Archive for April, 2009

Cloves Inflorescences and flowers

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

The seedling produces a pronounced tap root which remains relatively short and is fairly quickly replaced by two or three primary sinkers which develop from it. During the first year, a mass of fibrous roots spread out from the tap root to a depth of about 25 cm and a radius of 36-50 cm.

The inflorescence is a terminal, corymbose, trichotomous panicle, shortly pedunculate and branched from the base, shorter than the leaves, and very variable in the number of flowers, from 3 flowers on a simple three-forked peduncle to as many as 50 or more when conditions have favoured the triple subdivisions of the peduncle. The angled peduncles and shorter pedicels, about 5 mm long, constitute the clove stems of commerce. The bracts and bracteoles are narrow, acute, 2-3 mm long, and quickly falling. The flower is hermaphrodite with a fleshy hypanthium which is surmounted by the sepals.

Cloves Diseases

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

The most important disease of clove trees in Zanzibar and Pemba is sudden-death disease. It has been known in Zanzibar for over a century and the periodical waves of incidence have culminated in losses which, since 1930, are said to have accounted for the destruction of about half the mature trees of Zanzibar Island and very numerous small outbreaks in Pemba.

Various die-backs have been described, including the sudden-death fungus, Valsa eugeniae, when entering the branches as a wound parasite. An extremely serious condition, however, is caused by the fungus Cryptosporella eugeniae Nutman & Roberts (syn. Endothia eugeniae (Nutman & Roberts) Reid & Booth). This is always associated with some form of injury to the tree, particularly when branches are broken during harvesting. The branch slowly dies back, the leaves turning brown, and the fungus proceeds downwards.

The History of Pimento

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

The dried unripe fruits of Pimenta dioica,,a,smallish, evergreen tree, provides the culinary spice pimento of commerce. It belongs to the Myrtaceae, the same family as the clove. Pimento is also called allspice, as the flavour is said to resemble a mixture of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. It is sometimes known as Jamaica pepper.

The first record of pimento being exported to London seems to be in 1601, when what appears to be pimento was given to Clusius by Garret, a London druggist. It must have reached Spain at a much earlier date.

An oil is extracted from the leaves which has been in commercial production in Jamaica since 1920. There was a considerable export of pimento saplings towards the end of the nineteenth century for use as walking sticks and umbrella sticks.

Patrick Browne (1775) records that the export of pimento had reached 438000 pounds, valued at 21925 by 1755, that by that time it was cultivated with great care and was planted in regular groves or `walks’. He also gives what appears to be the first record of barren trees.

A Gazebo Makes an Attractive and Useful Addition to Your Backyard

Monday, April 27th, 2009

There are many advantages of owning a gazebo and displaying it proudly in your yard. For example, you’ll have more room for outdoor living. It’s wonderful to have a sheltered, shady spot outdoors to enjoy a nice meal or just sit back and enjoy a cool breeze and a glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. A gazebo is just that kind of place.

A significant benefit of a gazebo is that it is an attractive outdoor decor feature for your property. It’s easy to enter a tranquil zone when you’re gazing at your landscape filled with all sorts of greenery and an attractive gazebo.

An outdoor gazebo offers more flexibility than a deck because it can be put anywhere without the limitations of having to be attached to the home where a doorway exits. As well, a gazebo can be moved to various locations as your needs and tastes change. This just isn’t possible with a sunroom or a deck. It is also less expensive than installing a sun room, yet still gives many of the same benefits like the extra outdoor living space and shade.

Finding a Good Exterminator

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

There are hundreds of pest control experts in Ontario. We know them as exterminators but the people working in the industry and specialize in exterminating pests are called pest control professionals. There are many things that determine what makes a pest control expert or exterminator a good choice and these things will also make a difference when it comes to the effectiveness of their service. You can see a few tips on selecting a good pest control professional or exterminator you can read on.

1.Searching for one. You can open the yellow pages and start going through all the pest control service providers in your area. This way you will find all the businesses that are listed under pest control, pest management or even exterminators in your city. This way can help but it isn’t necessarily efficient. Another effective way of searching for a pest control expert in your area is to go online and search for one. This way you can read reviews on the pest control companies in your vicinity. You should also select a pest control expert that have specific experience with the pest you want to exterminate

Capsicum Chili in India

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Capsicum species were introduced by the Portuguese into Southern India and by the end of the nineteenth century cultivation had spread throughout British India.

These semi-wild crop, the extent of which in any year was dependent upon the market price. Since the end of the Second World War, cycles of growth and decline in production have been experienced in each of these coun- tries, though at somewhat different rates.

