XII JALAP 237 



will yield crops for forty years. The leaves are ready to Gathering 



gather when they become rigid, and when they crackle and *^^ leaves. 



break on bending, their size and colour not being regarded. 



Two, or three or even four crops may be obtained in the The number 



year from strong plants growing in rich soil. The leaves are ^^^'P^- 



picked singly, care being taken not to injure the buds, and on 



no account should the young leaves and shoots be plucked 



off. A fine dry day must be chosen for harvesting ; and the The leaves 



picking should not be carried beyond noon in order that the [j°^^ ^^^^ 



leaves may be exposed for several hours in the sun to dry, 



for if they become damp they will ferment and turn to a dark 



colour, in which condition they are valueless. The drying Leaves dried 



is accomplished by spreading the leaves in thin layers i" ^^e sun. 



on barbecues and lightly raking them over from time to 



time. In favourable weather the drying will be complete 



after three or four hours exposure to the sun, and then the 



leaves should be put in a dry place for a day or two and 



then packed. 



In South America coca is packed, by means of a wooden Packing. 

 press, in square bales covered with coarse cloth and weighing 

 about 25 lbs. each. Two bales are then tied together and 

 enveloped in dried plantain leaves, and three of these larger 

 packages weighing about 150 lbs. make up a mule load. As, The druc^ 

 however, coca is easily damaged by heat and moisture, the damaged by 



' _ _ -^ . . . heat and 



best way is to seal it up as soon as it is dry in packages moisture. 

 similar to those used for tea, and they should be shipped 

 without delay, for the leaves keep in good condition a much 

 longer time in cold and temperate climates than in the 

 tropics. 



Jalap. Ipomcsa piirga. 



The jalap plant is a beautiful climber, with rose coloured Habitat, 

 flowers, found growing wild in the mountains of Mexico, and 

 it derives its name from the city of Xalapa which has long 

 been the emporium of the jalap trade. 

 Jalap occurs in commerce in dry pear-shaped masses usually 



