389 



"Rare Xo. l-^fi. .save vorv similar tiil)ers and its avora^je return 

 was only ■<^ lbs. 7 oz. (llo;'. i^rannnes) or per acre nearly 2 tons 

 I) (wt. It (littered from NO. 2(i in possessing a little ma^jenta sap 

 tlirouf"]! the firm tiesh. rnt'ortiinately it is not known exactly 

 what its origin was, but it came either from the i)lains of Sylhet 

 or till' adjoining parts of the Kiiasia Hills. 



I'ace No. 4(S from tbe Philippine islands whicli returned on 

 the average -t lbs. 2 oz. (J.S71 grammes) per plant, produces tubers 

 differing from the last in no way except the entire absence of 

 magenta sap. The yield per acre at the result obtained would be 

 nearly 4 tons 3 cwt. 



Tn minor characters the races possessing these small neat 

 rounded tubers differ somewhat among themselves, e.g. Xo. 26 

 possesses prickles on its stem ; but not so any of the others. All 

 have similarly shaped leaves, but in this respect still differ a little. 

 And all are inclined to be early ripening. 



Excellence for the tal)le would seem to be connected with 

 grudging production. 



SHORT BRAXCHED YAMS. 



Yam Xo. 170 from J*ort Darwin in Tropical Australia is 

 figured at the top of plate 4. The tubers as there seen, branch at 

 a short distance down in the soil, these brandies being inseparable 

 without breaking a considerable thickness of tissue. Thirteen 

 plants of it were grown, the sets when planted weighing 6 lbs., and 

 gave a return of 9-^ lbs. 13 oz.. or on the average 15| lbs. from 

 every 1 11). planted. 



The flesh of the yams is white, with magenta sap in the tissue 

 Just under the skin. 



The average yield was 7 ll)s. 2 oz. (3232 grammes) or at the 

 rate of ratlier over 7 tons 3 cwt. per acre. 



Quite a numl)er of other similar races have been grown: and 

 it would seem as if there is something advantageous about them 

 which makes tliem favoured in certain regions. Tt well may be 

 that by branching their yield is increased without the demanding 

 of deep soil, or deep cultivation. In the Philippine islands for 

 instance their place seems to be important; and of the races now 

 to be enumerated those bearing the numbers 2(», 22, 44, 58, 64 and 

 78 came thence. Baces Xo. 98 and 174 came from Saigon. The 

 first of these two Saigon races is also figured on plate 4. 



The characters and yield of the races Just enumerated will 

 now be given seriatim. 



Race Xo. 20 from tlie Philippine islands has wliite flesh with 

 a layer of magenta-coloured tissue Just under the skin : and ex- 

 ternally it is rather freely covered with rootlets. The average 

 yield was good being 1(5 lbs. 11 oz. (7'569 grammes) which is a 

 return at the rate of 16 tons lo cwt. per acre. 



