AMOMUM STJBULATUM. 



35 



which differ from the Sanskrit, that its original abode extended much further west, and 

 that possibly certain wild European Alliums, such as A. arenarium and A. scorodopra- 

 sum, may have been used as garlic to which they are closely allied, if not merely 

 varieties. 



The cloves are planted in October in drills, and the crop is ready for digging up in 

 the hot weather when the leaves begin to turn yellow. The bulbs are then dried in 

 the sun and stored for future use. They are sold in the bazars at the rate of 16 to 

 20 seers for the rupee. 



Garlic is much used as a spice and for flavouring pickles, chiefly by Mahommedans. 

 It is also employed as a medicine, and is given for fevers, coughs and nervous affec- 

 tions ; and in confection for rheumatism. It is applied externally for deafness and 

 pain. It is considered by natives to be hot and aperient. 



Explanation of Plate LXYI. 



1. Flowering scape in bud. 



2. Ditto expanded. 



3. Vertical section of flower. 



4. Bulblet or clove. 

 Cross section of bulb. 



AMOMUM SUBULATUM, Boxb. 



Greater Cardamom; bari ilachi. 



Natural order citaminece. A perennial herb with thick rhizomes supporting leafy branches. 

 The flowering stems (scapes) are leafless, and are terminated by a cone-like spike of flowers. The 

 fruit is about as large as a nutmeg. 



This plant is a native of Nepal, and is cultivated in the eastern submontane tracts 

 of these Provinces. The cardamoms are gathered between March and May, and are sold 

 to itinerent merchants, at the rate of about Rs. 12 per maund. The bulk of the pro- 

 duce reaches Patna and Calcutta. 



The botanical source of the greater cardamom was first correctly pointed out by 

 Dr. George King. 



* References •■— il. Br. Ind , VI., 240 ; Watt, Diet. Econom. Prod., I., 222 ; Royle., 111. Him. Bot., 359 ; King, in Journ. 

 Linn. Soc., XVII. (1880), 3 ; Atkinson, Econom. Prod., V., 3G. Madden, in Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin. (1857), p. 408. 



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