I9O THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



into a bed of sand to sprout fully assured that 

 buds will be formed, and stems rise. This pecul- 

 iarity of a root tuber, the formation of buds, is not 

 commonly met with. It is found in raspberry 

 and apple and other fruits. Plant a bit of root, 

 and a shoot rises to form a new plant. Cut down 

 and try to destroy some trees, and leafy shoots 

 rise from the tips of roots left in the ground. All 

 such plants arise from buds that are called adven- 

 titious, and occur without definite order. They 

 are abnormal and unusual. The sweet potato has 

 come to be propagated by this method of root- 

 cuttings. 



The sweet potato is rich in starch and sugar 

 and has a distinctive flavor that makes it a favorite 

 root vegetable in many lands. The Northerner 

 likes it to come to the table mealy and dry; the 

 Southerner likes it waxy, or even sticky. A favor- 

 ite Southern mode of cooking serves the "yam" 

 in a syrup. Up North, butter and salt season it to 

 taste. So the Southern grower is disappointed, if 

 he sends any but dry, mealy varieties to Northern 

 markets. 



Quantities of sweet potatoes are canned. Some 

 are evaporated. Sweet potato meal, glucose and 

 even alcohol are commercial products. The vines 

 are cured and fed as hay. Small and damaged 



