87 



But in the unique example of the latter, the receptacle was much 

 longer (11 cent., comprising the peduncle, which measured about 

 6 cent.) 



Further, this receptacle was bifurcated. The clubs having a 

 more or less cylindrical form, without enlargement in the middle. 



Cooke compares them to a darning needle. There are known 

 already, on the larvae of the Elaterideae, two Cordyceps — C. stylopJiora, 

 Berk & Br,, from South Carolina, and an unnamed species found by 

 Mr. Mac-Owan at the Cape of Good Hope ; but these two species are 

 of small size and are near to C. Barnesii, Thw., parasites on the larva3 

 of Melon thideae of Ceylon. 



150. -CASSAVA OR MANIOC. 



Mahihot Aipi. 



In a paper read before the Agricultural Society of Trinidad in 

 May, 1895, Mr. T. J. St. Hill answers the question "Does Sweet 

 Cassava ever come bitter and poisonous ?" with the words '' emphati- 

 cally it does," and proceeds to mention several varieties by name. He 

 says those with " white and black stems are very apt to degenerate 

 into the bitter," and states that the change seems to depend upon the 

 soil, as well as the length of time the roots arealloived to "'stand over," 

 and that the roots will not become sweet again after once becoming 

 bitter. (Italics ours). 



Mr. St. Hill states that native growers distinguish six varieties, 

 knoAvn respectively as — 



1. Manioc Fromageux. 4. Mauioc Frfere Boy. 



2. ,, Cochon. 5. ,, Camanioc 



3. ,, Fr^re Pierre. 6. ,, Augure. 



'J'he last he states to be the most poisonous, and from his personal 



observations he makes three distinct kinds of bitter Cassava. 



The question of poison in Cassava or Manioc w^as referred to in 



Bulletin No. 1, Vol. II., January, 1895, Article 101. It was there 



stated as follows :- - 



It becomes fairly clear that, either we have not the true non-poisonous 

 variety in Trinidad or that Francis did not find it ; or 2nd, that there is over 

 conlideuce in attributing non -poisonous properties to the sweet Cassava. 



Mr. St. Hill's paper goes to confirm the supposition above given ; 

 and until it is proved by analysis of sets of specimens from different 

 districts, that there exists a kind of sweet Cassava which does not 

 contain any poisonous principle whatever, it would be safer to take 

 Mr. St. Hill's statement as correct. 



