A, E. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 531 
i.—Arrow-root. 
Arrow-root was introduced into Bermuda rather more than one 
hundred years ago, and has been cultivated for commercial purposes 
for more than eighty years. It is still raised in considerable quanti- 
ties, but is relatively of much less importance than formerly. From 
100 pounds of the root, 15 to 20 pounds of starch are obtained.* 
The amount produced in 1832 was 34,883 pounds ; in 1833, 44,651 
pounds ; in 1835, 67,575 pounds. 
In 1844, the crop of rough arrow-roots was 1,110,502 pounds, 
yielding about 90 tons of starch for export. 
During the last thirty years the amount has usually varied 
between 9,000 to 33,000 pounds, but in 1876 and 1895 it was less 
than 5,000 pounds; while in 1873 and 1875 it was over 35,000 
pounds. In 1900 it was 33,350 pounds, valued at £1,792. The 
price has been very irregular, and the crop is very exhaustive to the 
soil. (See table.) 
j.—Easter Lilies, ete. 
» The cultivation of the Easter Lily, for its bulbs, for exportation, 
was begun about twenty years ago, and soon attained considerable 
importance. Although this culture still continues, it has very much 
decreased within the last few years,t owing to the spread of a 
destructive fungous disease among the bulbs. (See Part III, ch. 27.) 
The number of large bulbs suitable for exportation raised in 1890, 
according to the census, was 2,116,000; those for stock, 4,769,000. 
The exportation of the leaves of the Cycad or “Sago Palm” 
(Cycas revoluta) to New York, for decorative purposes, was carried 
on to a considerable extent, a number of years ago, especially by 
Mr. G. W. West. 
Many other vegetable productions have been exported, to some 
extent, at various times, for a large variety of crops can be grown 
here, including both those of the temperate and the tropical zones.t{ 
* A modern mill, with machinery for the manufacture of arrow-root, has 
recently been built at ‘‘ Belle Vue,” near Hamilton, by Mr. W. T. James. Such 
improvements may lead to a larger cultivation of this crop. 
+ It is said that the remedies now being used by many planters for the disease 
of the lily, and for the mite with which it is also infested, have been of great 
benefit, and that the yield is likely to increase. But the past winter, 1901-2, 
has been very unfavorable for this crop. 
{I have been unable to find any records of attempts to cultivate certain pro- 
ducts that have been found profitable in the West Indies, and which might, per- 
haps, do well in Bermuda. For instance: the cacao-tree (Theobroma), from 
