IX CARDAMOMS 197 



but the plant thrives well in certain situations in the West 

 Indies, especially in Jamaica, where it was introduced on 

 a large scale by Mr. Morris in 1881, and the spice might 

 become a considerable article of export. 



Soil AND Climate.— The best soil is a rich and moist The best 

 loam with a good proportion of humus, such as is found by ' 

 the banks of streams in the mountain forests of the tropics. 

 Dry hillsides are unsuited to the cultivation, and the plants 

 will not bear well in poor, gravelly and sandy soils, or in stiff 

 clays. Undulating land is better than flat places, but steep 

 inchnes should, if possible, be avoided. The necessary Climate, 

 climatic conditions may be summed up in the three words 

 elevation, moisture and shade. Until within the last ten 

 years, most of the cardamoms used in the world were 

 gathered from plants growing in almost a wild condition, in Malabar 

 the moist forests of Malabar, at elevations of from 1,800 to ^^'■^^'"O'ns. 

 3 500 feet above the sea level. The natives went into the 

 woods, cut down the undergrowth and felled a few of the 

 larger trees so as to let in light and air. Soon afterwards How grown. 

 cardamom plants sprung up in all directions, and it was only 

 necessary to thin them out where they were too thick, and to 

 supply them where vacancies occurred. The cardamom 

 jungle was then left alone for two years. In the third year 

 a light weeding was done and a small crop picked. In the climate, 

 fourth year, the natives returned, weeded the plants 

 thoroughly, and picked a good crop. In this cardamom re- 

 gion, the average mean temperature is said to be 72° F. and 

 the rainfall about 120 inches a year. Within the last few Cultivation 

 years, Ceylon planters have taken up the cultivation on a "^ Ceylon, 

 very large scale indeed, and prices have gone down fully one 

 third. There is a slight local market for cardamoms at 

 Trinidad and British Guiana amongst East Indian immi- 



Propagation. — Plants may be raised from ripe seeds, or 

 by division of the rhizome which is sometimes erroneously 



