1 88  Collecting  and  Curing  Ginger.        { ^m'^;^rm' 
results.  The  writer  inclines  to  the  opinion  that  the  difference  in 
prices  arises  from  the  difference  in  road  and  rail  carriage.  It  may 
be  noted  that  some  of  the  ginger  shipped  from  the  districts  stated 
'  via  Manchester,'  brings  the  highest  price  in  the  English  market, 
which  will  go  far  to  prove  that  the  quality  can  hardly  be  considered 
inferior. 
"  Preparation  of  Ginger. — When  taken  out  of  the  ground  it  is 
washed  free  from  dirt,  then  experienced  hands  peel  between  what 
are  called  the  toes  to  avoid  their  being  broken  off,  as  the  large  branch- 
ing or  bold  pieces  bring  the  best  price.  It  is  then  handed  to  less 
experienced  hands  to  peel  off  the  outer  portions  of  the  skin.  The 
knife  used  has  a  very  narrow  blade  which  is  riveted  into  the  handle 
and  cannot  shut.  The  blade  cannot  be  too  thin  and  narrow,  as 
it  has  to  cut  between  the  toes  which  grow  very  close  to  each  other. 
When  peeling  is  finished,  each  piece  is  thrown  into  a  bowl  of 
clean  water,  and  afterwards  thoroughly  washed,  then  put  on  mats, 
i.e.,  stands  are  made  of  crutch-sticks  driven  into  the  ground  and  of 
even  height ;  strengthening  pieces  go  in  parallel  lines.  Mats  made 
of  thatched  palm  are  then  spread,  and  drying  commences.  The  gin- 
ger must  not  get  wet  when  once  it  begins  to  dry,  and  is  then  taken 
in  every  evening.  Some  parties  use  lime  juice  in  washing,  with  a 
view  to  make  the  ginger  white,  and  ensure  a  better  price.  It  is 
invariably  found  when  so  treated  that  it  mildews,  thus  injuring  and 
considerably  reducing  the  value.  No  ginger  is  as  that  which  is 
washed  in  pure,  clean  water  properly,  and  thoroughly  dried. 
"  Curing  with  Boiling  Water. — I  am  glad  to  say  that  it  is  not 
resorted  to  on  this  side  as  far  as  I  am  aware. 
"In  view  of  the  constant  demand  for  virgin  soil  for  the  production 
of  fine  ginger,  its  exhausting  effects  on  the  soil,  the  wholesale  destruc- 
tion of  valuable  timber  in  forest  lands  fire  being  the  only  agent  for 
cleaning  up  for  planting,  one  can  only  realize  by  a  visit  to  the  dis- 
trict the  alarming  destruction  from  year  to  year  going  on,  the  dry- 
ing up  of  streams,  the  tens  of  thousands  of  pounds  of  valuable 
timber  lost  in  smoke,  the  now  varying  rainfall,  the  soil  becoming  so 
impoverished  that  only  ferns  will  grow  on  it  afterwards,  with  other 
attendant  evils.  The  conclusion  arrived  at  is,  the  sooner  the  pro- 
duction of  ginger  is  abandoned  the  better.  A  howling  wilderness 
of  barrenness  marks  its  progress  in  every  direction,  and  £20  worth 
of  ginger  is  the  outcome  of  ten  times  twenty  pounds  of  destruction." 
Geo.  Nash. 
