The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-07

it is pruned, thinned and kept clear
of weeds. In three years the vine
begins to bear. After the berries
have been gathered, they are dried
on mats by exposure to the sun,
when they change colors from red to
black. Much experience is required
as to the proper time for gathering.
The trees which are generally Sc
lected in Malabar to support and
shade the pepper vine are the jack,
the mango, the cashew nut, and other
similar trees; so that the pepper is
an additional crop which the cultiva-
tor gathers from his orchard lands,
even while they also are bearing. i.
Although the quality of the pepper
grown in Malabar is considered to be
better, the largest quantity of the
spice is produced in Sumatra, where
the method ofcultiyation issomewhat
different. In that island the pepper
vine is raised in plantations regularly
laid out. The ground is previously
cleared of wood, plowed up, and sown
with rice, among which the cuttings
are put down at distance of FIVE
feet from each other in every direc-
ton, with the green sapling of some
tree OF quick growth and rough or
prickly bark, which soon takes root
and affords support and shade to the
vine as it grows. 1t grows most lux
uriously in moist, rich soil, provided
it obtains good shade. Like most
other vegetable productions in hot
climates, it requires but little trouble
or attention after. it has once been
planted, other than watching the
proper season for collecting the
berry. In Sumatra, the layers or cut.
tings are put down in September.
The plant is afterwards left to itself
for twelve or eighteen months, it is
then buried with all its branches, so
as to leave only small arch of the
stem above ground. From this arch
new shoots sprout out, three or four
of which are allowed to climb up the
tree, and are expected to produce
flowers and fruit in year after. 1t
is inferred that, by this practice, the
strength and vigor OF the plant are
so much increased by the multiplied
ton Of its organs of nourishment,
namely the roots, that it will not only
yield larger crop of flowers, but al.
so bring out its fruit in the greatest
perfection. The neglect of this pre-.
caution might seriously affect the out.
turn of crop, both in quantity and
quality.
The vine produces fruit in two sea
sons OF the year. The flowers OF the
principal crop appear in September
with the rain OF the first mon.
soon. In the latter end Of
December the berries begin TO
ripen, and are gathered in January,
as they get to maturity. The finest
berries in the second stage towards
maturity are selected for making
white pepper. The process in Su-
matra consists in sleeping these ber-
ries for three or four days in running
water, and then drying them well in
the sun. The flowers of the second
crop appear in March and April with
the rains of the little monsoon; and
the fruit ripens and is gathered about
July and August it isprobably to
the want of moisture at the time the
fruit is setting, that the interior quail.
ity and scantier out.turn OF the crop IS
to be attributed. One thousand vines
are estimated TO yield about ten and
half hundred weight of pepper IN
the course of a year SO that each vine
may be reckoned upon as producing
one and one-half pound OF the spice.
The black berries of Eanbeli0 It'6es,
Burn, are often used to adulterate
it in parts OF India, as they SO much
resemble pepper as to render it i'm
possible to distinguish them by sight
or by any other means, and they are,
withal, somewhat spicy. Although
there is very heavy penalty on adul-
teration in this country, ground pep.
per is frequently sold sophisticated
with starch, mustard husks, linseed
and capsicum.
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