CHAPTER rX 



SPICES continued 



G INGER. Ziftgiber officinale. 



Habitat. GiNGER is the dried, underground stem of a plant which 



grows wild in South East Asia and some of the islands of 

 the Malayan Archipelago, but it is cultivated extensively in 

 South America and the West Indies, and more especially in 



Description Jamaica. The underground stems, which have the appear- 



of the plant. ^ ^ , ^ , .„„,.., 



ance of tuberous roots, are botanically called rhizomes^ and 

 they are known in commerce as races. The real roots of 

 the ginger plant are the fibres which are given off from the 

 rhizomes. From the underground stems, aerial, leafy shoots 

 rise up above the ground to the height usually of from twelve 

 to eighteen inches ; but, under favourable conditions of soil 

 and climate, they may attain to a height of three feet. The 

 flowers are borne on a separate stalk to the leaves, and the 

 flower spikes are commonly about a foot high. 



A rich soil Soil and Climate.— In order to cultivate ginger with 



necessary. ^ ^ 



success, none but the richest and best soils should be chosen. 

 The plant will not thrive on sands and clays or in a diy soil. 

 A rich, vegetable loam is suitable to the cultivation, and the 

 soil must be well drained, for otherwise the rhizomes will 

 Climate. rot. The plant endures a wide range of climate in the 

 tropics, for it may be grown from the sea level to high moun- 

 tainous regions provided the rainfall be abundant, or irriga- 

 tion be adopted. In the Himalaya mountains, lying to the 



