149 TUMERIC. 



consider as intolerable, articles to which our ancestors had a peculiar 

 attachment." Most fortunately, fashion does not prevail to that ex- 

 tent in this country ; so the people commonly eat what they choose. 

 The plant was introduced on account of its supposed medicinal prop- 

 erties ; but it was found to be nutritive and palatable. It was long 

 kept a secret by a Moor, but is now much esteemed in the S. of Eu- 

 rope as an edible root. It is a hardy perennial with a stem 2 or 3 ft. 

 long, and with yellow flowers, which bloom from June to Aug. The 

 root is thin and spindle-shaped, with a double brown skin and con- 

 taining a milky juice. It is best propagated by seed, like carrots, as 

 the offsets degenerate. The roots remain unaffected in the ground 

 during the winter. The roots being bitter, are steeped in water before 

 being used in any way. The lower leaves are linnear, painted and 

 about 9 inches long. This root might be cultivated, no doubt, very 

 advantageously in this country. It also much resembles salsafie, but 

 is more delicate. Directions for the culture and cooking of one an- 

 swer equally well for the other; but the seed of the scorzonera may 

 be sown 2 weeks earlier. 



TUMERIC. Curcuma scitaminece. C. 1. 0. 1. sp. 16-18. Dh. 

 P. 1-5 ft. The tubers of many of the species yield a beautiful, 

 clear starch like arrow root, which, in some places in the east, forms a 

 large part of the diet of the people. C. longa has been much used 

 in cooking to give color and for dying. The roots are aromatic and 

 smell like ginger, and are imported in short pieces for seasoning ; it is 

 also considered aperient and resolvent, and has been given in jaundice. 

 It tinges the urine a deep yellow- Curry powder is the form in which 

 it is used in India and Europe. It gives a rich yellow color. 



The tubers (radix curcuma} are known as the Bengal, China, and 

 Java ; the 1st are far the best, and they are the long and round ; 

 the 1st is an inch long and an inch in diameter; the 2d is 2 inches 

 long and colors the saliva like saffron. An acre yields near 2000 Ibs. 

 of the root. Its composition is curcumin 10, yellow extractive 11, 

 gum 14, woody fibre 57, water, &c., 8, in 100 parts. The curcumine 

 is obtained by digesting the alcoholic extract in ether and in evapo- 

 rating the tincture to dryness ; it is yellow and resinous. An infusion 

 of turneric is much used as a chemical test for the presence of free 

 alkalies, &c. It is also used as a condiment and coloring ingredient. 

 It has been used in jaundice and several visceral diseases. Tumeric 

 paper is unsized paper dipped in a tincture prepared by digesting 1 

 part of the root in 6 of proof spirits, or a decoction in water. 



This root might be cultivated to advantage in the U. S., as the 



profit must be large Corolla limbed, 2 lipped, each 3 parted ; style 



capillary; capsule 3 celled; leaves with sheathing petioles- spike 

 simple, erect, comose ; flowers dull yellow, 3 to 5 together. 



ARUM, C. 21. 0. 7. PalmtE, sp. 30-45. Dh. ft. 1-6. Perennial ana 



