XIII 



GINGER 407 



pubescence. The larva is like a miniature chafer-grub. 

 It tunnels through the ginger, and eventually pupates 

 therein. It does not confine itself to ginger, but eats 

 all kinds of spices, herbs, drugs, leather, etc. This 

 beetle and other such pests are destroyed by enclosing 

 the produce attacked in a closely covered tank, and 

 putting some carbon bisulphide in the tank, the fumes 

 of which in a few hours kill the insects. 



RETURNS OF CROP 



The yield of rhizome varies to a certain extent with 

 the nature of the soil, as well as with the amount of 

 care taken in its cultivation. The rainfall and sunshine 

 also are important factors not only in the growth, but 

 also in the value of the crop when gathered. In seasons 

 of excessive rain at the time of digging the roots, it 

 may be impossible to dry the rhizomes by sun heat, and 

 they may suffer much from mildew. 



In Jamaica the average yield is estimated at from 

 1,000 to 1,500 Ibs. of dried ginger per acre, and in excep- 

 tional cases 2,000 Ibs. has been obtained (Kilmer). In 

 Bengal the yield is given as 40 to 60 maunds (1,000 

 to 1,500 Ibs.) per bigha (1,600 square yards), and in 

 the Punjab a good crop is 32 maunds (700 Ibs.) per 

 bigha. 



A writer in the Queensland Agricultural Journal, 

 1906, p. 451, gives the returns as 1,000 to 1,500 Ibs. 

 per acre, and says that 2,000 Ibs. are often obtained. 



COST OF CULTIVATION 



The exact cost of producing the crop is not easy to 

 give an estimate of, as the expenses of labour, manuring, 

 land, etc. vary so much in different parts of the world. 

 Some estimates from various sources may be given as 

 assisting in forming some idea as to its cost. 



In Jamaica (from Kilmer's figuresj, per acre : 



