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CULTURE OF THE SPECIES OF GINGER (Zingiber). 
All the species of this genus are natives 
of the East Indies, and many, perhaps the 
greater part, grow naturally on the Coast 
of Malabar, in Bengal and Ceylon. Thir- 
teen species are cultivated in our stoves, 
nearly all of which are very modern intro- 
ductions ; the Z. officinale (fig.), however, 
was brought into this country as early as 
1605, and the Zerumbet in 1690. Their 
culture is very simple and easy, and may be 
stated as follows : — 
1. All the species require the heat of the 
stoves. 
2. It grows very freely in a mixture of 
light rich loam, peat, and sand. Care must 
be taken to always give a good drainage at 
the time of potting. 
3. During the time the roots are torpid, 
very little or no water should be given ; 
but when they are in full growth a good 
supply is requisite to keep them in a healthful growing state. 
4. They are easily increased by division of the roots during the time they are 
torpid. Nothing further is required than to pot the divided parts, in pots suitable 
to their size, and treat them precisely as recommended for the old plants. 
The mode of preparing the roots in Jamaica, for exportation, is as follows : “ In 
January or February, when the stalks are withered, the roots are in a proper state 
for taking up. After being dug they are picked, cleaned, and gradually seethed or 
scalded in boiling water ; then spread out and exposed to the sun till sufficiently 
dry. This is the black ginger. The white sort differs little from the black, as the 
difference wholly arises from the method of curing. The white is never scalded ; 
but picked, scraped, and washed one at a time in cold water, and then dried 
History of Jamaica. 
