J18 
MATONIA CARDAMOMUM. 
*■ As the cardamom plants spring up from scattered seeds dormant 
on the spot, or washed thither by rains from the adjacent parts ; we 
do not find any regularity in their disposition, nor is the industry of 
the natives exerted to correct this. Accordingly, we see them 
variously grouped ; in some places crowded and extremely luxuriant^ 
in others thin and stunted ; some roots sending forth from twenty to 
thirty stems, two-thirds or three-fourths of which bear; others from 
eight to twelve, and down to four or five. Hence it is difficult to 
calculate the rate of produce of any one plant. Each stem sends 
forth from two to four strings of fructiferous panicles ; from these 
issue, alternately, short clusters bearing from two to three pods. 
The length of the common string or stalk varies from four inches to 
eighteen, and is sometimes two feet ; but these last extremes are 
not fertile, in proportion. In good years, from four to six plants 
will yield of dried pods one dungally, a measure of capacity equal 
to four pints Winchester." After the operations, (above described) 
no further labour is bestowed for four years. At the revolution of 
the fourth rainy season, and towards its close, they look for a crop, 
and their hopes are rarely disappointed ; this first eftorf of nature is 
generally scanty : for instance, only one-half of what is reaped the 
following year, and only one-fourth of what is yielded after the 
sixth rains, at which period the plant has reached its acme of 
prolific vigour. Now and then, however, this routine is interrupted, 
and its progress protracted, by causes, of which they are not very 
solicitous to investigate the nature : they remark, however, excessive 
and uninterrupted rains to be one source of failure. In the dry 
season succeeding to the first crop, they grub up the undergrowth 
of shrubs, and clear away the weeds and grass, laying them up as 
before in heaps to rot: this process of cleansing being yearly 
repeated, the same spot will continue productive for fifty years or 
upwards. The barren state of the Ela-Kaudy* is replaced by the 
establishment of another, on a fresh site, and with similar properties 
to the former ; in the choice of which they can never be at a loss, from 
the great extent of mountain and wood in a state of nature ; and the 
same operations repeated, the customary routine of crops will 
follow. 
The abundance of crop is best insured by a moderate routine of 
weather, with respect to dry and wet ; the extremes of each are 
injurious: they dread most, however, deluging rains, particularly for 
* The Malabar term for the plantation or plot pf groaod. 
