ESCULENT ROOTS OP AMERICA. 169 



that the roots for planting should be cut so as to leave 

 a small portion of skin to each piece ; l for by that 

 alone,' he affirms, ' they germinate, the roots having 

 no apparent buds or eyes, but casting out their weakly 

 stems from every part of the surface alike.' 



When dug out of the earth, the roots are placed in 

 the sun to dry, and are then put into sand or casks, 

 where, if guarded from moisture, they may be pre- 

 served a considerable length of time without being in 

 any way injured in their quality. 



ARRACACHA. This plant is cultivated in some 

 parts of South America for its root, which is farinace- 

 ous, and easy of digestion. The main roots branch 

 into four or five parts, which attain to the size of cows' 

 horns. Sanguine hopes were entertained by English 

 horticulturists that this root might in the course of 

 time become nearly as important to Europe as the 

 potato, and that it may, like that, be acclimatized in 

 England. It grows on the plains of Bogota, on an 

 elevation of 8700 feet above the level of the sea. 

 The temperature of these lofty plains is found not 

 greatly to vary from that of the south-west of Eng- 

 land. The mean temperature of Santa Fe de 

 Bogota is fifty-eight degrees ; the mean tempera- 

 ture of the warmest month sixty-two degrees ; of the 

 coldest month fifty-seven degrees. If any spot in 

 the south of England or Ireland can be found of a 

 similar temperature, it is probable that the arracacha 

 will survive throughout the year in the open air. The 

 mean temperature of Plymouth is about fifty-three 

 degrees \ mean of hottest month sixty-three degrees ; 

 mean of coldest month forty-two degrees. It is, 

 therefore, supposed that this climate may be favour- 

 able to the growth of the arracacha. In 1821 plants 

 were sent to the Horticultural Society, but they un- 

 fortunately died. Since that time, however, the in- 

 troduction of this plant has been effected ; and it is 



VOL. xv. 15 



