396 SPICES 



CHAP. 



that it was deficient in organic matter, lime, phosphoric 

 acid, and sodium. Various market fertilisers produced 

 no favourable results. Stable manure and bat guano, 

 from the island caves, were also a failure. The use of 

 a marl, when mixed with stable manure, was a partial 

 success. The Society experimented on a limited area 

 of worn-out ground, upon which a check experiment 

 gave no return, and obtained by a suitable compost a 

 crop equivalent to 2,500 Ibs. per acre, and of a product 

 of extraordinary size and quality. The fertiliser which 

 produced such results was a mixture of marl with a 

 compost of about 10 per cent of soluble phosphates, 

 ammonia, and potash salts. 



Preparation of the Soil. The mode of preparing 

 the soil depends to a considerable extent upon the 

 actual conditions of the climate, and the planter must 

 use his judgment as to the most suitable method. 



In any case the soil must be broken up fine, either 

 with hoe or plough, and if possible harrowed afterwards. 



In Bengal, according to the Eeport of the Director 

 of the Agricultural Department for 1886, the ground is 

 ploughed in March or April, after every fall of rain, and 

 altogether receives twelve or thirteen ploughings. It 

 is then levelled, and water-channels are made in order 

 to irrigate the ground. The water-channels are made 

 from 60 to 80 ft. apart, and connected by smaller 

 ones running at right angles to the main channels, 

 about 8 ft. apart. 



Planting. Ginger is always grown from cuttings 

 of the rhizome. Seeds of the plant seem absolutely 

 unknown. The joints of the rhizome each contain an 

 " eye," that is to say a bud, and from these buds the 

 plant grows. Often the portions of the rhizomes cut 

 off in peeling the ginger are used as stock. Frequently, 

 however, a proportion of the crop is retained for planting 

 stock. The cuttings should be from 1 to 2 in. long. 



Planting in India and the West Indies generally 

 takes place in March and April, but sometimes later, 

 till June. This really depends on the time of occurrence 



