July 1, 1898.] THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. 
A curious incident resulted during these experiments. 
The natives, through prejudice against innovations, 
boycotted the drying appaiatns, and refused to fur- 
nish supplies at any price. Experiments were made 
with calcium chloride as a drying agent. The result 
did not equal samples produced by the native method 
of drying in the sun. Attempts made to dry the 
ginger after first slicing, as might be e.xpected, re- 
sulted in great loss of flavor and pungency. My 
conclusions were that, when well condncted, the 
native method of caret ul peeling and curing in the 
sun would produce a hands raer and a better pro- 
duct than any process yet suggested, 
These observations were not undertaken with a 
view of making any complete analysis, and It was 
found that a macroscopic exammation by expert 
judges was far more reliable than any assay that 
could be made with limited facilities present in the 
ginger fields. A few such examination were made 
as follows: 
Kthci-cal iici/aef. — Exhaustion of the ginger with 
either in a Soxhlet extraction apparatus. The re- 
sultant extract, after evaporation of the ether, was 
dried over sulphuric acid to remove moisture. From 
this extract the volatile oil was calculated by the 
loss on drying the ethereal extract at 110° G. for 
three hours. The only results from this process 
that seemed to ba of value were that the finer 
grades, when carefully dried, contained a higher 
percentage of volatile oil. 
Ginger dried without removing the peel gave some- 
what higher results as to volatile oils than the peeled. 
The loss of this constituent was greater in a pro- 
duct dried by artificial heat than when dried by sun. 
The amount of volatile oil found by aforesaid pro- 
cess was, lowest, 1 per cent. : highest, 3 20 per cent. 
The results as to ethereal extract, exclusive of vola- 
tile oil or from alcoholic extract from the ether- 
exhausted residue, seemed to be of little value, the 
different specimens giving such greatly changing 
amounts as to afford no guide. 
In these Experiments some observations were made 
that were interesting though of no particular value. 
In the extracts from ratoou ginger there was evi- 
dently a more fiery taste and less flavor than in 
the planted ginger. This was also true in regard 
to the extracts from the blue and yellow varieties, 
the yellow havaing a much finer odor and taste. 
Upon the addition of water to these extracts in 
sufficient amounts to precipitate the dissolved resins, 
it was observed that in the case of the well-cured 
specimens of plant ginger a delightful aroma 
was imparted to the water, a true ginger flavor, 
without fire or pungency. But in extracts from old 
ratoon ginger, from mildewed specimens spoiled in 
drying, this aroma was greatly changed, becoming 
musty and weak, the taste in some instances being 
decidedly better. Ninety-five per cent, alcohol was 
found to give better results as to flavor of extract 
than that of lower strength. 
The ruling price in Kingston and Montego Bay 
for the heap is a penny-halt-penny (about three 
cents). Heaps purchased by me varied according to 
quality, but the average weight was from one-fourth 
to one-half pound. 
The buyers of giuger for shipping are expert and 
accurate. They grade, sort and price with a quick 
eye and ready touch gained by years of practice. 
The highest grades are large-sized hands of light 
and uniform color, free from evi ence of mildew. 
This grade is brittle and cracks easily, but broken 
pieces depreciate the value. Buyers also require the 
hands and fingers to be firm and full, without wrinkles 
or spots. They generally assort into four or five 
grades, that which is shriveled and small being the 
lowest. The dark varieties form another, the heavy, 
tough and flinty a third. These four are finally 
assorted by placing hands which are small but of 
good texture and color as one grade. The larger- 
sized, well-bleached hands into the highest grade. 
The ratoon ginger sorts generally bring the lowest 
price, as they are small, soft and soggy, and lack 
flavor. (Jinger gathered green shrivels much iu 
drying and is less aromatic and pungent than 
when fully matured. Ginger that has oiildewed is 
spotted, and the mildew starts a decomposition that 
affects the flavor. Ginger put in bags or laid away 
before being' throughly dried will mould and ac- 
quire a musty odor and flavor, which it is impos- 
sible ti remove. 
The largest sized Lands are carefully selected by 
buyers and shipped to special markets, usually to 
England, I noticed hands weighing as much as 
eight ounces ; many of them weighing from four 
ounces upward. 
Ginger is packed in barrels for shipmeiit. 
Economics. 
The amount of Ginger exported from this Island 
during the last ten years is shown in the following 
table* :— 1837, 1.121,827 lb. ; 1888, 1,141,877 lb. ; 1889. 
1,002,6531b.; 1890, (i year), .'i.i4,!93 lb. ; 1891. 1,219 197 
lb.; 1892, l,822,53nb. ; 1883, 1,520,884 lb. ; 1884, 
l,6V2,3811b. ; 1885, l,73(j,460 and 189B, 1,960,609 1b. 
The yield and profit of the giuger crop depend 
somewhat upon the nature of the soil. In favour- 
able seasons rainfall, sunshine, planting care and 
curing, are also factors. An average yield can be 
estimated at from 1,000 to 1,5(0 pounds dried gin- 
ger per acre. In exceptional cases, 2,000 pounds 
have been gathered. There are planters in Jamaica 
who plant ginger here and there in patches, and 
gathering as little as a hundred iDounds in a year. 
Ginger is well adapted to the small planter, and 
admirably suited to the peasantry of Jamaica, who, 
by slow evolution, are passing from serfdom to 
manhood and independence. 
The Botanical Department, through its crops of 
agricultural instructors, is now going among the 
pejple and showing them exactly what may be done 
in the way of improving their methods of cultiva- 
tion. The Jamaica Agricultural Society is conducting 
practical and extensive demonstrations to show the 
use and value of fertilizers. These have already an 
important bearing upon this crop. Information re- 
cently to hand states that the crop which will be 
gathered in the coming season (Spring, 1898; will 
probably be the largest ever grown'upon this Island. 
This is due to the improvements in cultivation, to- 
gether with an abundant rainfall. Unfortunately for 
the ginger planter, a largely increased production 
will tend to lower ];rices. 
I am aware of the fact that these notes will 
add but little to the already recorded observations 
upon giuger. It may be questioned whether such 
a common article of materia medioa merits any ex- 
tended research. We should, however, realize that 
any drug that holds a name and place in medicine 
is of sufficient importance to merit our best efforts. 
Our knowledge of the changes which take place 
in crude drugs, due to the methods of preparation, 
is very meagre. Karl Dieterich (Berichte der Dcutschen 
riiariii. GesdUchafl, 1S96. p. 3S5.) says : 
"Thus it is that I am convinced that the study 
and development of this branch of pharmacy will 
yield far more than theoretical results and tiiat the 
analysis of fresh and dried drugs at different 
stages will be of great practical advantage in direct- 
ing the proper manipulations to be employed in 
producing uniform and superior products," My con- 
victions are strong that the study of drugs should 
begin in their habitat and extend to the bedsides o£ 
the patient. That it is important to know every 
change that my take place in their cultivation and 
collection as well as those incident to their pre- 
paration for administration, this seems to be suffi- 
cient warrant for these observations taken iu the 
^ * Figures obtained from the office of the Collector- 
General of Jamaica show that more than one-halC 
of fhc crop is shipped direct to the United States, 
ports. 
The amount of ginger imported into the United 
States from all parts of the world, from the years 
1890 to 1894, was as follows :— 1890, 2,828 825 lb • 
1891, 2,097,989 lb.; 1892, 1, 131,295 lb. ; 1893, 2,927,9i21b. 
