478 



PEPrER. 



this practice, the strength and vigour of the plant are so mucli in- 

 creased by the multiplication of its organs of nourishment, namely, 

 the roots, that it will not only yield a larger crop of flowers, but also 

 bring out its fruit in the greatest perfection. The neglect of this pre- 

 caution might seriously affect the out-tui'n of a crop, both in quantity 

 and quality. 



The vine produces fruit in two seasons of the year. The flowers of 

 the principal crop appear in September, with the rains of the first 

 monsoon. In the latter end of December the berries begin to ripen, 

 and are gathered in January, as they get to maturity. The finest 

 berries in the second stage towards maturity are selected for making 

 white pepper. The process in Sumatra consists in steeping these 

 berries for three or four days in running water, and then drying them 

 well in the sun. The flowers of the second crop appear in March and 

 April with the rains of the little monsoon ; and the fruit ripens and 

 is gathered about July and August ; it is probably to the want of 

 moisture at the time the fruit is setting, that the inferior quality and 

 scantier out-turn of this crop is to be attributed. One thousand vines 

 are estimated to yield about 10 J cwt. of pepper in the coui'se of a 

 year; so that each vine may be reckoned upon as producing l^- lb. of 

 the spice. 



The black berries of Emhelia Bibes, Buim., are often used to 

 adulterate it in parts of India, as they so much resemble pepper as 

 to render it impossible to distinguish them by sight or by any other 

 means, and they are, withal, somewhat spicy. Although there is a 

 very heavy penalty on adulteration in this country, ground pepper is 

 frequently sold sophisticated with starch, mustard husks, linseed and 

 capsicum. 



From 1811 to 1824 the duty imposed ranged from 2s. to 2s. 6d. per 

 pound. Up to 1836 it was Is. ; it was then reduced to 6cZ., and 

 finally abolished. 



The following have been the imports of pepper into the United King- 

 dom since the year 1840 as given in the Board of Trade returns : — 



Lbs. 



1810 5,927,959 



1841 15,034,406 



1842 6,021,290 



1843 4,083,160 



1844 8,087,099 



1845 9,852,983 



1846 5,906,586 



1847 4,669,930 



1848 8,125,545 



1849 4,796,042 



1850 8,082,319 



1851 3,996.295 



1852 6,631,700 



1853 5,496,885 



1854 .. .. .. 9,428,882 



1855 6,489,005 



1856 10,810,398 



1857 5,463,738 



1858 12,357,508 



1859 

 1860 

 1861 

 18G2 

 18G3 



Lbs. 

 8,719,266 

 12,810,040 

 14,684,389 

 18,115,975 

 16,810,469 



1864 18,536,795 



1865 18,343,592 



1866 14,612,161 



1867 13,913,924 



1868 16,990,144 



1869 18,144,284 



1870 19,339.491 



1871 23,669,727 



1872 27,576,710 



1S73 26,324,828 



1874 19,648,118 



1875 29,399,020 



1876 26,059,030 



The value of the pepper imported in 1875 was stated at 670,175Z. 



