30 CIRCULAR NO. 127, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



doubtless command a much liigher price than either the corms or 

 the smaller tubers. The corms do not usually keep as well as the 

 tubers and it is therefore advisable to utilize them as early as 

 practicable after harvesting. 



CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS, 



The dasheen requires rich, sandy soil, very moist but well dramed. 

 The plant will not be greatly injured by occasional flooding for a 

 short period. Such lands as the so-called hammock lands of Florida 

 are especially adapted for the cultivation of this crop. Any low- 

 h-ing sandy land that is fairly well drained, but still too wet for 

 general field crops, can be used to advantage. On these low lands 

 it would be advisable to plant on ridges. 



Plantmg should be done as early in spring as the conditions of 

 soil and climate will permit. This may be as early as the first of 

 February' in southern Florida and as late as the last of March or 

 the early part of April in the Carolmas. 



Preliminary experiments mdicate that it does not pay to use very 

 small dasheens for planting if larger tubers are available, as tliis may 

 result in the yield being reduced by as much as 15 per cent. Tubers 

 of 3 to 5 ounces in weight are preferable for planting. For field cul- 

 ture the tubers, imless very small or very large, are planted, singly 

 and entire, from 2 to 3 inches deep in lulls 3 feet apart, the distance 

 between rows being 4 feet. This will permit horse cultivation. In 

 cultivating during the siunmer the soil should be gradually drawn 

 to the plants and the plants kept free from weeds; they usually 

 require little cultivation after becoming large enough to shade the 

 ground. Well-grown plants will reach a height of 4|- to 6 feet or 

 more by midsmnmer. 



The crop matures in about seven months, although the tubers can 

 be utilized for home use in six months or less from planting. The 

 harvesting of the main crop may be deferred a month or two, if 

 desu-ed, but if it is to be done at one time, in order to have warm, 

 dry weather for the dasheens to dry properly on the ground, it should 

 not be delayed till there is danger of frost. For tliis reason it will 

 usually be best to harvest dasheens sometime in October. It ^vill 

 sometimes prove advantageous in practically frost-free localities or 

 where the roots can be protected to leave them in the ground until 

 wanted for use or until spring. 



"Wliere soil and climatic conditions are favorable, dasheens will pro- 

 duce from 4 to 10 pounds or more to the plant. Under experunental 

 conditions at Brooks\ille, Fla., in different soils and in different 

 seasons, the Department of Agriculture has secured yields rangmg 

 from 140 to 450 bushels to the acre. Satisfactory results have not 

 [Cir. li;"] 



