BOOK III. C II A P. VIII. 701 



100 lb. wt. each, they are packed in bags fur the market: this is called 

 the black ginger. The manner of fcalding the roots is as follows : a 

 large pot or copper is fixed in the field, or fome convenient place, 

 which is kept full of boiling water ; the picked ginger, being divided in 

 fmall parcels, is laid in balkets, and plunged alternately in the water, 

 where it is fufFered to ftay for a Ipace of ten or fifteen minutes; it is 

 then fpread on a platform for drying ; but care is taken during {he 

 proceis, to change the water fu loon as it becomes much impregnated 

 with the juices of the root. 



The white fort differs but little from the black roots. The difference 

 there is, ariles wholly from the methods 01 curing them ; the white is 

 never fcalded, but inliead of this ealy procefs, they are picked, fcraped, 

 and waflied, one at a time, and then dried ; all which requires too 

 much pains and time for any real advantage to be gained in the proper- 

 ties ; though, being made more agreeable to the eye, the price of the 

 white is much hii'her at market. 



When the root is intended for a fugar prefcrve, it is dug while lea- 

 der, and full of juice ; the ilems at this time rarely exceed five or fix 

 inches in height; the root is carefully picked, and vvafhed, and after- 

 wards fcalded^ till it is fufficiently tender ; it is then put in cold water^ 

 and peeled and fcraped gradually. This operation may laft three or 

 four days, during which it is commonly kept in w..tei-, and the water 

 frequently fhifted, as well for cleanlineis, as to extradl more of tlie na- 

 tive acrimony. After this preparation, it is laid in ungiazed jars, and 

 covered with a thin fyrup, which in two or three days is fhifted, and 

 a richer put on ; this is fometimes again removed, for a third, or 

 fourth ; but more than three are feldom requifite. The fhifted fyrups 

 are not loft, for in Jamaica they are diluted with water, and fermented 

 into a plea£ant liquor, called cool drink, with fome mixture of the 

 chaw-ftick, lignum vitae, and fugar. 



A ginger plantation, which fliould alfo contain fufTicient pafturage 

 and provifion, may require about 146 acres ; of which, 50 being al- 

 lowed for ginger, may produce about 1 40 lb. /"^t acre, in all 7000 lb. 

 wt., or 70 bags of 100 lb. each, which at 25 )■. currency /»«-• cwt., is 

 87/, 10 s. = 6x1. 10 J. llerllng. 



Bags, 



