SARSAPARILLA AND OIL PLANTS. 109 



obtained from the root of Curcuma longa, an East Indian plant 

 belonging to the same family as the ginger. The powdered root 

 forms one of the chief ingredients in the preparation of Indian 

 curry-stuff, or curry-powder, to which it imparts its yellowish 

 hue. 



Plants of turmeric can easily be obtained from Jamaica, 

 where it is completely naturalised in the warmer portions of the 

 island. 



sarsapariiia. Fine specimens of this valuable medicinal 

 plant were met with wild, in the woods of the western districts, 

 and I have no doubt that if systematically cultivated it would 

 prove very remunerative. 



It has much the habit of the common yam, and requires 

 similar treatment. 



In Jamaica, the plants, mostly seedlings, are put out at 

 about 20 feet apart, and trained to stakes or trellises. 



They begin to yield crop, consisting of the roots washed and 

 dried in the sun, in about two or two-and-a-half years. 



The first crop is said to yield as much as 20 Ibs. of dried 

 roots per plant ; the second 30 to 40 Ibs. per plant. 



At the present price of sarsapariiia, the gross return is 

 estimated at 30s. per plant, or per acre at about 50. 



It may be mentioned that most of the sarsapariiia exported 

 from British Honduras is obtained from the neighbouring 

 Republics. There is, however, no reason, whatever, why a large 

 trade may not be developed from sarsapariiia, partly collected 

 from wild plants in the woods, as well as from plants under 

 systematic cultivation. Plants are easily raised from seed, 

 which is abundant during certain seasons in the woods. 



on Plants. Among the numerous class of oil plants for 

 which the colony is adapted mention might be made of the 

 wanglo (Sesamum orientate), which is already cultivated to a 



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