Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-06
Black Pepper.

ONE Of our readers wish 70 know more
iut the pepper, that IS always on every
ierlcan table that supports castor, lhan
mere fact that II Is tropical product,
ID Is grown chiefly on the spice Islands
tn ~ the Asiatic peninsula. Wen, we
II to please, rs well A. To Instruct our
ders.
lack pepper was for ages considered
rs cholce article. Like gold, silver ana
,cious stones It was for many generations
ind only on royal tables. and those u thu
n and noble who aspired to rank withthe
fers Of the realm, Choice spices
4 rare gums we're among the precious
e Isures Of the kings Of Egypt more
N two thousand years before the chris
i purchased Joseph from his brothers
/ sold him into Egypt were bearers of
,lcery and balm" for the Egyptian market
4 when the sons Of jacob were making
.parations to visit that land the second
3, TO propltiate the Lord Of the realm,
In father said TO them Take Of the best
its OF the land, and carry down little
IN and little honey, spices and myrrh,
ts and almonds" Indeed, during the
my days Of Egypt, when they embalmed
their Distinguished dead, precious gums
led into requisiIion. Even the Israelltes,
their ritualistic worship, held In such
n esteem many Of these gums and oils
their law forbade their use for any other
rpose.
Z, Ia not, therefore, surprising that during
first centuries Of the Christion era even
common spice, which Is known as black
pper, was priced as highly In the city Of
me Gs It's weight in gold,
When this pepper was first discovered II
growing spon'eneoaasly ay as & Eihd ysii q
ioded valleys, where the soil was rich and
. list the air hot and humid, such cOndl
us are found In southern India, Java,
lmatra, Sierra Leone and Isle of France.
rows on yines-not unlike grapes, but
ich smaller, which creep along the
iund, and frequently throws ont new
is. II Is most successfully cultivated un-
i rtall trees " hich secure for the vine shade
4 support. The vino may be cultivated and
alned TO ascend large trees, into whose
Ugh bark II fastens Its roots or tendrlls.
i nere the soil is deep, rich and moist, these
res will often reach height Of 20 TO ~
l. Though for convenience of gathering,
y are seldom permitted 10 grow much
cher than II man head. The leaves are
f.. al and the blossoms white. When these
Il the borrlcs grow ON the stem that Is lett
I'd this spike of vigorous vine Will beaI
ON twenty to ffty berries. From green
cy turn to red, and when they attain u
ii rk chocolate shade, they are deemed ma
re, and the spike is pincnod OF and placed
, mats, OF on hard, dry, smooth ground u
/ . sun or In open basket' before gentl,
tre few days They ATE then cleaned and
) ,dy to be placed In mats or sacks whlci
called piculs Each Of these, when vel
! led, Is supposed to weigh 1881 pounds.
spices Of all kinds, like teas, coffee anc
; Its OF every variety, are greatly improved
; cultivation and wise, skllliul attention
10 migration of Chinese and Europeans Il
, lthern Asia, Malacca and the spic'
I ands, who have given special attention Il
! growth and cultivation Of pepper, hay'
] rastly increased Its production and intrinsic
, llue. Yet at the same time, they hay
J ,rned that II Is possible to mix up with tn
! ire berry the pepper stems, pieces pf tn
ne and other material, which, when pul
, .rized, taste and smell so much like peppe
that none but nm expert can INTEL tsently Al
firm that the product is either impure q
Hdulterated,
but conscientious aud honorable men,wh
, yn and run mills for grinding pepper, u
/, refully screen the pure. round peppe
l,rry from stems, vines, dirl aud rubbish {
/ kinds, as good miller does wheat mn
corn from smut, Gobs and all foreign mat
l II before they pour these grains Into tn
pppet.