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ing flour and bread, like that of the other species. Indeed, some 

 of the people here tell me that they prefer the bread made from 

 M. brava to that made from M. duke. , It makes a lighter bread 

 they say, but I cannot see much difference between them. In 

 Brazil, I believe, the M, utilissma is most commonly used in 

 making cassava bread and tapioca, but either species will pro- 

 duce the same result, and certainly M. dulce is much the safer of 

 the two. Why two species so closely resembling each other m 

 all external botanical characteristics, growing side by side in the 

 same soil and under the same conditions, should develop such 

 different active principles, is one of the vegetable mysteries which 

 . cannot be solved, but that they do is certain. I do not find that 

 the roots of the M. brava are ever exposed for sale in the mar- 

 ket, though those of M. dulce may always be seen in great 

 piles upon the floors and benches of the market-house. The 

 people evidently have a wholesome dread of the poisonous species. 



The Mandioca is very prolific. It is grown from slips, and 

 never from seed, so far as I have observed. All one has to do in 

 order to get a field of it is to cut the stem into layers, as is done 

 with sugar-cane, and stick the joints into the ground, where it 

 readily sprouts. I afn told that one plant will continue to send 

 out roots for nine or ten years in succession, and even propagate 

 itself in this manner, if not cut off. The roots, which are the only 

 part of the plant used, are from one to two inches thick, and run 

 just beneath the surface of the ground for two or three feet. They 

 have a brownish coat, and a granular, white interior. For table 

 use they are generally taken when about nine or ten inches long, 

 or else broken up into pieces of this length. 



I hope to see this valuable garden plant introduced into the 

 United States. I do not see why it may not be easily raised m 

 our Southern States, where the temperature is similar to that of 

 Paraguay. So far as I have observed, the Mandioca (or Cassava, 

 as some persons choose to call it) prefers a light or sandy soil, and 

 a temperature such as the Palmetto or the Orange requires. It 



is true that Paraguay has a very humid climate, and possibly the 

 Mandioca might not at first thrive in a dry region, but that is a 

 question that can be settled only upon trial. I am quite certain 

 that if it were once known in our country, and all its valuable 



