APRIL. 



179 



the foliage is cut away and dried, or partially dried, and given to 

 cattle ; the tubers by this means attain on an average one pound 

 and upwards in weight. The produce, when the ground is re- 

 quired for other purposes, is taken up and stored away for 

 winter and spring ; and it seems a peculiarity in this root, if 

 exposed to the frost, it is not injured by it, nor does it have 

 any inclination for sprouting till the natural season for planting. 



Naturally, the propagation of the 

 Dioscorea is similar to that of the 

 potato ; that is, planting out the small 

 tubers where they are to grow ; but 

 now, when it is desirable to rapidly 

 increase it, the roots may be cut into 

 small pieces, potted, and placed in an 

 exhausted hotbed, where they will 

 soon throw up shoots ; these may be 

 taken off with a single leaf and in- 

 serted in small pots under a hand 

 glass, where they will speedily root 

 and form small tubers, (fig. 8,) which 

 may be turned out into properly pre- 

 9. PLANTS RAISED FROM PIECES parcd grouud lu May. The pieces 

 of roots from which the cuttings were 

 taken, will also form small tubers, (fig. 9,) and may have the 

 same treatment as the large roots ; in this way a good stock 

 may soon be produced. 



IMPROVEMENT AND PRESERVATION OF SPECIES.— No. III. 



BY A. R. P. 



I WOULD not voluntarily have failed to fulfil my intention 

 to contribute some additional remarks on this subject to your 

 March number ; but engagements away from home necessa- 

 rily prevented their preparation. I am happy now to resume 

 the consideration of the subject. 



It may yet, perhaps, seem to some persons, who are not 



