74 
In  the  Land  of  Ginger. 
(  Am.  Jour.  Pharm, 
I   February,  1898. 
GATHERING  THE   GINGER  CROP. 
Ratoon  ginger  is  gathered  from  March  to  December,  but  planted 
ginger  is  not  ready  for  digging  until  December  or  January,  and  from 
then  until  March  is  the  "  ginger  season." 
Ginger  is  known  to  be  ready  for  harvest  when  the  stalk  withers. 
This  begins  shortly  after  the  bloom  departs.  The  rhizomes  are 
twisted  out  of  the  ground  with  a  fork.  In  this  operation,  every 
bruise  or  injury  to  the  hands  is  detrimental  to  the  market  value. 
There  is  quite  a  knack  in  doing  this,  and  it  takes  long  practice  to 
become  expert. 
The  hands  are  thrown  in  heaps,  the  fibrous  roots  are  broken  off, 
and  the  soil  and  adherent  matter  removed.  This  must  be  done 
quickly  after' removal  from  the  earth,  for,  should  the  ginger  be  dried 
with  the  soil  and  roots  still  adhering,  the  product  would  not  be  white, 
and,  if  it  lies  in  heaps  before  drying,  it  will  mould.  The  custom  is  to 
throw  it  immediately  into  a  dish  of  water ;  it  is  then  ready  for  the 
uncoating  or  peeling  operation  ;  this  is  done  by  hand.  A  planter  who 
has  any  quantity  of  it  on  hand,  will  make  a  "  peeling  match " 
by  gathering  his  own  numerous  family,  and  whatever  help  his  neigh- 
bors can  afford.  The  ginger  season  thus  becomes  a  time  of  merry- 
making. 
It  was  my  privilege  and  a  part  of  my  studies  to  be  present  at  one 
of  these  peculiar  harvest-home  gatherings  in  Ginger  Land.  I  was 
given  a  point  of  vantage  overlooking  the  dancing  hall,  which  on 
this  occasion  was  the  cement  floor  of  the  barebcue.  The  light  of  a 
few  sickly  lanterns,  a  smoky  torch  and  the  hot  glare  of  the  tropical 
moon  gleamed  on  the  dusky  men  and  maiden  ginger-peelers.  Their 
dresses  were  marvels  in  color,  the  men  in  somber  black,  except  for 
white  vests  and  rainbow  sashes.  Against  the  dark-skinned  forms 
of  the  gentler  sex  were  brilliant  reds,  yellows,  green  and  blues. 
Their  skirts  stood  out  balloon-like,  stiff  with  cassava  starch.  Trin- 
kets of  silver  and  gold  were  heavy  and  plentiful.  They  danced  to 
the  music  of  squeaky  accordions,  clapping  of  hands,  and  the  plain- 
tive, wailing,  but  musical  voices  of  the  on-lookers.  There  was 
plenty  of  noise — plenty  of  ginger  in  that  dance.  The  native 
"  Spiritus  saccharum  jamaicaiensis  "  was  dispensed  freely,  but  I  have 
seen  much  less  orderly  merry-makings  in  our  own  land  of  culture, 
and  in  all  that  excited,  hot-blooded  crowd  not  one  was  drunk  or 
committed  any  flagrant  breach  of  propriety.    Past  midnight  I  lay 
