Betel-nuts

IMG:p60_2.png:Chinese characters lang, one of the chief articles of export from Hainan Island, where there are large groves of the Areca palm, especially at Aichow and Lingshui. The trees are planted some 15 feet apart, and bear fruit from the age of ten to ninety years. Their most prolific period is between their 15th and 30th year, when one tree will produce 700 or 800 nuts, valued at about 40 cents. Large herds of cattle are allowed to roam at will through the plantations, and their manure serves to fertilize the soil. The groves are said to be the seat of malaria, especially at the season when the trees are in flower. Hainan nuts are superior to those from Singapore, which are imported for the purpose of adulteration. The nuts, in halves, are dried in the sun; each half is wrapped in a leaf of the Chaveca betel, on which a little lime has been daubed; it is then ready for chewing. It makes lips, gum and saliva a bright red colour. The taste is astringent. The habit of chewing the betel-nut is common in parts of South China. In 1916 Pels. 23,667 were exported: value Tls. 171,808; the value imported being Tls. 293,548. Notes and Queries on China and Japan, Sept IMG:p60_3.png:Chinese characters IMG:p60_4.png:Chinese characters 1868.