PEPPEE. 



421 



the coast of G-uinea, and frequently called Guinea grains ; and by 

 the Africans Gruinea pepper. 



Mettaria Cardomomum, Don. — The fruit of this species consti- 

 tutes the true, small, officinal Malabar cardamoms. It is an ovate 

 oblong, obtusely triangular capsule, from three to ten lines long, 

 rarely exceeding three lines in breadth, coriaceous, ribbed, greyish or 

 brownish yellow. It contains many angular, blackish or reddish 

 brown rugose seeds, which are white internally, have a pleasant 

 aromatic odor, and a warm agreeable taste. 100 parts of the 

 fruit yield 74 parts of seeds, and 26 parts of pericarpal coats. 



This seems to be identical with Amomum Cardamomum. 



Elettaria major, is a perennial, native of Ceylon, which grows 

 in shady situations in a rich mixed soil. The dried capsules are 

 known in commerce as wild or Ceylon cardamoms, and are of less 

 value in the market than those of Malabar {Elettaria Cardamo- 

 mum, Maton). It is chiefly grown about the Kandyan district; 

 and in the eight years ending with 1813, the average export was 

 nine and a-half candies per annum. The seeds in taste resemble 

 our carraways, and are used for seasoning various dishes. 



Ceylon cardamoms are now worth in the London market (Sept., 

 1853) Is. to Is. 3d. per lb. ; Malabar ditto, 2s. 3d. to 3s. 



PEPPER. 



The black pepper of commerce is obtained from the dried unripe 

 fruit (drupes) of Piper nigrum, a climbing plant common in the 

 East Indies, and of the simplest culture, being multiplied with 

 facility by cuttings or suckers. The ripe fruit, when deprived of 

 its outer fleshy covering by washing, forms the white pepper of 

 the shops. The dried fruiting spikes of P. longum, a perennial 

 shrub, native of Malabar and Bengal, constitute long pepper. The 

 fruit of Xylopia aromatica is commonly called Ethiopian pepper, 

 from being used as pepper in Africa. The seeds of some species 

 of fennel-flower {Nigella sativa and arvensis), natives of the south 

 of Europe, were formerly used instead of pepper, and are said to 

 be still extensively employed in adulterating it. In Japan, the 

 capsules of X.antlioxylwn piperitum, or Fagara Piperita, are used 

 as a substitute for pepper, and so is the fruit of Tasmannia 

 aromatica in Van Diemen's Land. According to Dr. Eoxburgh, 

 P. trioicum is cultivated in the East, and yields an excellent pejDper. 



The pepper vine rises about two feet in the first year of its 

 growth, and attains to nearly six feet in the second, at which time, 

 if vigorous and healthy, the petals begin to form the corolla or 

 blossom. All suckers and side shoots are to be carefully removed, 

 and the vines should be thinned or pruned, if they become bushy 

 at the top. Hank coarse weeds and parasitical plants should be 

 uprooted. The vine would climb, if permitted, to the elevation of 

 twenty feet, but is said to bear best when kept down to the height 

 often or twelve feet. It produces two crops in the year. The fruit 



