THE LICORICE PLANT. 13 



of a sandy character give the heaviest yields. The bottom lands of the 

 great Spanish rivers, such as the Ebro, the Tagus, and the Guadalquivir, 

 are the plant's usual habitat, and such lands are presumably more re- 

 tentive of moisture than the uplands. 



A warm climate and the absence of severe ground frost seem to be 

 conditions necessary to its existence, but data as to the way the plant's 

 growth and the annual yield are affected by the variations in the rain- 

 fall or temperature are wanting. 



The plant and stalk are not utilized in this district ; they are burnt 

 or removed. 



The licorice plant is here looked upon as a weed, and such a vigorous 

 one as not to need the interference of man to protect it from the en- 

 croachment of other weeds or other noxious influences. The cropping 

 consists in simply cutting the roots at the depth of about 1 yard ; the 

 roots are stocked in well-ventilated sheds until dry, and are then 

 cleaned and packed into bundles for shipment. 



The yield is stated to vary from 30 to 40 cwt. per aranzada (0.9284 

 of an acre), worth usually about 5 pesetas per cwt. The usual mode of 

 preparing paste from the root is by crushing, boiling, and evaporating, 

 but there are said to be other processes in use which are looked upon 

 in the light of valuable business secrets and are jealously guarded from 

 would-be inquirers. 



The proportion of paste extracted from a given weight of root varies 

 in subjection both to the richness of the root and to the quality of paste 

 it is desired to produce. The dried root generally yields from 18 to 20 

 per cent, of its weight in paste of the best grade, and from 25 to 28 per 

 cent, in that of ordinary quality. 



The licorice root and paste exported from this district to the United 

 States are shipped at Seville, both by steamer, via England, and, direct, 

 by sailing vessels. The shipments (root and paste) for the last three 

 calendar years were as follows : 



1882 $21,683 91 



1883 46,028 70 



1884 46,840 02 



ERNEST L. OPPENHEIM, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Cadiz, March 20, 1885. 



CULTIVATION OF LICORICE IN SICILY. 



REPORT BY CONSUL WOODCOCK, OF CATANIA. 



In answer to circular of February 10, 1885, calling for information 

 relative to the licorice plant that grows in this district, I have the 

 honor to communicate the following : 



Licorice grows to the height of 2 or 3 feet. It bears a small yellow 

 flower. Its leaves are pinnate. The roots grow from 6 to 20 feet in 

 length. 



The valley of the river Simeto (ancient Symiethus) in this consular 

 district is rich in vegetation. Here not only all p the cereals grow to 

 perfection under the rude culture of the rustic Sicilian husbandman, 

 but the wild plants with which the farmer has to contend spring up 

 spontaneously. Among the latter may be classed the licorice plant. 



