SPICE-, CONDIMENT-, AND PERFUME-PRODUCING PLANTS. 375 



Sage. 



There are no less than 450 species of Salvia, tropical and temperate, 

 but only a few species are of commercial utility. The common sage is a 

 shrubby plant of medicinal value, pervaded by essential oil used in con- 

 diments, found over a wide range of Europe. It was grown by Imperial 

 order in the gardens of Charles the Great. 



Salvia Matico is an important medicinal herb in America. 



Sweet Flag. 



The sweet flag is a perennial marsh plant. The flavour of the root 

 depends mainly on a peculiar volatile oil. 



It is used as a stomachic and also in the preparation of confectionery, 

 in the distillation of gin and liqueurs, and in the brewing of beer. The 

 plant has a wide range through Europe, North Asia, and North America. 



Peppee, Cubebs, &c. 



The genus Piper is a large one, comprising nearly fifty species, 

 scattered over a wide range of the Eastern tropics. About twelve species 

 produce pepper of commercial value in a wild or cultivated state. 



Piper Betle. — Betel leaves are a universal masticatory, and considered 

 to be stimulant and carminative ; the whole plant has a peculiar and 

 characteristic odour and taste. Betel is the Malabar name given by early 

 writers : doubtless allied to the Tamil name. This is the most common 

 species cultivated in India and Ceylon and a heavy cropper ; will grow 

 successfully up to 2,000 feet elevation. 



Piper nigrum (figs. 129, 131), with other species that are cultivated, 

 affords the ordinary "black pepper" of commerce. It is indigenous 

 to the forests of Southern India, Malay Archipelago, &c. 



Black pepper is gathered in a green state and then dried, when the 

 shells and seeds are all ground together, thus retaining a black and coarse 

 appearance. Black pepper is adulterated with bean flour and ground 

 olive stones. 



Piper Gubeba is considered to be a native of Java, Sumatra, and 

 Borneo, and is largely cultivated in the Malay Peninsula. The cultivation 

 of Cubebs as a commercial pursuit appears to be carried on only in certain 

 parts of Java and Sumatra, and the business is entirely in the hands of the 

 natives. The dried fruits which form the Cubebs of commerce come into 

 trade through Singapore. No special preparation or cultivation is carried 

 out ; the plants are grown in the ordinary way — only that the fruits are 

 gathered before they are quite ripe, and carefully dried. It is difficult to 

 obtain the true Cubebs, for several other species approach it very closely, 

 and are passed off in the trade as the genuine article. 



Piper longum. — The fruiting spike, when dried, forms the " Long 

 Pepper " of commerce. This species has a wide distribution, producing 

 a large yield of fruit, on rather a limited growth of vines, every year. 

 Ceylon-grown Pepper commanded a high price, and was reported as far 

 back as 1650. The Dutch exported about 1738 nearly one million pounds 

 of pepper. They formed gardens and gave every encouragement to its 



