SPICES OF THE TROPICS 271 



to quality and demand. The Ceylon Customs gi\e the export 

 of cloves (with which is included mace) from Ceylon in 1912, as 

 111 cwt. valued at Rs. 7,125. Zanzibar exported 9,055 tons of 

 cloves in 1912, valued at 330,410. 



Madagascar Clove, or Clove-nutmeg. (Ravensara aromalica. 

 Lauraceae). A medium-sized tree, 30 to 40 feet high, with small 

 leathery leaves, native of Madagascar, introduced at Peradeniya 

 in 1847. The whole tree is strongly aromatic. The round fruits, 

 of the size of marbles, have a large hard kernel, which seems to. 

 combine the odour of nutmeg and clove, and is said to be used 

 and esteemed as a spice in its native country, being also exported 

 in small quantities to Europe. The tree is propagated by seed, 

 and is suited to the moist low-country under 1,500 feet altitude. 



Brazil Clove. (Dicypellium caryophyllatnm. Lauraceae). A 

 Brazilian tree, the "cloves" of which are said to be remarkable 

 for their fine aroma, being largely employed in their native 

 country for flavouring as well as for medicinal purposes. The 

 bark furnishes what is known as u Clove Cassia." 



Ginger; "Inguru" S. " Inji " T. (Zingiber offidnale. Scitami- 

 neae). A herbaceous perennial, with leafy shoots which grow to 

 a height of about 18 inches, native of Tropical Asia, but intro- 

 duced and cultivated in all tropical countries. The underground 

 tuberous stems (rhizomes), resembling thickened roots, are the 

 ginger of commerce. These are called " hands " or " races," from 

 their palmate shape, and are exported in two forms, peeled and 

 impeded (or uncoated and coated) ginger. The former is prepared 

 by scalding the tubers in boiling water, the epidermis being then 

 removed by a narrow-bladed knife. Unpeeled or coated ginger 

 (i.e., not deprived of the epidermis) is merely washed, and then 

 dried in the sun. The rhizomes are exported in bags or barrels, 

 and sold in London at prices varying from 40s. to 80s. or more per 

 cwt., according to quality. Japanese and West African ginger fetch 

 only about 24s. per cwt. as a rule. About 1840, ginger fetched 

 as much as 180s. per cwt. in London. Jamaica ginger invariably 

 commands the highest price, Calicut or Cochin sorts usually com- 

 ing second. The plant requires an equable hot and moist climate, 

 a shaded situation, a rich well-tilled, humous or loamy soil, and 

 thrives up to 3,000 feet in Ceylon. It is propagated by division 

 of the tubers or rhizomes, which are planted in rows 2 feet apart, 

 with about 14 inches between the plants in the rows. A harvest 

 is yielded in about ten months from the time of planting, when 



