Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Jul}-,  1892. 
On  Spices. 
359 
but  expensive;  most  of  this  is  used  in  Russia  and  Germany;  the 
ground  Malabar  is  of  an  exceptionally  fine  flavor  and  pungency ;  it 
is  now  imported  into  Philadelphia. 
Piper  longum  or  Long  Pepper  is  a  variety  that  is  not  frequently 
called  for,  except  during  the  fall  season  for  pickling  vegetables. 
Capsicum. — Several  varieties  of  Cayenne  or  Red  Peppers  are 
grown.  The  African  or  bird's-eye  coming  through  the  port  of  Natal, 
on  the  west  coast  of  Africa,  is  unequalled  for  pungency,  fine  aroma 
and  the  amount  of  capsaicin  ;  this  kind  is  best  also  for  making 
tincture  and  fluid  extract;  the  retention  of  its  fine  properties  is 
attributed  to  its  being  fined,  not  by  grinding,  but  by  cutting  knives. 
Pimento,  Allspice. — Jamaica  is  the  principal  source  of  supply  and 
grows  the  finest  quality;  large  and  small  fruits  are  in  the  market  and 
generally  well  cleansed,  the  small  well  developed  is  richer  in  oil  and 
possesses  the  fine  pungent  aromatic  odor. 
Gingers. — The  Jamaica,  Ccchin-China  bleached  and  unbleached 
are  used  more  for  medicinal  than  culinary  purposes ;  the  rhizome 
of  the  African  in  its  natural  state  is  the  kind  wanted  and  used  in 
families,  and  should  be  selected  for  its  plumpness  and  weight.  It  is 
now  conceded  that  rhizomes  cultivated  at  the  Missions,  and  by 
other  special  growers,  possess  a  finer  aroma  and  strength  than  the 
wild  or  East  India  ginger. 
Curcumas  we  are  familiar  with  ;  both  the  long  and  round  are  used, 
but  the  bright  yellow  powder  is  usually  preferred  for  pickling  and 
curry. 
Mustards,  known  as  yellow  and  brown,  are  obtainable  every- 
where, colored  and  uncolored;  the  fine  blends  of  English  and  Trieste, 
or  Kentucky  grown  seed,  are  the  desirable  ones,  and  equal  to  any 
foreign  brands  of  English,  Russian  or  German,  The  coloring 
usually  added,  when  not  in  excess,  does  not  affect  its  taste  and  is  not 
considered  an  adulterant,  but  added  to  make  it  more  sightly,  as  we 
add  saunders  and  cochineal  coloring  to  tinctures  and  elixirs. 
The  Cassia,  commonly  called  Cinnamon,  known  as  Saigon,  coming 
from  Cochin-China,  and  particularly  the  thin  quill  bark  selected 
from  the  twigs  and  smaller  branches,  known  in  trade  as  Java  cassia, 
possesses  a  different  and  superior  aroma  and  strength  to  the  ordi- 
nary Chinese,  though  the  young  thin  bark  of  this  variety  of  bright 
color,  and  free  from  spots  of  decay,  is  the  kind  to  select  from  to 
supply  a  trade  demand  for  a  lower  price  article. 
