524 GINGER; TURMERIC; CARDAMOM. 



dug up whilst in sap, the stalks not being then more than five 

 or six inches long. For this purpose, the young roots are scalded, 

 then washed in cold water, and afterwards carefully peeled. 

 They ,are then soaked for three or four days, during which the 

 water is frequently changed ; and being subsequently put into 

 jars, a weak syrup is poured over them, which is afterwards 

 exchanged for a stronger one, and so on for two or three 

 times. The manner of cultivating ginger is extremely simple, 

 requiring little care; it is propagated with as much ease, and 

 nearly in the same manner, as potatoes are in Great Britain. 

 Other species of this tribe are valued for their spicy qualities ; 

 such as the Turmeric Plant, formerly mentioned as yielding a 

 beautiful yellow dye (. 397), of which the powdered root-stock is 

 one of the constant ingredients, with ginger, cardamoms, and 

 other spices, in the celebrated curry-powders of the East Indies. 

 The seeds also of some species, as the Cardamom, are aromatic, 

 and are employed in medicine as cordials. The rhizoma of almost 

 every plant in this order contains a large quantity of starch, 

 which might be employed in the same manner as Arrow-root ; 

 but it is difficult to separate this in such a manner, as to free it 

 from the pungent and resinous secretions with which it is inter- 

 mixed. 



700. The order MARANTACE^E, or Arrow-root tribe, is so nearly 

 allied to Scitaminese, that some Botanists have associated them. 

 They are, however, distinguished by a variation in the position 

 of the fertile stamen in the flower, a character which, as it is 

 constant, is of great botanical importance, although apparently 

 trifling ; and there is also a difference in the structure of the seed. 

 The properties also of the two orders are very distinct; for 

 whilst, in the former, the secretions have universally a pungent 

 stimulating character, they are destitute of any peculiarity in the 

 present one ; so that the large quantity of fecula contained in 

 their rhizomas may be separated in a very pure state. The plant 

 from which Arrow-root is ordinarily derived is a native of South 

 America ; but it is now much cultivated in the West Indies, and 

 in some parts of Hindostan. It rises to the height of two or 



