SPICES OF THE TROPICS 



277 



It is considered that, with good cultivation, an annual 

 yield of about 2,000 Ib. or more per acre should be obtained, 

 allowing for the plants (stools) to be planted 7 ft. by 7 ft., say 880 to 

 the acre. The most economical method of Pepper cultivation is to 

 grow the vines on trees which are used as shade along roadsides 

 or for other crops, as " Dadaps" in Tea or Cocoa, the cultivation in 

 this case costing but little. Pepper plants will continue to yield 

 good crops for twenty-five to thirty years. The present market 

 price of " black pepper" in London ranges from 4ii. to 5j</. perlb., 

 "white pepper" usually fetching 2</. to 3</. per Ib. more. The chief 



PEPPER VINES OX KAPOK TREES (Eriotlcilllroil). CEVLOX. 



sources of supply are Penang, Sumatra, and Malabar. Ceylon 

 exported over 350 tons of pepper in 1912, valued at 15,750. 



Pepper, Cayenne. This is made by drying and grinding the 

 smaller and most pungent kinds of chillies, the fruits of species of 

 Capsicum, especially C. annuitm and C. mini in urn. The Cayenne- 

 pepper of shops is said to be usually adulterated with Hour or 

 other powders. 



Pepper, Long. This consists of the unripe fruiting spike of 

 Piper longum, dried in the sun. The plant is a native of India 

 and Ceylon, and is cultivated in parts of India. " Long pepper" is 



