30 THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 



Could collect seeds of Asclcpias iubcrosa and prickly ash. The 

 prices paid for seeds range from a few cents to a dollar a 

 pound, or even more when the seeds are small or light. 

 In general it is not desirable to spend time in collecting a 

 miscellaneous lot of seeds, but if one happens to live where 

 seeds of desirable kinds are plentiful, the collection may do 

 a good turn for the nurseryman and result in increased income 

 as well. Now that the famous plant embargo has excluded — 

 temporarily, we hope — a number of the desirable things from 

 Europe, attention is turned more than ever to the interesting 

 things in our fields and woods. Those who are inclined to 

 take up the collection of seeds would do well to communicate 

 with Messrs. Bobbink & Atkins, Rutherford, N. J. or with 

 Naperville Nurseries, Naperville, 111. 



DashkKns. — Tlirough the kindness of Prof. S. M. Tracy, 

 of Biloxi, Miss., we have had the opportunity to try out that 

 recentlv introduced tropical vegetable known as the dasheen 

 {Calocasia antiqitoniui csculrjifiiJii.) This plant is a near 

 relative of the caladium, or elephant's ear. grown in northern 

 regions as a lawn plant, :uid it has other relatives in every 

 iniblic conservatory, to say nothing of such humbler kin grow- 

 ing wild, as the Indian turnij). sweet flag, and skunk's cabbage. 

 The edible portion is the siiort upright stem, technically a 

 corm, which is a l)ull)likc object often as l)ig as one's two fists. 

 When boiled or baked they have an attractive nutty flavor 

 faintly suggestive of artichokes. Were ihc white or "Irisli" 

 potato less firmly entrenched in popular favor, the dasheen 

 would likel\- be in greater demand than is now the case. In the 

 South, however, where the white potato is n<it the staple 

 article of food it is in the Northern States, it is likely that the 

 dasheen will find aj steadily growing market. In the cooler 

 parts of our countrv it is also likely to find favor as an agree- 

 able change from too much potato. 



