

XIII 



GINGER 



415 



The Fijian ginger is thus seen to be the richest in 

 active constituents. 



WEST INDIES 



As has been previously mentioned, Jamaica has 

 been the most important island for the ginger industry, 

 and holds a very high rank in its production. The 

 cultivation commenced before 1547, and has been steady 

 ever since. The actual area under cultivation is difficult 

 to estimate, as a very considerable proportion is in small 

 areas, in fact, in garden plots. 



The government returns only give, according to 

 Kilmer, 250 acres under ginger, but this amount of 

 acreage would not yield the crop harvested. Many 

 cultivators have beds from 6 ft. square to the size of a 

 building lot, and a few cultivate from 1 to 6 acres. For 

 the most part it is put in the ground in any convenient 

 spot, alongside pineapples, yams, cacao, cassava, or other 

 plants, often in the midst of a dense growth of bush or 

 weeds. Mr. Kilmer judges " that from 25,000 to 50,000 

 persons are, more or less, dependent on the ginger crop 

 for such ready money as is essential to maintain their 

 existence." -_. 



The following are records of exports from Jamaica. 

 It is noticeable that there is a very considerable fluctua- 

 tion : 



In 1866 

 1867 

 1868 

 1869 

 1870 

 1871 

 1872 

 1873 

 1874 



1,550,166 Ibs. 

 1,728,075 

 2,036,921 

 1,261,873 



680,492 



632,031 



599,766 



815,659 

 1,881,789! 



In 1887 

 1888 

 1889 

 1890 

 1891 

 1892 

 1893 

 1894 

 1895 

 1896 



1,121,827 Ibs. 

 1,141,877 

 1,002,653 

 554,193 

 1,219,197 

 1,822,531 

 1,526,884 

 1,672,384 

 1,736,460 

 1,960,609 2 



Santa Lucia. Some years ago two planters shipped 

 a quantity which realised 70s. per cwt. I have no 



Simraonds, Tropical Agriculture. 



Kilmer, Land of Ginger. 



