BOOK m. CHAP. Vlll. 781 



The caffada-bread, mixed with milk and a httle fweet-oil, makes 

 an admirable poultice for ripening and breaking tumors. 



1 15. Sweet Cassada. — latropha, foliis falmath, came nlvedy £s'c.. 



Browne, p. 350. 

 This refembles tlic former plant, and is cultivated after the fame 

 manner ; but the root is free from any of the ill quality obferved in 

 the juices of the other fort. It is roafted or boiled for ufc : but the 

 latter is thought the beft method of dreffing it; for, in this ftate, 

 the outward part is commonly brought almoft to the ftate of a jelly, 

 and is extremely delicate and agreeable, A fine flour is made from, 

 it. This fpecies bears a large berry. 



. r Neg roe-Yam. — Diofcorea, radice iuberofd luted. 

 (.White-Yam. — Diofcorea, radice albd aut purpurea. 



Both thefe plants are cultivated here viniverfally for food ; but 

 the former, which is of a yellowifli colour, is coarfe, frequently 

 ftringy, and not fo much in efteem as the fecond, vulgarly called, 

 by the Negroes, bocbara-yam. 



The roots grow to a confiderable bulk, and above a foot in 

 length ; are mealy, eafy of digeftion, palatable,, and nutritious. 



Both plants are propagated by a flice from the root, fo cut as to 

 have a little of the Ikin upon it, by which alone they germinate ; 

 for the roots have no apparent germs, but caft out their weakly 

 fl-ems from every part of the furface alike. They are put into con- 

 venient holes (two or three in each), generally dug pretty regular, 

 and about a foot and an half, or two feet, fquare. Thefe are after- 

 wards filled from the adjoining banks ; and the whole piece covered 

 with cane, or other tralh, which ferves to keep the ground cool and 

 frefh, and to prevent the growth of weeds, from which thefe plants 

 muft be carefully preferved, until they grow fufficiently to cover 

 the mould themfelves. They may be planted about January and 

 February, and will be fit to dig about Chriftmas, or in Auguft,. 

 m order to come in about May following. 



When the root is dug up,, care is taken not to wound it, or as- 

 little as poflible ; for fuch as are cut throw out fprouts very early, 

 and are leldom fit for any thing, except planting, if they hold out 

 even till the proper feafon comes round. After they are taken up,. 

 and cleared from the mould, they are rubbed ov.er with wood-a(hes,. 

 7 and 



