— 546 — 



considerably in that operation. The land intended for the 

 cultivation of it is first well cleaned with the hoe, then slightly 

 trenched, and planted about the month of March or April. 

 It attains its fiill height and flowers about August or Septem- 

 ber, and fades about the close of the year. 



When the stalk is entirely withered the roots are in the 

 proper state for digging. This is generally performed in the 

 months of January and February. After being dug they are 

 picked, cleaned, and gradually seethed or scalded in boiling 

 water, they are then spread out and exposed every day to 

 the sun till sufficiently dried, and after being divided into 

 parcels of about 100 ibs. each, they are packed in bags for 

 the market; this is called the black ginger, The manner of 

 scalding the roots is as follows: — A large pot or copper is 

 fixed in the field or some convenient place, which is kept 

 full of boiling water; the p'cked ginger, being divided into 

 small parcels, is laid in baskets, and plunged alternately in 

 the water, where it is suffei'ed io stay for the space of 10 or 

 15 minutes; it is then spread on a platform for drying; but 

 care is taken during the process to change the water so soon 

 as it becomes much impres^nated with the juicc^s of the root. 



The white sort differs but little from the black roots. The 

 difference there arises wholly fi'om the methods of curing 

 them ; the white is never scalded, but, instead of this easy 

 process they are picked, scraped, and washed one at a time, 

 and then dried; all which requires too much pains and time 

 for any reil advantage to be gained in the proporties ; thou^jh, 

 being made more agreeable to the eye, the price of the white 

 is much higher at market. When the root is intended for 

 a SU i^ar-preserve, it is du?: while tender and fall of juice;the 

 stems at this time rareley exceed 5 or 6 inches in height; 

 the root is carefully picked, washed, and afterwards scilded, 

 till it is sufficiently tender ; it is then put in cold water, and 

 peeled and scraped gradually. 



Tliis operation may last three or four days, during which 

 it is comraonly kept in water, and the water frequently shif- 