In spite of the importance of chillies and capsicums to India in terms ‘Of domestic consumption, and to a lesser extent as an export commodity, little systematic research was carried out on the crop until 1955 and little emphasis was placed on selecting particular types to meet the requirements of specific export markets. With the decline of exports to Sri Lanka, further exemplified in the following. section on trade, it has been appreciated that traditional exports should be modified. Research has been undertaken by a number of establishments over recent years to improve production of both chillies and capsicums.

Got Money To Spare? If Not, Settle For the Sunroom Kits

Friday, April 24th, 2009

With sunroom do-it-yourself kits, you won’t need the assistance of a sunroom contractor just to enjoy having a sunroom in your home. In other words, sunroom construction can also be done by a novice like you. For you to do this, you only need little knowledge on the things to consider when shopping for a sunroom kit. This kind of kit is a great hit to those planning to build sunrooms and at the same time save a huge amount of money. This is actually great news to every homeowner as they not only get the chance to trim down sunroom expenses but they can also pride of building a sunroom on their own. So, take time to learn and discover the necessary things you need to know to get the best and ideal sunroom for your home.

As a novice in the sunroom construction, you might have noticed that sunroom kits are offered in different styles, types, and sizes. This way, homeowners can have the freedom to choose on the one that works best for their preference and taste. But before you start spending your hard-earned money on the sunroom kit, take note on some of the important factors.

Oleoresin capsicum

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

This is the most important of the three products. While accounts of its commercial production are understandably scarce. According to Mathew et al. (1971), who studied the preparation of the production of oleoresin from African, Indian, and Japanese chillies, the chillies are usually supplied with stalks attached, and these have to be removed, to facilitate grinding and to avoid the undesirable green colour of chlorophyll in the final product.

Commercial capsicum oleoresins are usually supplied in pungency ratings ranging from between 500 000 and 1 800 000 Scoville.units (approximately 3.9-14 per cent capsaicin, w/w) with colour values, expressed on the ASTA (American Spice Trade Association) scale, of 3 500 units maximum and 400 units maximum in decolorized types. Replacement strengths of 1 kg of 500 000 Scoville unit oleoresin for 20 kg of good-quality cayenne have been claimed by manufacturers.

Capsicum oleoresin obtained from the whole fruit contains a considerable amount of fixed oil, originating mainly from the seeds. Pearson (1976) reported a range of 15.5-22.0 per cent in whole chillies. If the fixed oil is to remain in the oleoresin, the latter is liable to become rancid in storage.

Chili Color

Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009

Pods with a high fat content are more susceptible to colour deterioration and that removal of the seeds, which contain a high proportion of the fat, might inhibit discoloration.

The eventual volatile- oil content of the dried product, however, may be lower and is dependent upon the drying procedure, the duration and condition (whole or ground) of storage. Paprika powder, for example, usually contains less than 0.5 per cent of volatile oil.

The characteristic aroma and flavour of the fresh fruits used as vegetables’is imparted by the volatile oil. However, although present in paprika powder, capsicums and chillies, the volatile oil is generally regarded as being of lesser importance than the colour and pungency of the dried products as a determinant of acceptability and value. Conse- quently, relatively little attention has been devoted to the volatile oil and those studies carried out have been concerned mainly with the larger-fruited types of C. annuutn.

The distribution of the volatile oil in the fruit appears to be uneven, being largely found in the pericarp (Winton and Winton, 1939); and during maturation, the volatile-oil content progressively increases (Sievers and McIntyre, 1921). More recently, changes during matura- tion and differences between paprika cultivars grown in Eastern Europe have been reported by Ciric (1970) and peppers (C. annuum var. grossum) has been examined by Buttery et a!. (1969) using gas chromatography.

Ideas for Decorative Concrete Floors

Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

The ugliest and most boring concrete slab can be made into an attractive feature with clever use of paint. Faux painting techniques are the budget-friendly answer to transforming boring floors.

In theory, almost any look can be replicated, by introducing color, pattern and texture. The ideal design will vary according to the room or space you are making over. You may want a color scheme or theme to complement the decor style and/or function of a room or outdoor area.

Before You Begin

The design and finish you choose should be well matched to your floor. If you want to distract attention from an imperfect floor, paint techniques can achieve that. If you want a sophisticated, smooth finish, remember you may have to repair and patch the surface thoroughly before you start.

You will also need to think about the traffic in the area you are painting. Is it worth doing an elaborate, time-consuming pattern in a high traffic area? If you don’t like the distressed look that will result, you may want to rethink. Designs also need matching to the surface area. Large, bold patterns may be out of scale for a small room. Equally, small, detailed patterns may get lost in large spaces. If you are using stencils, note that some manufacturers can resize stencils for you.