25 



sufficient fermentation. Afterwards it was treated again to 

 complete the fermentation before packing for export. The 

 tobaccos from the district of Darious in the Ausaruje Mountains 

 are the best, because the smoking is done entirely with the 

 1 Elozr ' wood, whereas the tobaccos from other parts are 

 smoked with a mixture of other woods, and are, therefore, in 

 less demand. The Consul- General adds that he is endeavouring 

 to have the 'Elozr' wood identified botanically. Thyrax 

 officinalis or ' El-Hanz ' is also used ; it may be the same as 

 1 Elozr '." 



Ischaemum nngustifolium. " Bhabar grass." — Some years 

 ago we received a packet of seeds of this grass from India, and 

 two plants reared from it were placed in the Garden. It is a 

 perennial and forms large dense clumps, and I was somewhat 

 at a loss to know to what purpose it could be applied, except, 

 perhaps, as bedding for horses, since from its appearance it does 

 not seem at all like a suitable fodder plant, but in the Annual 

 Report of the Government Gardens and Parks at Mysore I find 

 the following : — 



"Bhabar grass. — This valuable grass, which affords the 

 best indigenous material for paper making, and is very largely 

 used for that purpose in Northern India, takes kindly to the 

 climate of Mysore. It is readily propagated, both from seed 

 and division of roots, and the Department is now in a position 

 to raise any number of seedlings, should they be required, 

 within a few months time. Capital invested in sucli an industry 

 can hardly fail to succeed, as the amount of official paper con- 

 sumed in the country is enormous." 



This grass would appear likely to succeed well here, and 

 could be rapidly propagated if desired. It forms very dense 

 clumps, and in length of leaves exceeds the measurement given 

 in the " Flora of British India." It is perennial, but does not 

 seem to propagate itself rapidly by seeds, but each clump would 

 yield a large number of plants. 



Ginger {Zingiber officinale). — I have frequently been asked 

 for information as to the growth of " Ginger," and as to the 

 manner in which the rhizomes are prepared for market, and I 

 therefore take the following article from a late number of the 

 Pharmaceutical Journal, it originally appeared in the Journ. 

 d'Agricult., Trop. 2,204. 



CULTIVATION AND PREPARATION OF GINGER. 



By G. Sandes. 

 The soil intended for planting with ginger should be well 

 tilled and carefully weeded. This should be done before plant- 



