484 VILLA GARDENING part v 



weeds through the summer. The roots will be fit for use when 

 large enough. They keep best in the ground till required for use, 

 but shoukf be lifted in March before growth begins, and packed in 

 earth or sand in a cool place. The Scorzonera has a darker-coloured 

 root, and is less likely to fork out, otherwise there is but little 

 difference in the treatment required. It shoidd be sown at the 

 same time as the Salsafy and receive as much space. 



The Chinese Yam. — The Chinese Yam differs from most other 

 kinds in having a much longer root. When it was introduced it 

 was much puffed up, and the seedsmen made a good thing of it. 

 Like many others, I cultivated it, because at that time (about 

 thirty years ago) it was thought it might prove a substitute for 

 the Potato, which was looked upon as being doomed. A very 

 few years served to satisfy most people that the Chinese Yam 

 could never become a substitute for the Potato, though it might 

 be grown as a fancy dish for a change. I took a great deal of 

 pains with its culture, and raised some very large, very ugly roots ; 

 but the housekeeper was the only person who cared for them, and 

 so their cultivation dwindled away. I tried hard to induce others 

 as well as myself to like them ; but the " praties " beat them out 

 of the garden as they had previously done out of the field. 

 Nevertheless, to those who do like them, they are a nourishing 

 article of diet, and may be easily cultivated. As the gromid for 

 them must be deeply worked, they will form good preparatory 

 crops for Onions, Peas, Beans, Cauliflowers, etc. The land 

 should be thrown into ridges 3 feet apart during winter, and 

 well manured. Plant the sets along the top of the ridge, 15 

 inches apart, early in April ; and place some Pea sticks for the 

 gTOwth to climb up, as the support given] to the haulm adds 

 to the growth of the tubers. Unless the soil is very rich 

 and deep the roots had better remain two years in the ground 

 before they are lifted for use. As they run down very deep, they 

 must be carefully trenched out. They do not keep well out of 

 the ground, and when lifted for use should be packed in earth or 

 sand in a cool cellar, or buried in a cool shady spot, with a good 

 thickness of soil over them. The roots not only run down deep, 

 but are largest at the bottom, and this adds to the difficulty of 

 lifting them. The small upper parts of the tubers shoidd be 

 preserved to cut into sets for planting. It may be advisable to 

 start the sets in pots and plant out when the buds are starting ; 

 this will prevent any blanks appearing in the rows. 



