XIII TURMERIC 249 



nishes, In some of the Polynesian islands the natives use its uses. 

 the dye to paint their bodies in much the same way as the 

 Caribs used the testa of the seeds of the roucou plant. In 

 chemistry a solution of turmeric is employed as a test for the 

 presence of alkalies — which change its yellow colour to a 

 reddish brown. But turmeric paper is more frequently used Tumeric 

 than the solution. This is simply unsized paper steeped in ^'^^^^' 

 a tincture of turmeric and dried by exposure to the air. When 

 dry it is of a light yellow colour, which is turned to a deep 

 brown in the presence of alkalies. Turmeric is sometimes Medicinal 

 used as a medicine, more especially in certain affections of ^'^ '°"' 

 the stomach — where its bitter tonic and aromatic stimulant 

 action is sometimes followed by useful results. In Eastern Used as a 

 countries the product is used extensively as a spice or con- ^^"^ ' 

 diment, indeed it is said that most of the native dishes are 

 flavoured with turmeric, and it is an ingredient in all good 

 curry powders. 



The plant requires the same soil and climate as ginger. Soil and 

 And, the method of propagation, and cultivation, and gather- ^™!^ ^' . 

 ing and preparation of the crops is the same for both plants. 

 It is unnecessary, therefore, to enter into all these particulars 

 as they have been fully treated of under the head of ginger 

 in Chapter IX. 



In Nepaul, a country lying to the north of India, turmeric Cultivation 

 is planted after wheat as a rotation crop ; and, when a proper '" ^^^" ' 

 system of rotation is employed in the West Indies, the cul- 

 tivation of turmeric may with advantage be undertaken on 

 lands from which a heavy crop of maize or one or other of 

 the tropical cereals has been reaped. 



In commerce Turmeric occurs in three forms, known as Fingers, 

 fingers, bulbs and cut bulbs. Fingers are the longer and cut bulbs. 

 narrower rhizomes, bulbs are the shorter and thicker ones, 

 and cut bulbs are simply the rhizomes cut into pieces before 

 they are dried. P'or medicinal and chemical purposes the 

 cut bulbs are best liked, and they should be of a yellow 

 colour externally and of a deep orange internally. 



