414 



SPICES 



CHAP. 



self. After some difficulties in drying he managed to 

 prepare samples which were attractive in appearance, 

 and of good colour and flavour. Messrs. Lewis and 

 Peat reported that it was good, plump, white, part hard 

 and part soft, and valued at 40s. to 42s. per cwt. 

 Messrs. W. and D. Harvest valued it at 34s. to 36s. 

 per cwt., and considered it very inferior to the ordinary 

 East Indian ginger, or to that produced in the island of 

 Jamaica, being rather hard and unsuitable for many pur- 

 poses for which ginger is used. It much resembled that 

 from Japan. Shortly after this correspondence passed, a 

 note on this ginger appeared in the Pharmaceutical 

 Journal, March 26, 1892, p. 802, by Mr. E. H. Gane. 

 This stated that it was " remarkable for its exceeding 

 fine aroma and peculiar pleasant taste, recalling that of 

 lemon," though it was not of such fine appearance as the 

 Jamaica ginger. The rhizomes, which had been carefully 

 dried, as was evidenced by the small amount of moisture 

 present, were rather more fibrous that that of Jamaica, 

 and some of the pieces were heavy and resinous, but 

 otherwise the colour appeared similar. Its powder is 

 of slightly darker colour than a fine Jamaica ginger, 

 but about the same colour as the commercial article and, 

 therefore, much lighter than either Cochin or African. 

 The fine lemon-like odour is much more distinct in the 

 powder. A tincture of ginger made with alcohol was 

 found to be darker than that of Jamaica ginger, and 

 more aromatic and pungent. 



Some interesting analyses of the different kinds of 

 ginger are given : 



