8 CARDAMOMS. 
food : and the roots when dug up young, namely, at the 
end of three or four months after they have been planted, 
are preserved in syrup, and exported as a sweet-meat 
to nearly all parts of the world. The ginger which is 
brought into this country from the East Indies is much 
stronger than any we have from Jamaica. 
15. CARDAMOMS are the seeds of an East Indian plant* 
(Fig. 4), which has shining reed-like stalks and spear-shaped 
glossy leaves. They are brought into Europe in their pods, 
which are small, oblong, triangular, and each divided into 
three cells. 
The roots are thick, fleshy, and knotted. The stalks grow 
from seven to twelve feet high; and the flowers are of irregu- 
lar shape, and, in colour, are green, pink, and white. 
In those woody parts of India where cardamom 
plants spontaneously grow, the inhabitants form plant- 
ations of them by a very simple process. They clear, 
from particular spots, the greater number of the trees ; 
and, towards the close of the fourth rainy season after- 
wards, they look for the first crop of cardamoms (raised 
from the scattered seeds which have lain dormant in the 
ground), and they are seldom disappointed. 
The cardamom harvest usually commences in Octo- 
ber, and lasts till December. Women or children pluck 
the fruit-stalks from the roots, carry them into the 
houses, and there spread them upon mats to dry. The 
pods are then separated from the stalks by stripping 
them with the fingers : they undergo some further pro- 
cesses of drying ; after which they are ' packed for 
exportation, in large chests, which are well pitched at the 
joints and seams, to prevent them from being injured 
by moisture. It is estimated that about 15,000 pounds 
weight of these seeds are annually vended at the East 
India Company's sales. 
Cardamoms have a pleasant aromatic smell ; and, 
when chewed, impart to the mouth a warmth and pun- 
* Ammonium cardamomum. Linn. Eletteria cardamomwn, 
Maton in Linn. Tran. x. p. 254. 
