ut fifty-six piculs annually
as an average.

A pepper plantation never survives the thirtieth year, unless in
extremely rich soil, and then it is unproductive; nor will the young
vine thrive on an old worn out pepper land, a peculiarity which is
applicable to the coffee tree. The chief crop lasts from August to
February. Four pounds of dry produce, for ten of green, is
considered a fair estimate. Great care is requisite in the
management of the vine, and especially in training and tying it on
the props. It is subject to be injured by the attacks of a small
insect. The green pepper dries in two or three days, and if it is
intended that it shall be black, it is pulled before it is quite
ripe. To make white pepper, the berry is allowed to remain somewhat
longer on the vine; it is, when plucked, immersed in boiling water,
by means of which process and subsequent friction, before drying,
the husk is separated.

The exports of pepper from Pinang in the last four years have
been--In 1849, 2,591,233 lbs.; in 1850, 6,397,733 lbs.; in 1851,
2,366,933 lbs.; in 1852, 2,112,133 lbs."

A small quantity of pepper seems to be annually exported from Ceylon,
which I presume is the growth of that island; thus there were:--

54 cwts. shipped in 1842
83 " " 1843
102 " " 1844

In the Customs' returns of Ceylon, it is classed with cardamoms, and
160 to 170 cwt. of the two were shipped in each of the years 1850 and
1851. Last year the quantity was smaller.

Pepper cultivation has been introduced into the Mauritius, and in 1839
more than 500,000 lbs. were imported from thence, but as the shipments
have since decreased, I presume it has given place to the more
profitable staple sugar. I have been able to glean no information as
to the progress it has made in the West Indies. In Cayenne it has
been successfully carried on for many years; and large shipments of
pepper have been made thence to France.

BLACK PEPPER EXPORTED FROM SINGAPORE.

Piculs. Value in rupees.
1841 Total Exports 66,810
" Growth of Singapore 21,231 47,674
1842 Exports 74,228
" Growth of Singapore 32,277 72,473
1843 Exports 57,883
" Growth of Singapore 35,585 79,900
1844 Exports 67,148