409 



sometimes of a darker tint, grow in clusters, like the cowslip, at 

 the top of a stately stem, abundantly enriched with leaves of 

 varied and beautiful verdure. This plant, so common throughout 

 India, Persia, and China, is doubtless indigenous to Asia, as well 

 as to America. 



The areca, or betel-nut tree, does not thrive in Guzerat. Betel- 

 leaf (piper betel, Lin.) so highly esteemed by the natives, is cul- 

 tivated in most of the Indian provinces; abundantly so in Guze- 

 rat. I have already mentioned it, and shall here only observe, that 

 this beautiful creeper climbs upon small poles, like hops; a betel- 

 garden, kept free from weeds, and well watered, is a beautiful ob- 

 ject. The cooler the situation, the more luxuriant are the plants; 

 for which reason the gardeners often raise a clump of plantain 

 trees at the end of each bed, as they are known to cause addi- 

 tional coolness in the atmosphere. The betel requires constant 

 care; it does not attain perfection until the fourth year; but con- 

 tinues to repay the cultivator's trouble, for at least six or seven 

 years, by a plentiful crop of leaves, which are always a staple 

 commodity in the bazar. The betel is produced by cuttings, 

 planted four or five in a hole, and from the first requires great 

 attention. 



Ginger and turmeric abound in the Dhuboy purgunna: like 

 the betel, they are planted in rows in large gardens, from cuttings 

 of the roots, put into the earth at the commencement of the rainy 

 season; in December and January following they are ready for 

 taking up and drying. There are a few poppy-gardens in Guze- 

 rat; the natives are fond of mixing the seeds in cakes arid con- 

 fections. The opium poppy (papaver sonmiferum, Lin.) thrives 



VOL. II. 3 G 



