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them. There are no seed-hearing spice trees in Fiji, 

 and however well suited these islands may naturally 

 be for their growth, the cultivation of them will not 

 be extensive until the trees hear seeds in the colony. 

 No doubt this is the case with every new species of 

 plant that is introduced. But while the plants are 

 growing time is not lost. It gives intending planters 

 leisure to think. Many erroneous ideas arc exploded ; 

 a great deal of information and experience is gained 

 as to the kind of cultivation the newly-introduced 

 plants require ; kind of soil and situation that suits 

 them best ; most efficient method of manufacturing 

 or preparing the produce for market ; and in this way 

 the enterprise is taken beyond the region of hazardous 

 speculation or experiment. 



The cultivation of ginger (zingiber officinalis) has 

 lately been tried in Fiji. The plant will thrive ; but 

 as yet planters are only feeling their way as to its 

 proper treatment, and the preparation of the produce 

 for market. There is a native ginger (zingiber zer- 

 umbet), but it is of no market value, as its rhizomes 

 have an unpleasant flavour. 



Several species of piper (pepper plant), are found 

 wild in Fiji. None of them yield a product of any 

 value. The colony is eminently adapted for the 

 cultivation of the pepper plant (piper nigrum). 

 A few plants of it have been introduced, and although 

 the stock can be easily increased by cuttings, igno- 

 rance as to the cultivation of the plant, and the 

 manner of preparing the berries for market, will be 

 a draw-back for some time to come. 

 / Piper methysticum agona is grown to some 

 extent by the natives (chiefly round their houses), 

 for making their favourite beverage agona 



