414, QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1899. 
provides every, protection to life and property. Therefore, taking everything 
into consideration, it is my firm conviction that the cultivation of rubber on the 
Tsthmus of Tehuantepec is an extremely safe and highly profitable investment. 
Mr. Lewis added that the figures of cost given in the article include the 
managing expenses—which is not always the case in estimates on this subject— 
in order to give persons not familiar with conditions in Mexico a fair knowledge 
of the true cost and amount of capital required for this class of investment.— 
India-rubber World. 
CARDAMOMS (£LLATARIA CARDAMOMUM). 
By JOHN DANSEY. 
Tue Cardamoms of commerce are of two varieties, known as Malabar and 
Mysore; the former bearing capsules of from } to + inch long, the latter of 
about 1 inch in length. In appearance the plant much resembles ginger, but, 
unlike the latter, the flowering stalks spring from the roots. These yield the 
fruit, which consists of triangular three-celled capsules, enclosing numbers of 
ee angular seeds possessing a very strong aromatic odour and a pungent 
ayour. 
Cardamoms are in much request throughout the East Indies, and amongst ~ 
chemists, all over the world, command a ready market. 
For years past, the principal supplies of Cardamoms have been obtained 
from Southern India, but latterly from several parts of Ceylon, where, with 
their usual energy and perseverance, planters have taken up their cultivation on 
a large scale, and with considerable benefit to themselves. : 
Jn Ceylon, Cardamoms grow well at elevations of from 1,500 to 4,000 feet. 
Slightly undulating lands, near the banks of streams, the soil of which is a rich 
and moist loam, will be found most suitable to their growth. 
For the propagation of this plant nursery beds should be prepared in the 
usual manner, and the seed sown in drills from 6 to 8 inches apart. These seeds 
are slow of germination, from two to three months elapsing before they show 
above ground. When the plants are of about 12 months’ growth, and about 
12 to 15 inches high, they may be said to be fit for transplanting. 
Having cut away the undergrowth and all small trees growing on the land 
on which it is the intention to plant—leaving only sufficient standing timber to 
afford a moderate shade—holes, 1 foot 6 inches deep and 2 feet wide, should 
then be dug at distances of about 5 feet apart, in w ich, after being filled in 
the usual manner, the young seedlings are planted ; care being taken that they 
are not put in too deep, for, if so, they are likely to rot and die off. The second 
year after planting out they will yield their maiden crop, and in the third may 
be said to be in full bearing, when an acre should yield on an average from 
200 Ib. to 270 Ib. per annum, though 350 1b. to 375 1b. are not unknown. The 
crop itself should be gathered when still green, and just before turning to a 
yellowish straw colour, for should the capsules be allowed to ripen they will at 
once “pop,” and the seed be lost. 
The fruit when fit for gathering resembles as nearly as possible a green 
gooseberry, only that, instead of growing away from the stem as gooseberries do, 
these spring from a thin long vine as grapes do, but growing always along the 
ground, and for this reason mulching of any kind, after the plant has attained 
maturity, should be avoided. 
In harvesting Cardamoms of either variety, it is necessary to go over the 
field at least twice a week and pick off the full capsules only. These, when — 
gathered, should be carefully washed in two waters, so as to remove all sand 
and impurities, which, from the nature of the fruit growing along the ground, 
are bound more or less to adhere to it; this having been done, place them in the 
sun to dry, turning them caréfully once or twice in the meantime. Care should 
here be taken only to allow just sufficient time to dry; too much exposure to 
