VIII 
PEPPERS 
267 
After about six months, or even earlier, the flower 
spikes begin to appear and are removed at once. The 
pepper gardeners prevent sporadic fruiting, which may 
occur at any time during the life of the vine, in order 
to concentrate on the proper annual crop. It is recom- 
mended to cut or break off these flower spikes in the 
early morning or during the rainy season. 
When the vines are about a year old, those destined 
to supply cuttings for an extension of the plantation 
are pruned so as to have a single main shoot. This is 
allowed to grow for six months more and is then cut off, 
being used for propagating. 
Manuring . — The chief manure used is burnt earth, 
which is applied from time to time during the growth 
of the vine. The method of making burnt earth has 
already been described. It is dug in or thrown upon 
the mound on which the pepper vine is growing, but 
should not be allowed actually to touch the vine itself 
The exact action of burnt earth on the plant does not 
seem very clear, but it is suggested that the half-burnt 
earth absorbs the product of distillation of the burnt 
wood, chiefly in the form of ammonia. 
Where, as in the Straits Settlements and Sumatra, 
the cultivation of gambir is carried on with that of the 
pepper, it is the custom of the Chinese to throw the 
used leaves of the gambir on the ground between the 
pepper posts and to spread them about. This shades 
the soil from the intense heat of the sun, and protects 
the roots of the pepper from getting burnt, also acting 
as manure. Where there is no gambir, cultivated 
lalang-grass is cut and thrown thickly on the ground 
between the posts. 
When procurable, the Chinese also use as manure 
“ prawn-dust.” This is the shells of the prawns used 
in the manufactory of the condiment known to the 
Malays as “ Belachan,” a kind of shrimp-paste eaten 
with curry. Of this \ catty (about \ lb.) is applied 
to the base of the vines the first year in preparation 
for the first crop, and also later during the life of the 
