■2\\ 

 732. -THE TANNIA. 



Owing to its producing- one of the staple foods of the working 

 classes in the Wes1 Indies, the class of plants of which the Tannia is 

 a member j lias been the subject of a careful investigation at the 

 Experiment Station at Porto Rico. 



Mr. O. W. Barrett, the author of the pamphlet recording the 

 results, was in Porto Rico for some years, but has since been with- 

 drawn for duty at head-quarters in the United States. 



The -work done is excellent, and the results are recorded, so 

 simply, that one is apt to wonder why the work was never thought of 

 before. 



Mr. Barrett observes that Ave have two distinct plants under the 

 name of Tannia, and he describes the best kinds for cultivation. The 

 author appears to prefer the Spanish name Yantia or Malanga to the 

 name of Tannia by which the plants are known in Trinidad. 



He shows that the Taro of the East is a different species to the 

 Tannia of the West, but curiously enough omits mention of the 

 "Dasheen" which probably belongs to the plants of the East, while 

 the ordinary Tannia is considered a native of the Western world, and 

 known under the name of Xanthosoma, to which genus all the West 

 Indian plants belong. 



The pamphlet is Bulletin No. 6, Porto Rico Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station. Published by Government Printing Office, Washing- 

 ton, D.C., U.S.A. 



733.-THE SPECIAL QUALITIES OP PLANTS. 



By J. H. Hart, F.L.S., Supt. Royal 'Botanic Gardens, Trinidad. 



1. The influence of the soil on the special qualities of agricultural 

 products. 



2. Are the special qualities possessed by plants sufficiently re- 

 garded ? 



It was at first intended that the subjects standing in my name 

 should be taken separately, but they are so nearly connected that it 

 has been deemed preferable to discuss both propositions under the 

 one head. 



In dealing with the influence of the soil, I would point out that 

 it is only the special qualities that I propose to consider, and that 

 such points as increase in size or quantity of produce are not under 

 discussion. 



An idea exists with many untrained tropical planters that cer- 

 tain soils are able to change the character or special qualities of 

 plants and their produce. On the other hand, there is no little 

 evidence that such special qualities are inherent to certain individual 

 plants. 



