PORTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION. 433 



ill tinii's of sciiicity of other roots; when boiled, it re.seiiil)le.s a S(^ua.sh 

 ill color and flavor and seems to be free from rhaphides. 



YAMS. 



The follo\vini>- \ aiieties have been assembled: 



From Jamaica Department (if Agriculture: 



Barl)ados Table, Lucia. 



Yampie, or Indian, St. Vincent. 



Negro. 

 Collected in Grenada, British West Indiea: 



White LinlMm, St. Kitts. 



White, or AVater, St. Lucia. 

 From Hawaii Experiment Station: 



Uhi. 



Hoi. 

 Native varieties: 



Gunda {T>!o.<<corea hiilhifera), Congo. 



Mapues Morado {D. trifida), Gulem. 



Guinea, Agua. 

 Purchased: Chinese [D. dlvarlcata). 



Six species are represented in tliis collection. Most of the varieties, 

 however, belong either to TJioscorea aculeata or D. alata. 



An interesting- 3"am bean, l^elieved to be Calopogoniuin. cceruleum^ 

 is under investigation. For unknown reasons it is ver}^ seldom culti- 

 vated, ])ut is said to yield large roots of first-class quality. 



An exchange of the 3'am varieties has been instituted between Ha- 

 waii and Porto Rico. 



MISCKLLAXEOUS NATIVE CROPS. 



Two varieties of the native papaw ( Carica papaya) are being com- 

 pared with a variet}' the seeds of which were received through ]SIr. G. 

 N. Collins from Costa Rica. 



The plat of "Alaraca," or edible cwww^i {Canna edulU)^ is proving 

 less productive at Mayaguez than at Rio Piedras. The small plat at 

 the latter place yielded roots at the rate of about 15 tons per acre. A 

 largo Ilcsperid butterfl}- {Calpod^.^ t4hl!K.s) feeds upon the leaves, and 

 a l)lack fungus, the colonies of which occur in circular patches on the 

 upper side of the leaf, is also injurious. 



A plat of the rare root crop known as "Lleren" {Calathea alloiiya) 

 is making a good growth. Though difficult of cultivation, this peculiar 

 plant is highly })rized by the natives of the interior, and is even sold 

 in the streets of some of the large towns, the crisp, niit-like tubers 

 ranking with p<'amits in popidarity. 



The native "^lahiMga" {(olocasia antiquorum mcuhnUi) is under 

 comparison with the *" Dasheon " (Oy^Tf/.s-A/ sp. '.) of Trinidad. Oui 

 pl:iMl thus far appears superior to the im])orted one. 



S. Doc. 14S, 58-2 L'H 



