146 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



"We liavo no expectation of finding a substitute for the potato, 

 and therefore we look for its continued cultivation under such 

 modifications of the present practices as future experience may 

 show to be advisable. It has been suggested that the Chinese 

 jam might be raised with profit ; but the experiments that have 

 come to our knowledge furnish little encouragement. The fol- 

 lowing note from one of our careful cultivators, will show what 

 has been his success : — 



Stoughton, Oct. 19, 1857. 



Rev, J. M. Merrick — Dear Sir : — I received your note of 

 inquiry in relation to my success in the cultivation of the dios- 

 corea, or Chinese yam. 



My experience has been too limited perhaps to form a correct 

 opinion of the value of this tuber for cultivation ; but from the 

 experience I have had, I cannot recommend it very highly. I 

 first purchased a seed tuber, about the size of a pea, in the spring 

 of 1855. This was planted about the first of May, in tlie open 

 ground, in fair soil, not rich, and produced a tuber about a foot 

 in length and an inch in thickness at ths largest end. About 

 the middle of May, 1856, this was cut in pieces about an inch 

 long and planted in a ricli, deep soil. These made their appear- 

 ance above ground, after a considerable time, and were about 

 half of them hoed up by my workman, he not knowing what 

 they were. The plants from those remaining produced tubers 

 varying from six to twenty inches in length, and from the size 

 of a pipe stem to two inches in thickness. These roots were cut 

 in the same way, and planted about the same time as last 

 year, with the same results ; many of the plants not appearing 

 above ground until late in the season. 



Tlie objections to the cultivation of tlie plant are, first, the 

 difficulty in starting it. It must be started in a hot-bed, to 

 secure a decent sized tuber. Second, the trouble of preparing 

 the soil to sufficient depth. Third, the great labor of digging 

 them, the largest part of the tuber being at the bottom, while 

 one-half or two-thirds of the upper part is little larger than a 

 pipe-stem ; and last, though not least, their poor quality, as 

 compared with the potato for table use, they being watery and 

 nearly tasteless. 



With these objections, I think they cannot be used as a sub- 



