THE DASHEEN, A ROOT CROP FOR THE SOUTHERN STATES. 



27 



to make it possible to determine the species. The leaves of the dasheen 

 are shield shaped (figs. 1 and 2), like the caladium and the tanier of 

 the South, and contain the same acrid principle that characterizes the 

 Indian turnip and most other plants of this family. They should 

 never be tasted raw. The tubers of the most promising Trinidad 



Fig. 2.— a hill of the Trinidad dasheen. One dasheen plant will cover a square yard of ground and pro- 

 duce 4 to 10 pounds of tubers on good rich soil. This variety is one of the best flavored yet introduced. 



varieties are free from this acridity even in the raw state, but because 

 of the possibility of tubers of an acrid variety bemg mixed with these 

 it is best never to taste them uncooked. In cases of the accidental 

 tasting of acrid tubers or leaves, lemon juice in a little water is found 

 to alleviate the ill effects. 



[Cif. 127] 



