14 LETTERS ON AGRICULTURE. 



ing the vines, and sometimes three or more crops are taken from one 

 planting. After the harvest of the deeply buried roots, the portions 

 above are allowed to grow and "make heads," as they say here. These 

 heads are used to start a new plantation, being cut into large pieces, 

 each containing several buds, and are then buried or covered in a pile, 

 together with straw T or leaves, until the buds start, when they are 

 planted as just described. From one head several of the edible roots 

 are produced, but the proportionate increase in comparison with sweet 

 potatoes is in the latter' s favor. The yield is not more than three or 

 four times what is planted. So far as I could ascertain, it is the gen- 

 eral practice in Jamaica to plant large heads, the larger the better, or 

 at least large cuttings of the root itself. No such system of sprouting 

 is employed as with the sweet potato; in fact, the idea prevails that 

 the young plant is dependent for too long a time upon what nourish- 

 ment it draws from the head to make such a method possible. Only 

 feeble plants would result. 



Of the recognized varieties of yams, the Negro yam, Lucy yam, or 

 Blue Vine vam, which are considered by Mr. R. W. Miles, one of the 

 best informed growers of these plants in the island, as synonymous or 

 at least only slightly different varieties, is that bearing in the shortest 

 time from planting. If planted in April it matures its crop in October. 

 The White yam, although requiring longer to mature, is a much better 

 keeper; in fact, it can lie kept for months with perfect ease if the 

 broken surfaces are painted with a mixture of quicklime and water. 

 The Aft'oo or Yellow yam is extensively grown, but is considered no 

 better than the White and is inferior in keeping qualities. The 

 Yampie is a poor keeper and from the difficulties in its culture, as 

 well as its oreat inferiority in size, is, for amount of nutriment 

 furnished, a much more expensive product. Slight bruises injure the 

 roots and decays start in very quickly. 



The vam plantations are more abundant and successful in the cooler 

 moist regions of the island, I am informed, and from all appearances 

 it is reasonable to assume that the plant requires a great deal of 

 moisture. 



Should an attempt be made to grow these yams in America it could 

 only hope for success in regions where either the rainfall is heavy 

 enough, over 20 inches a year, or where water for irrigation is at 

 command. This is not stating that the plant can not withstand a 

 reasonable amount of dry weather. The heads ought to be planted as 

 soon as danger from frost is past in spring; advantageously, in boxes 

 in a cold frame. Two months would be no exorbitant estimate for 

 starting the heads, and they might well be planted in February under 

 a cold frame. When planted in hills the heads should be well covered, 

 the earth being drawn up well about the base of the vine, as with 

 sweet potatoes. To maintain sufficient heads for planting the follow- 



