264 SPICES 



CHAP. 



removed. This was the season of ploughing and padi-planting, 

 or, as will be inferred, the commencement of the rainy season, 

 and as the catkins or flower spikes are borne in the axils of 

 new growths, the vines would not be over-shaded in the growing 

 season. 



The Chinese in the south of the peninsula do not 

 use shade trees, but it must be remembered that tbe 

 dry season in Siam is much longer and more marked 

 than it is in the south of the peninsula. But even here 

 a light shade is certainly good for the pepper, as is 

 shown by the fact that it is necessary to throw waste 

 gambir leaves or cut grass over the pepper roots during 

 a dry spell to protect them from the great heat of the 

 sun. 



The mengkudu tree is a comparatively small one, 

 and never attains the bulk of an Erythrina. It is a 

 native of the Malay region, occurring commonly round 

 villages in a semi- wild condition. Its roots were formerly 

 used for a red or red-brown dye, obtained from the bark 

 of the larger roots. 



In Sir William Hunter's account of pepper cultiva- 

 tion in Penang in 1803, given as an appendix, he says 

 that the Chinese planters say that the pepper on 

 Erythrina lasts longer than that on Morinda and 

 gives some evidence to show the superiority of the 

 former. Erythrina certainly has the advantage of rapid 

 growth, and is easy to handle. It is also obtainable 

 all over the tropics and can be had in quantities. It 

 grows readily from seed, but it is for the purpose of 

 pepper-growing best propagated from cuttings. These 

 cuttings should be stout boughs cut into pieces, 3 ft. or 

 more long, and about 2 in. through. One good-sized 

 Erythrina will supply a considerable number, enough 

 for 1 acre or 2 at least. Its main objections seem to 

 me its smoothness of bark which the pepper cannot 

 always grip firmly, and its liability to die from wound 

 fungi. 



In Planting Opinion, 1899, p. 689, "Producer" 

 writes : " Till some fifteen years ago pepper was 



