MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



367 



Description of Tubers. 



The tubers are ashy grey in colour and varied in shape, some being oval, others 

 conical about 1 to 3 in diameter and weighing each about 6 to 12 oz. or 1 lb. 

 They are found usually about 6" to 9" from the surface in loose rocky soil 

 growing in clusters like potatoes. A tuber planted in June attains full develop- 

 ment of its stem in about 6 weeks and the leaves remain green till about 

 October, when the stem as already stated withers and dries up. It climbs 

 specially up the bole of a tree to a height of about 12 to 13 feet. Flowering 

 often does not take place when the tuber is planted in soft good garden soil. 

 The Kathodis who are the wood-cutters and charcoal-burners of the Thana 

 district are the chief consumers of the tubers which are largely utilized in 

 seasons of distress. In ordinary years Karva Kand (Dioscorea bulbiferd) and 

 Londi {Dioscorea pentaphylld) tubers are more extensively resorted to. 



Mode of pkeparation for food. 



The tubers are immersed in running water all night, removed in the morning, 

 then boiled, peeled and eaten. If not immersed in water but boiled only they 

 produce intoxicating effects, a condition which is described by the local people 

 as "Maz." 



Chemical Analysis. 



Through the courtesy of Mr. Burkill, Reporter on Economic Products to 

 the Government of India, the tubers were submitted to chemical analysis and 

 afforded the following constituents : — 



For the sake of comparing the dietetic value of these tubers with that of 



the potato, the following results of the analysis of this well-known food is 



reproduced from the Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western 



Australia : — 



Water ... ... ... ... 78*3 



Protein ... 



Fat 



Carbohydrates 

 Mineral matter 



2-2 



0-1 



18-4 



1-0 



100-0 



Nitrogenous matter. 

 Principally starch. 



The above figures, like others for composition of food-materials, represent 



general averages, from which there are wide variations in individual specimens. 



C. M. RYAN, I.F.S., f.l.s. 

 Bandra, near Bombay, bth October 1903. 



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