398 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
preventing the development of insect pests and utilising 
the ground. He makes little difference between the 
cultivation of the two plants, and his general method 
is described under turmeric. He gives the output of 
ginger at 50 maunds (2,600 lbs.), but says that three 
times as much can sometimes be obtained. The ginger 
can be sold undried at 4 rupees per maund of 25 lbs., 
and the cost of cultivating comes to about 50 rupees 
per acre, which at 50 maunds to the acre gives 200 
rupees, or a profit of 150 rupees per acre. 
Growth of the Plant . — Some investigations were 
made in Jamaica with the object of securing a regular 
shaped growth, with more or less straight fingers, as 
this form commands a higher price in the market. In 
the growth of the plant, a stem starts from the eye or 
bud of the cutting, and from this stem in turn lateral 
shoots or branches develop in pairs, the pairs generally 
alternating on opposite sides. It was observed that if 
the soil was well worked and pulverised before planting, 
the growth was straighter than when planted in hard 
soil, and that if the parent plant was well developed 
and vigorous, the resultant root-stock was of a better 
type than when the parent was small, gnarly, and 
crooked. 
To get the best results, therefore, the planter should 
carefully select his stock for planting, and should be 
particular about pulverising and thoroughly breaking 
up his soil. 
The amount of rhizomes required for planting is 
estimated in Bengal at 4 maunds (100 lbs.) for 1 bigha 
(1,600 square yards), and in the Punjab twice that 
amount. 
The cost of the rhizomes selected is estimated in 
Bengal at 4 rupees a maund, and in the Punjab 8 to 
10 a rupee. 
The planters in Jamaica distinguish between “plant 
ginger” and “ratoon ginger.” By the former is meant 
ginger from fresh cuttings, which gives the best result, 
and is indeed the best method of cultivation. When 
