242 



AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 





ca, the West India 

 Islands and in Florida. 

 It requires a light, 

 loamy, fertile soil of 

 good depth. It is pro- 

 pagated by dividing 

 the roots and planting 

 in drills, 12 to 18 

 inches apart. The 

 ground requires stir- 

 ring occasionally, and 

 to be kept clear of 

 weeds. When a year 

 old, the roots are taken 

 up, well washed, then 

 reduced to a pulp by 

 bruising or grinding. 

 The pulp is then pass* 

 ed through a sieve, 

 and after the fecula 

 or starch has settled, 

 the water is poured 

 off. The sediment is again washed in pure water, then 

 dried, in which condition it forms the arrow root of com- 

 merce. This constitutes a light digestible food for invalids, 

 out affords little nourishment. It is essentially the same as 

 potato flour and tapioca, or the product of Manchot or sweet 

 cassava. 



This 



G-INSINGr (Panax quinqnefolium, Fig 57). 



plant is indigenous to the northern, middle and 

 western States, where it grows 

 spontaneously on the" hill-sides 

 when shaded by the forest trees. 

 It yields numerous fleshy roots, of a 

 yellowish color, from one to three 

 inches long, which are dug, washed 

 and dried, when they are ready for 

 market. It has a sweetish and 

 slightly aromatic taste, and con- 

 tains considerable proportions of 

 gum and starch. It possesses little 

 merit as a medicine, though highly 

 esteemed for its imaginary virtues 

 by the Chinese. The shipments 



Fio, 67. 



