CINNAMON AND CARDAMOMS. 107 



" The camphqr of commerce is prepared from the wood by 

 boiling the chopped branches in water, when after some time 

 the camphor becomes deposited, and is purified by sublimation." 

 The wood of the tree is sometimes used for making cabinets for 

 the preservation of articles liable to injury by moths and 

 insects. 



cardamoms. For the higher lands, at elevations of 1,500 feet 

 to 2,000 feet, this spice plant could be tried with every prospect 

 of its cultivation being attended with success. 



All that is necessary for this cultivation is, to underbush a 

 suitable piece of forest, felling a tree here and there to let in a 

 certain amount of air and light. 



The cardamom plants, having much the habit of wild ginger, 

 may then be put out at distances ranging from 6 to 8 feet 

 apart. They require little cultivation beyond keeping the 

 ground clear of rank-growing weeds. The flowers and fruit, 

 the latter being small straw-coloured pods about half-an-inch 

 long, are generally produced close to the ground, the wide- 

 spreading panicles resting on the litter of fallen leaves and 

 vegetable debris. The only preparation necessary with the crop 

 is to collect the pods w.hen ripe, and dry them in the sun, 

 when they are ready for the market. 



The return per acre from cardamoms is variously estimated 

 at from 100 to 170 Ibs. of cardamom pods, worth 3s. to 4s. 

 ]>er Ib. Seeds of cardamoms can be obtained in quantities 

 from Ceylon and Southern India (Malabar). 



Black Pepper. In many portions of the west and central 

 districts, I came across vines of an indigenous pepper, closely 

 resembling the ordinary black pepper of commerce. The aroma 

 of the seeds, and indeed the general appearance of the plant, 

 reminded me strongly of. this valuable East Indian spice plant. 



I have little doubt that the true black pepper could be grown 



