CARDAMOMS 329 



fruits at a higher elevation than the Malabar one. The 

 general idea seems to be that cardamoms are typical 

 hill plants, and that a certain altitude must be selected 

 for their cultivation. That altitude, apart from the acci- 

 dental circumstances of difference in temperature and 

 possible rainfall, has a distinct influence on plant life in 

 the tropics seems clear, but the cause of this is at 

 present obscure. 



Wild Cultivation. In the early days of cardamom 

 cultivation, if cultivation it can be called, the system 

 in Malabar, and also in Ceylon, was merely a system of 

 helping the wild cardamoms of the forest to increase in 

 numbers, and to produce large crops by clearing away 

 the forest round them. This system seems to be still 

 adopted in Coorg. 



It is described by White in the paper previously 

 quoted thus : 



The months of February and March are, on account of the 

 prevailing dry weather (in Malabar), selected as the most proper 

 for commencing their labours ; the first part of which consists 

 in cutting down the large and small trees, promiscuously leaving 

 of the former, standing at nearly equal distances, certain tall 

 and stately individuals, adapted to that degree of perpendicular 

 shade which experience teaches them to be the most favourable 

 for the future crops. They affirm, and with some reason, that 

 no little exactness is required in hitting this prolific medium, 

 for as too much sun burns up, so does excessive shade alike 

 disappoint the hope of harvest. The grass and weeds are 

 then cleared away, and the ground disencumbered from the 

 roots of brushwood ; the large trees lie where they fall. The 

 shrubs, roots, and grass are piled up in different small heaps, 

 and their spontaneous and gradual decomposition fertilises the 

 space they cover. 



He notes here that Pennant's statement that the 

 ground is manured by the ashes of the rubbish when 

 burnt is an error. It is obvious, indeed, that if the 

 cardamom seed and rhizomes were already in the ground 

 there would be a great risk of destroying them if fire 

 were used, unless with great care in definite spots. The 

 decomposition of the weeds and shrubs in situ, though 



