358 SPICES 



CHAP. X 



those of the Malabar cardamom, and have a strong 

 aromatic taste. 



It was known as early as 1605, and Clusius affirms 

 it was the true amomum of the ancients. It was 

 valued as a rare drug, but gradually got scarcer till it 

 practically disappeared from trade by the end of the 

 eighteenth century; but in 1853, when Siam was 

 opened up to commerce, large quantities were thrown 

 on the market, but were not appreciated, and soon 

 ceased to come. 



In 1857, 47 bags, imported from Bangkok, were 

 offered for sale, and bought at Is. 6d. per Ib. 



The shipments from Bangkok in 1871 amounted to 

 4,678 piculs (623,733 Ibs.), all of which went to Singa- 

 pore and China. In 1875, 267 piculs were valued at 

 45,140 dollars, about $1'25 per Ib. 



It was in cultivation in the Botanic Gardens, 

 Singapore, some years ago, and flowered, but did not 

 fruit. There seems to be little demand now, even 

 among natives, for this spice. 



LITERATURE 



WHITE, D. " A Botanical Description and Natural History I of the Malabar 



Cardamom." Trans. Linn. Soc. voL x. p. 229. 

 FERGUSON, A. M. and J. All about Cardamoms. 

 OWEN, T. C. Notes on Cardamom Cultivation, Colombo, 1901. 

 ELLIOT. Experiences of a Planter in the Jungles of Mysore (1871). 

 MOLLISON, J. W. " Cardamom Cultivation in the Bombay Presidency." 



Agric. Ledger, 1900, No. 11. 



ESTIMATES 

 By T. C. OWEN 



Estimate of expenditure and returns on 25 acres of cardamoms, 

 managed from an adjoining estate : 



