•130 

 JAMAICA CASSAVA. 



Anahjsis of selected local varieties. 



By H. H. Cousins M. A. (Oxon), F. C. S. 

 Government Analytical and Agricultural Chemist. 



In view of the interest which is now being taken in cassava as a" 

 commercial source of starch and glucose, it appeared desirable to an- 

 alyse some typical varieties of the cassava generally grown by the 

 peasantry of the island. A collection of representative varieties was 

 made by Mr, Cradwick of the Agricultural Department and planted at 

 Hope in January, 1902. These represent the most valued sorts grown 

 by the peasantry in the Alligator Pond district where Cassava is an 

 important staple. 



After fifteen months growth, samples were sent to the Laboratory 

 for analysis and are here reported on. 



The Hon. T. H. Sharp, who has taken an active part for some years 

 in advancing the cassava industry, submitted a collection of seven 

 varieties grown on his property ' Inverness' in the South East of 

 Clarendon, and these have been analysed and the results are here re- 

 corded. 



The tubers represented the entire produce of average hills and were 

 truly extraordinary. The yield of cassava in this district must be 

 enormous. The cost of production is also exceedingly low owing to the 

 fact that the cassava has not to compete against weeds and the culti- 

 vation necessary to grow the crop of the simplest and easiest character. 



Given a water supply, this district should produce cassava in enor* 

 mous quantity at the lowest possible cost and the success of a starch 

 factory be assured. Some of the varieties grown at Hope appear to be 

 identical with the Inverness Bitter Cassava. It is to be noted that 

 the ' Brown Stick' which leads in starch and sugar content in the 

 Hope Series is also first in the Inverness Series, while the Clarendon 

 tubers contain about 9 per cent, more starch than those grown in the 

 Liguanea plain at Hope. This supports the statement of many prac- 

 tical men that cassava varies a good deal in quality in Jamaica depen- 

 dent upon the soil and conditions under which it is grown. 



The analyses were made on the entire tuber, unpeeled. Tbe whole 

 of each sample was first pass through a slicing machine, then carefully 

 sampled and a smaller portion pulped from which the sample for ana- 

 lysis was prepared. In the analysis of cassava it is imperative to avoid 

 keeping the tubers since decomposition rapidly sets in. It is clear 

 that a cassava factory umst be in close touch with the centre of pro- 

 duction and that it would not be practicable to send cassava from long: 

 distances owing to this fact. 



The tables of analyses of the two Series are here set out. 



