45 
On the Commercial Varieties of Ginger. 
By Jonathan Pereira, M.D. , F.R.S. 
In the preparation of the third edition of my Elements of Materia 
Medica , I have had my especial attention drawn to the different 
commercial varieties or sorts of the several articles of the Materia 
Medica ; amongst many others, to those of ginger. Perhaps the fol- 
lowing notice of the varieties of ginger now met with in the English 
market may not be uninteresting to some of your readers. 
I have met with ginger in three different states in the English 
market, namely, in the fresh state, forming what was termed green 
ginger ; secondly, in the state called preserved ginger ; and, lastly, 
dried ginger, the usual form in which it is sold by grocers and 
druggists. 
1. GREEN GINGER. 
Small parcels of this have been brought over from Jamaica. 
The samples which I have met with were soft, and had the character 
of rhizomes which had been recently taken out of the ground. I 
am informed that, in a commercial point of view, they were worth- 
less, most of them having perished on the journey. Recently none 
has been imported. 
2. PRESERVED GINGER. 
As this is chiefly used as a condiment and dessert, it will be un- 
necessary to describe it. Two sorts are now in commerce. 
1. Jamaica Preserved Ginger. — This is the finest imported. 
It comes over in jars (seldom in barrels) of various sizes. Its value 
is 3.9. per lb., duty paid. 
2. Barbados Preserved Ginger. — This is not so fine as the 
preceding, and is seldom imported, say perhaps only once in two 
years. It comes packed in jars. Its value is from 2s. to 2$. 3d. 
per lb. 
3. China Preserved Ginger is large, but stringy. It is generally 
imported in jars of about 6 lbs. each, seldom in barrels. Its value 
is Is. 6rf. per lb. 
4 China dry Preserved Ginger has been sliced before preserv- 
ing. When preserved, it is packed and imported in boxes. It is 
not often brought into the London market. 
3. DRIED GINGER. 
General Description. — The dried rhizome, called in com- 
merce ginger-root ( radix zingiberis ), occurs in flattish, jointed or 
