Dioscorea Batatas. 285 



planter mounts his pony, and gallops to some more remote parts 

 of the estate, to see how the young* coffee looks, and if labor is 

 needed elsewhere. Joining- tlie working' g-angs, he remains 

 amongst them, dismounted, until ten o'clock, having a vigilant 

 eye to the style of their work, especially if it should be planting 

 or pruning, or operations at crop-time. From ten to one, the 

 superintendent passes in the stores, and has his breakfast of curry 

 and rice. The work-people return home to their meal at eleven* 

 going into the field again at twelve. At one, the manager re" 

 mounts and goes over the same ground as in the morning. Once 

 a month this monotonous life is varied by a trip to Kandy, the 

 capital, and the interior, whence he brings, on the heads of coolies, 

 fresh supplies of provisions, tools, clothing, and cash. 



Dioscorea Batatas. — In the November number of " The Horti- 

 cultural Keview," in speaking of the Chinese yam, we remarked 

 that it was a tropical plant. In cln-onicling this fact, we neglected 

 to give the additional information that it was sufficiently hardy to 

 withstand the severe winters of more northern latitudes. In 

 China it forms one of the chief articles of food ; it can be eaten 

 either boiled, roasted, or raw. Although it possesses a large 

 proportion of nutritious matter, we consider it, in this respect, not 

 equal to the Irish potato. The yam will, undoubtedly, prove an 

 enormous yielder, as it is one of those peculiar plants which 

 derive food from the atmosphere, hence it thrives on comparatively 

 poor soils. One objection, though not insuperable, to cultivating 

 the yam on an extended scale, is the present mode of increase by 

 tubers and cuttings. Growing from seed would be more rapid, 

 but, unfortunately, the plant is dieecious, and but one of the 

 parents has been introduced to our soil ; therefore resort must be 

 had to propagating by cuttings, laj'^ers and tubers ; by the former 

 method, two years is required to produce roots large enough for 

 culinary purposes. In the meantime, we advise all to try it the 

 coming season on a limited scale. We shall be pleased to record 

 the results of the various experiments. 



