TURMERIC. 



383 



those of roots and marked with concentric ridges. The diameter is 

 very variable, but it is seldom less than three-fourths of an inch, and is 

 frequently much more. They are often cut and usually scalded in 

 order to destroy their vitality and facilitate drying, as they are 

 exposed to the san for three or four days. 



" The lateral rhizomes are sub-cylindrical, attenuated towards either 

 end, generally curved, covered with a rugose skin, and marked more 

 or less plainly with transverse rings. Sometimes one, two, or more 

 short knobs or shoots grow out on one side. The rhizomes, whether 

 round or long, are very hard and firm, exhibiting when broken a dull, 

 waxy, resinous surface, of an orange or orange-brown hue, more or 

 less brilliant. They have a peculiar aromatic odour and taste. 



" Several varieties of turmeric, distinguished by the names of the 

 countries or districts in which they are produced, are found in the 

 English market ; but although they present differences which are 

 sufficiently appreciable to the eye of the experienced dealer, the 

 characters of each sort are scarcely so marked or so constant as to be 

 recognisable by mere verbal description." 



(3hina turmeric is the most esteemed, but it is seldom to be met 

 with in the European market. A good deal is imported from Takow, 

 in Formosa, to Chinese ports, as the following figures show : 



Picul?. Piculs. 



1868 8460 1870 7692 



18G9 7231 1871 7587 



3871 piculs were imported at Shanghai in 1871 ; 559 piculs at 

 Amoy ; 1049 at Ningpo ; 2104 at Tientsin, and 209 at Newchwang. 



Madras turmeric is a fine sort, in large bold pieces, called " fingers." 

 Sometimes packages of it contain exclusively round rhizomes, while 

 others are made up entirely of the long or lateral. Bengal turmeric 

 differs from the other varieties chiefly in its deeper tint, and hence is 

 the sort preferred for dyeing purposes. It fetches about 22s. per cwt. 



Java turmeric presents no very distinctive features, it is dusted 

 with its own powder, and does not show when broken a very brilliant 

 colour. 



Cochin turmeric would seem to be the produce of another species of 

 Curcuma. It consists exclusively of a bulb-shaped rhizome of large 

 dimensions, cut transversely or longitudinally into slices or segments. 

 The cortical part is dull brown ; the inner surface is horny, and of a 

 deep orange-brown, or when in thin shavings of a brilliant yellow. 

 The entire rhizomes are thick, short, conical, and of enormous size, 

 some attaining as much as 2j inches in diameter. 



The Curcuma longa grows wild in the province of Mysore, and ia 

 probably indigenous to various other parts ; it is cultivated very 

 generally in most districts of India. It thrives well in a rich light 

 soil, and is readily increased by offshoots from the roots. An acre 

 yields about 2000 lbs. of the fresh roots. 



It is chiefly used in Europe as a dye-stuff, and the powder affords 

 without a mordant a yellow dye, which is brilliant but not per- 

 manent. It is largely used by native females in India to colour their 

 faces. Mixed with the pulverised sappan wood it forms the red 

 powder used by the Hindoos, under the name of faug, in the Hull 



