(.am nni. 



C3 



not repay its cost, and if was according, abandoned. 

 Prices have hecu latelv advancing and I he Chinese 

 are talking* of trying it again. The plant is partial 

 to hilly land or slopes at the >kirts Of hills. Two 

 hundred plants are usually placed on one orhmg of 

 land, heintf six feet asunder. They are raised from 

 seed, and are tupped to 8 or 10 feet, when the gam- 

 bit is to he prepared. The Chinese dr\ the seed 

 slightly , and sow in rain\ weather. The\ superatiti- 

 ously believe, that the plants will not thrive, should a 

 woman approach them, or the workmen drink arrack 

 ^ hilt employed in planting them. The *eeds vege- 

 tatr in 40 days, and are planted out in the second or 

 third month afterwards. 



At the expiration of 14 months, the first cutting of 

 the branches, with the leaves on, is made. These are 

 put into a h^ikr. and when the juice 1ms been ex- 

 tracted, the branches and refuse are throw n away, 

 and the boiling i* continued until the liquor has 

 obtained the proper consistence ; whin il is put into 

 shallow troughs, dried, and cut into slices for sale. 

 Tbfi second cutting takes place 8 months subse- 

 quently to the first. The plant now grows strong 

 and admits of frequent cmppmg, and it will endure 

 for 20 \ears. No manure is used — but the plantation 

 is kept clean. 



The Chinese consider the refuse of the boiling as a 

 ten excellent manure (or pepper \ines. and that the 

 two kinds of cultivation might he advantageously 



combined. 



ESTIMATE COST OF CULTIVATING 10 OBLONGS. 



V*idne of clvAWti laud, !U orlmi^s. 200 



<ix labourers, ^ niaium 3tf0 



hut-rent j 7 



toilers, firewood and implements . . . . ■ 20 



loo wet* r,,) 



neulental 30 _ 



Totul, 1st year, Spanish dollars, <>67 



2nd. year 



Sp. dollars, 1,001 



