XIII 
GINGER 
415 
The Fijian ginger is thus seen to be the richest in 
active constituents. 
WEST INDIES 
As has been previously mentioned, Jamaica has 
been the most important island for the ginger industry, 
and holds a very high rank in its production. The 
cultivation commenced before 1547, and has been steady 
ever since. The actual area under cultivation is difficult 
to estimate, as a very considerable proportion is in small 
areas, in fact, in garden plots. 
The government returns only give, according to 
Kilmer, 250 acres under ginger, but this amount of 
acreage would not yield the crop harvested. Many 
cultivators have beds from 6 ft. square to the size of a 
building lot, and a few cultivate from 1 to 6 acres. For 
the most part it is put in the ground in any convenient 
spot, alongside pineapples, yams, cacao, cassava, or other 
plants, often in the midst of a dense growth of bush or 
weeds. Mr. Kilmer judges “ that from 25,000 to 50,000 
persons are, more or less, dependent on the ginger crop 
for such ready money as is essential to maintain their 
existence.” 
The following are records of exports from Jamaica. 
It is noticeable that there is a very considerable fluctua- 
tion : — 
In 1866 . 
. 1,550,166 lbs. 
1867 . 
. 1,728,075 „ 
1868 . 
. 2,036,921 „ 
1869 . 
. 1,261,873 „ 
1870 . 
680,492 „ 
1871 . 
632,031 „ 
1872 . 
599,766 „ 
1873 . 
815,659 „ 
1874 . 
. 1,881,7891,, 
In 1887 . 
. 1,121,827 lbs. 
1888 . 
. 1,141,877 „ 
1889 . 
. 1,002,653 „ 
1890 . 
554,193 „ 
1891 . 
. 1,219,197 „ 
1892 . 
. 1,822,531 „ 
1893 . 
. 1,526,884 „ 
1894 . 
. 1,672,384 „ 
1895 . 
. 1,736,460 „ 
1896 . 
. 1,960,6092 „ 
Santa Lucia . — Some years ago two planters shipped 
a quantity which realised 70s. per cwt. I have no 
^ Sim moil ds, Tropical Agriculture. ^ Kilmer, Land of Ginger. 
