336 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
Owen said that the most successful planting he had 
was from shoots of growing plants with a few roots 
attached, which came on without a failure. It would be 
difficult to get a large quantity of these at the right 
stage, but the younger the bulbs the better. He 
suggests the following plan if time is no object and can 
be afforded. Plant the bulbs in a nursery uncovered, 
and water them when necessary. If left in long enough 
they will throw out shoots which can be broken off with 
a few roots attached and will succeed admirably. 
In India the plant is more commonly grown from 
seed, but an account in Rice’s Gazetteer (quoted in 
Watt’s Dictionary) says, referring to Mysore, that they 
are propagated entirely by cuttings. A cluster of from 
three to five stems with the roots attached is separated 
from a clump in the month following the autumnal 
equinox, and planted in the same row, one between 
every two areca-nut palms in the spot from which a 
banana plant has been moved. 
The ground around the plant is manured with leaves 
of the Phyllanthus emblica tree. The plants fruit in 
the third year in the autumnal equinox, and after fruit- 
ing the plants are dug up, separated, and planted in 
fresh places, all superfluous stems and roots having been 
previously removed. The stems all die and new ones 
spring again. The plant does not fruit the year following 
its transplantation, but the year after that, after which 
it is again taken up and transplanted as before. 
Raising from Seed . — The seeds of cardamom are 
contained in capsules, and it is necessary when raising 
a plant from seed to select only perfectly ripe fruits. 
When ripe the capsules are of a yellowish colour and 
readily split into three valves. By squeezing the ripe 
capsules the seed is discharged, but it adheres together by 
a glutinous substance, composed mainly of the arils. To 
free them from this mass and cause them to separate 
readily it is necessary to expose them to the sun or a 
current of air. The former is the most effectual and they 
soon become dry. The seeds are then readily separated. 
