YAM. 225 



YAM. 



There are many species of the genus Discorea that 

 are known by the name Yam. The more common 

 ones met in the South are the Chinese and Cuban Yam. 

 At one time it was thought that this vegetable would 

 replace both the Irish and the sweet potatoes, but it 

 has not made serious inroads on the popularity of 

 either. The young Chinese yam, when cooked, is very 

 much like the Irish potato in look and taste. 



The mode of propagation is by the aerial tubers 

 that form on the vine. These are placed in the ground 

 where the plant is to grow. The crop is allowed to 

 remain in the same place for a number of years the 

 product being dug as wanted. 



The plant sends a very large fleshy root down deeply 

 in the soil. This root continues to be a store-house of 

 nourishment from year to year. The vines may be 

 trained on low trellises or allowed to climb over arbors. 

 In the case of the Cuban species the aerial tubers grow 

 large enough to be used for food ; it is prepared in the 

 same way as potatoes. 



If the plants are to be in a solid block, make the 

 rows six or eight feet apart, and plant the tubers about 

 two feet in the row. A low trellis of saplings can be 

 prepared easily. Such a field is said to give food all 

 the year round ; all that is necessary is to go and dig 

 it. It will be necessary to keep the weeds down the 

 first year and to give the vines a good start. 



