AueusT, 1012.] 



15* 



Clipping and Grading. 

 The capsule still bears the remains of 

 the calyx tube at the apex and the stalk 

 at the base, and these have to be re- 

 moved by a hand machine. The grading 

 ot the fruit is effected by small sieves 

 into "longs," "mediums," "shorts," and 

 " tiny." After sizing, the fruit is sul- 

 phured by placing in trays over burning 

 sulphur. 



"Varieties. 



As indicated above, plump Ceylon— 

 Mysores are the type of cardamoms 

 most approved in this country. These 

 vary from £ to f in weight the smaller 

 being ovoid, the larger angular in shape. 



The wild Ceylon cardamom is the 

 largest variety sometimes attaining 1£ 

 in. in .length. It usually possesses a 

 dark brown and coarsely striated shell, 

 the sides of the pod being sunken and 

 the angles sharp. Malabar cardamoms 

 are exported both from Ceylon and 

 India. The shell of this cardamom is 

 generally brown and striated. The 

 Alleppy are very similar in type to the 

 Malabars, but are larger and appear 

 both as bleached and unbleached, the 

 latter retaining a peculiar green colour. 

 A round type of cardamom known as 

 Ceylon Mangalores sometimes arrives in 

 the London market. This kind fetches 

 good prices. Decorticated seed obtained 



from over-ripe fruit is also an article of 

 commerce. 



Uses. 



The principal uses of cardamoms are 

 as a flavouring agent in curries and cakes, 

 and in medicines as compound tincture 

 of cardamoms. Russia, Sweden, Nor- 

 way, and parts of Germany are the 

 European countries which are most fond 

 of the spice for culinary purposes. 

 Ceylon cardamoms are also used in the 

 manufacture of liqueurs. In India they 

 are used coated with sugar at festivals, 

 and for chewing with betel, as well as 

 for a condiment and in medicine. 

 Commercial. 



The acreage, which in 1903 reached the 

 maximum of 9,500 acres, went down to 

 7,300 in 1911 while the highest price 

 which was 9s. Id. in 1880 was 2s lid last 

 year. 



Less attention is being giveu to 

 cardamoms since the rise of the rubber 

 industry. The United Kingdom last 

 year received about 40 per cent, of the 

 total exports from Ceylon, Germany 

 was the second best customer, after 

 which followed India, her imports last 

 year showing a considerable decline as 

 compared with the previous three years. 

 The United States imports more than 

 doubled, and Turkey also shows a big 

 increase. Scandinavia has also come 

 forward as a buyer on a larger scale. 



The exports from India during the following years ending March 31 were 



To 



1905-6 



1906-7 



1907-8 



1908-9 



1909-10 





lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



United Kingdom 



... 71,206 



55,085 



20,790 



81,807 



145,749 



Geimany 



... 17,753 



16,433 



4,880 



13,794 



39,622 



Egypt 



... 13,347 



14,849 



18,405 



23,765 



22,620 



Aden 



... 32,155 



26,668 



24,361 



21,392 



23,884 



Arabia, Muscat or Oman 



... 43,510 



13,949 



12,791 



5,734 



10,525 



„ Other Native States ... 



... 58,457 



40.469 



7,790 



1,092 



168 



Ceylon 



... 10,558 



2,858 



7,236 



112 



41,020 



Persia 



... 14,046 



3,579 



12,268 



33,289 



21,406 



Turkey, Asiatic Ports in the 













Red Sea and Persian Gulf 



... 14,208 



3,268 



63,703 



57,674 



69,181 



Other Countries 



... 20,150 



25,216 



28,464 



20,766 



31,819 





259,390 



202,374 



200,688 



259,425 



405,994 



The exports from India for the year 1910 was 405,994 lbs, against Ceylon 639,000 

 which in 1911 fell to 564,819 lbs. 

 The values were respectively 19.834J., 14,611i., 15,4374., 20,278*., and30,503«. 



