VIII 



PEPPERS 267 



After about six months, or even earlier, the flower 

 spikes begin to appear and are removed at once. The 

 pepper gardeners prevent sporadic fruiting, which may 

 occur at any time during the life of the vine, in order 

 to concentrate on the proper annual crop. It is recom- 

 mended to cut or break off these flower spikes in the 

 early morning or during the rainy season. 



When the vines are about a year old, those destined 

 to supply cuttings for an extension of the plantation 

 are pruned so as to have a single main shoot. This is 

 allowed to grow for six months more and is then cut off, 

 being used for propagating. 



Manuring. The chief manure used is burnt earth, 

 which is applied from time to time during the growth 

 of the vine. The method of making burnt earth has 

 already been described. It is dug in or thrown upon 

 the mound on which the pepper vine is growing, but 

 should not be allowed actually to touch the vine itself. 

 The exact action of burnt earth on the plant does not 

 seem very clear, but it is suggested that the half-burnt 

 earth absorbs the product of distillation of the burnt 

 wood, chiefly in the form of ammonia. 



Where, as in the Straits Settlements and Sumatra, 

 the cultivation of gambir is carried on with that of the 

 pepper, it is the custom of the Chinese to throw the 

 used leaves of the gambir on the ground between the 

 pepper posts and to spread them about. This shades 

 the soil from the intense heat of the sun, and protects 

 the roots of the pepper from getting burnt, also acting 

 as manure. Where there is no gambir, cultivated 

 lalang-grass is cut and thrown thickly on the ground 

 between the posts. 



When procurable, the Chinese also use as manure 

 " prawn-dust." This is the shells of the prawns used 

 in the manufactory of the condiment known to the 

 Malays as " Belachan," a kind of shrimp-paste eaten 

 with curry. Of this ^ catty (about \ Ib.) is applied 

 to the base of the vines the first year in preparation 

 for the first crop, and also later during the life of the 



