lOB 



Ate climbers ; of these, two are very remarks 

 able, the phaseolis pallar, the bean of which is 

 half an inch long, and the phaseolus ,asellus^ 

 which is spherical and pulpy. 



Chili is considered by M. Bomare as the na- 

 tive soil of that valuable esculent the potatoe 

 (solanuni tuberosum), an indigenous American 

 root, likewise known by the names of pajm and 

 'pogny. It is, indeed, found in all the fields of 

 that country ; but those plants that grow wild, 

 called by the Indians maglia, produce only very 

 israall roots of a bitterish taste. It is distin- 

 guished by two different species, and more than 

 thirty varieties, several of which are carefully 

 cultivated. The first is the common kind; the 

 second, called solarium cari, bears white flowers 

 with a large nectary in the middle like the nar? 

 cissus ; its root is cylindrical and very sweet. 

 Tbe i:ual mode of cooking it is by roasting it 

 "und^'i' i'iiG ashes. 



The oca (oxalis tuberosa) appears to be of a 

 tlifferentkind from the oca of Pern ; in its form 

 iy.nd fructification it resembles the yellow wood 

 icrrel ; its leaves are disposed by threes, and are 

 i'.i an acid taste, and the flowers are oval ; its 

 root extends i^soif into five or six tuberosities of 

 three or four inches in length, covered v*ith a 

 *hin swiooth skin. They arc eaten cooked,, and 

 lrjis(. a pleasant subacid taste. Tliis plant h 

 v.'.iso. iik'} the Dotatoc, multiplied by means of iU 



