeric, will 

 also answer for the growth of this plant ; but its tubers being 

 adapted to various other uses, a quicker vegetation is desired 

 in them. 



For the purpose of preserving, the tubers of the ginger 

 must be taken up before they have attained their full growth; 

 they will then be tender, and the conserve destitute of the 

 threads which distinguish the East from the West Indian 

 preserves. 



The black and the white ginger is of one and the same 

 species ; the former becomes black from being taken up at its 

 full growth, scalded, and hastily dried in the sun ; the white 

 is also taken up at maturity, carefully washed, scraped, and 

 dried. 



Ginger is heating, aromatic, stomachic, cordial; in infu- 

 sion, diaphoretic. The dried powder and extract, taken in- 

 wardly, relieves the most violent paroxysms of the gout. 



This plant was introduced previous to 1700. 



MARANTA arundimacea. Arrow-root. Monandria Mo- 

 nogynia, Linn, and Nat. Ord. Cannes, Brown. 



Precisely the same methods as recommended for the growth 



